Return to Bull Creek

Beautiful scenery mixed with irresponible dog owners
User: scrapiron7 - 6/6/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 1.00 Mile Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

I recently went to spend some time at Bull Creek with my dog. It's a beautiful place and a nice walking park. My only compaint is many of the dog owners simply cannot or choose not to control their dogs and let them run up to other people and other dogs.

My dog and I were standing on one of the overlooks about 10 ft  above the water when another dog twice her size ran up at her. She proceeded to back up since she was scared. She slipped off the ledge and fell about 5 feet hitting a rock shelf, then fell another 5 feet into the water below. Fortunately she was ok and had no injuries.

I won't go back there. If you choose to take your dog, be careful.

easy trail
User: sandew - 4/26/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

About the only challage was the first crossing of the creek at the "dog" park where we parked.  It was enjoyable with the falls & water holes along the way.  It was mostly treed for shade also as it's getting warm here in Austin!

a great place to visit
User: jay_man - 4/8/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: 2 minutes

i come here with my friends and their dog.  its great for the dog, he seems to love it.  he swims around and jumps in the water.  i have yet to swim but the water is really pristine in some places.  if you're a jelous person, dont look up because there are some high dollar mansion houses.  the proximity to commerse and commute is all too surreal on this hike.

Beautiful Place
User: Melena - 4/4/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 4.50 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

You hike down by a creek that is absolutely beautiful. It's a great place for dogs & children. If you like nature photography you'll want to go here.

User: Melissa-Austin - 3/7/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour

Two different trails, one on each side of 360.  The South side has crushed granite & is more shaded with lots of trees.  There's a creek with algae & a couple very small trickle falls.  The North side is along a cliff with natural stone that almost looks man-made (but it's not).  You cross the creek & circle around - some small inclines & declines.

One of my favorites
User: squidulum - 11/15/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A

This is one of my usual hikes.  I get out here at least once a month.  I find it's best to go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.  A couple of years back when the creek was especially high.  My husband and I toobed the creek from the Spicewood springs parking area all the way to the Lakewood parking.  It was a great one and we were the only ones on the creek.

User: texasway - 9/28/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Nice Quiet Walk/Run
User: brandonh72 - 5/26/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 1.50 Miles Duration: 30 minutes

Today was the first time I went on the Bull Creek trail. I started at the entrance near Spicewood Springs. It was a very quiet, nice walk/run. The 2 people I saw were very friendly.

User: bspross - 2/24/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.50 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Another beautiful Austin day in February.  This trail does a great job of having crossings of the creek where you don't have to get wet.  The waterfalls are very fun.  There are parts of this trail where it is very tranquil with few other hikers.  This is a great hike in the middle of Austin. 

first hike of the year
User: timchristy - 1/13/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

first hike of 2008.  the weather was cool and sunny, beautiful.

User: tamwalker - 6/9/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A
User: lancescape - 6/1/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 4.50 Miles Duration: N/A
Small Doggie Park....at first
User: christiniprosperity - 4/9/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 1.00 Mile Duration: 45 minutes
I agree with the other hiker, this is full of dogs. But once you get out of the base camp/parking area it gets better. Leaving the trailhead and moving toward the first underpass of 360 it gets nicer, quieter, although you see less of Bull Creek until you get to the underpass. I chose a muddy day (surprise) and got stuck in some muddy spots trying to cross Bull Creek back by the parking lot. But it was an okay walk. It was getting late and I didn't want to walk alone at night so I did a few loops to get a nice workout. I want to return and hike the whole trail when I have a whole day to do it. Bull Creek is beautiful. I want to come back when it's warmer and take my shoes of and wade through.
Small Doggie Park....at first
User: christiniprosperity - 4/9/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 1.00 Mile Duration: 45 minutes
I agree with the other hiker, this is full of dogs. But once you get out of the base camp/parking area it gets better. Leaving the trailhead and moving toward the first underpass of 360 it gets nicer, quieter, although you see less of Bull Creek until you get to the underpass. I chose a muddy day (surprise) and got stuck in some muddy spots trying to cross Bull Creek back by the parking lot. But it was an okay walk. It was getting late and I didn't want to walk alone at night so I did a few loops to get a nice workout. I want to return and hike the whole trail when I have a whole day to do it. Bull Creek is beautiful. I want to come back when it's warmer and take my shoes off and wade through.
Its a dog park
User: aggiehiker - 3/3/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 1star
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Lots and lots and lots and lots of dogs. Some that are nice, some that well...need to go to obedience school. I got to about the second underpass and then discovered that they were doing trail work and had closed the rest of the way. The trails seem to very open, as dogs and people have trampled all over the surroundings, so the natural beauty is somewhat lacking here. Sad...
User: ktwdallas - 7/25/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Went down only about a mile to the point that Bull Creek was so dry it look like it ended and could cross to the other side. Nice little walk.
Good swimming
User: big tex - 5/30/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: N/A Solitude: N/A
Distance: 4.50 Miles Duration: N/A
I really enjoyed how this was in the middle of a city, but your totally secluded from it. Great swimming holes along the way. Go in the spring and swim.
User: Rajun Cajun - 2/5/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1point5stars
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: N/A
We hiked from the North side of Cap. of Texas to the dog park and back. Fun hike and even though there were alot of dogs they were no both.
User: glenlake505 - 11/14/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4point5stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A
varied scenery - hiking near water is special
User: e5200 - 9/22/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 2.60 Miles Duration: N/A
I've hiked this trail many times in all sorts of weather - it is one of my favorite in-town hikes - the trail is wide on the east bank - sometimes high overlooking the creek and othertimes on the same level with the creek - weekends the trail can be busy and I have never been alone on the east side although, I have been alone on the shorter west side trail - this time only walked to the big falls - a grandfather, with 3 young boys came along. The boys need the break having just made the long exodus from Houston - they took their shoes off to spend time exploring in the water - cute kids that added to the hike/walk another opportunity to smile...always have to stop and explore the old stone walls and while walking note the changing variety of fauna - although dogs allowed I have come upon a deer or two, loads of dragonflies and all sorts of creek bugs, frogs and once had a water snake seemingly chased me down the stream. Love laying in the stream, clothes and all - the only downer is the sound of the traffic from loop 360 - the falls does drown out the highway sounds.
Bull Creek Hike
User: Texpride12 - 9/8/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 4.50 Miles Duration: N/A
I started this hike at the upper waterfall where the trail meets 360. There were no destinct signs for the trail so I found one and headed west toward what I found out later was the turnaround. Water Levels were very low because of the drought but I did manage to find some spots that looked like they would be great for swimming when there was more water in the creek. The trail from the upper waterfall to the turnaround does close in on you a bit so you might have to push some weeds aside for the first half mile or so. You do have to walk under a few bridges which is very noisy but you only hear the cars for a short time. My advice while you are heading toward the turnaround is to take the trail to the left when it v's. This is the trail that stays along the waters edge. When you make the turnaround you can take the upper trail that comes back to the V. There are a few trails that wind through the trees at the turnaround but in my opinion they are so short and some are blocked so its not worth it unless you just absolutely want to hike all of them. I did stop short of the turnaround at this swimming hole that looked like a really great spot. It was then that I noticed the considerable amount of trash that was thrown about. It upset me very much to see that people would not have the common courtesy to pick up after themselves. When I went to sit down by what looked like a waterfall I notice that someone had stuffed dirty diapers up inbetween the some rocks. I could not believe my eyes. It ruined the moment for me and really pissed me off. Do me, Austin, Earth, and your fellow man a favor. Pick up after yourselves and even after others if reasonable. I started to pick up the trash and put it into a pile but had no bags to put all the trash in. I will be more than happy to give someone an earful if I see them practicing these unforgiving acts so please show some respect. Bact to the trail. I made the turnaround and headed back to where I started, taking the higher trail that I mentioned before from there I followed the trail on the North side of the creek toward lower falls into Bull Creek Park. If you look on the map it has you staying on the south side of the creek and I'm here to tell you, you can take either side. The North side is more enjoyable in my opinion. The highlight of the trail was reaching Bull Creek Park. There were a lot of dogs running off leashes which I really dont mind as long as the dogs know how to behave but the creek was really cool. It opened up into a large pool where people were swimming under a few running falls and just hanging out and realaxing. The highlight for me was a 13' wall on the north side of the park tucked under some trees. There were some free climbers there scaling the wall and there were nice enough to let me come over and give it a try. One guy even loaned me his shoes and chalk. There are no holds so my advice is climb at your own risk. I will def. be back to do this on a regular basis. Didnt make it to the top but I had fun. After the wall I was really glad I came. I'll be back to the park for sure. Don't know if I'll return to the west side of 360 due to all the trash. LCRA or someone needs to make an effort to clean this place up. It was a real shame. I might try and organize something for the future to help out.
Long Hike but enjoyable
User: zhean- - 8/21/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3point5stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 6.50 Miles Duration: N/A
We started our hike at bull creek ditrict park. Didnt expect to cross the creek so early, so i have to take off my shoes! but it was ok, alot of doggy are there too! looks like a dog park for me. But anyway, the trail is nice coz most of it are covered with tree shade. So even it's noontime it is still fine to hike the trails. We saw some water pools, it's calling me to jump in but one thing i dont like is... there's a lot more dogs swimming than people. Me and my husband saw snakes in different occassions so watch out where you step. That scared the whole lot of me. Watch for the dog poop too! We stopped in some places to rest, like on top of laid flat stones along the way facing the creek... and some nice spot along the trails with rushing water. We enjoyed our long hike, we rested back in the park after our hike.. laid out towels and read books to relax. Overall... the experience was worth it.
Long Hike through the Creek
User: pixistixs - 8/4/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 4.50 Miles Duration: N/A
This is a nice long hike that crosses back and forth over Bull Creek. Be prepared to get your feet wet. Beautiful falls about half way through. Lost the trail once or twice but quickly picked it back up.
Texas Waterpark
User: adrianrsus - 7/15/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: 1point5stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A
My wife and I hiked this trail in the middle of summer and we were very happy to be able to get into the creek at several spots. The trail was a well established and it crosses the creek a few times. We enjoyed the scenery and the fact that we were so close to water. The only bad thing I have to say is that there was litter at a couple of spots. (I guess it's the younger crowd) But still a truly enjoyable experience.

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