A nice walk
User: kharker - 10/22/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 3.70 Miles Duration: N/A
My wife and I decided to get out of the house on a gorgeous fall afternoon and drove from northwest Austin out to Doeskin Ranch. The drive out on 1431 was scenic, and the park was easy to find. We saw one other couple out hiking, but only in the last quarter mile of our hike. There were more cars than that parked in the little parking lot, so I presume everyone hikes in the same direction (we looped counter-clockwise, which is the way the signs point you). The scenery is interesting with both substantial grassland (in late fall, the grass waving in the breeze and sunshine is very beautiful) and the mixed oak/cedar forest on the hillside. The trail that circles the top of the grass-covered hill is just an old jeep trail, and does not visit the high point of the hill. The best view of the hike was from one of the trail bends on the way down. Unfortunately, once we got down the steeper hillside and crossed the gully, the remainder of the trail to the creek is just an old jeep trail that is straight and gravelled, which is both a little uninteresting and occasionally slippery in spots. Overall, the terrain is very representative of central Texas, and does not seem to be very crowded even on weekend afternoons with excellent weather.

Supremely enjoyable
User: Riff Raff - 3/25/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 3.30 Miles Duration: N/A
I love this area. Hiked the Rimrock, Shin Oak, and Creek trail loops. Saw two other people near the trailhead, but not another soul on the trails. Lay down on the rocks by the creek for some time also. Very nice.

Excellent series of loops
User: Riff Raff - 11/2/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 3.50 Miles Duration: N/A
As suggested here, I did all three of the main loops in one outing. The Rimrock Trail was first as it looked to be the most strenuous, and indeed it was a decent ascent. The Shin Oak trail at the top was a nice break from the climb. Could still look back and see the parking lot throughout the climb up Rimrock Trail, but after hitting the top I never saw it again until I was back at the trailhead. Getting out of sight of 1174 is nice for the solitude factor, and the only people I saw were in the Creek Trail area. Plus a random overflight of a military helicopter. Overall this is a very nice area, with lots of meadows and clearly marked trails (pretty much every intersection I might have been confused by had a sign clarifying it). If you want to feel solitude, do avoid the Pond & Prairie Trail though - it goes right next to FM 1174.

Walked barefoot in the creek
User: Blake - 1/19/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 9.00 Miles Duration: N/A

A two hour tour
User: Austin Explorer - 10/10/2004  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 0.60 Mile Duration: N/A
Visited Doeskin again for the last day of the NWR week celebrations. Took part in the naturalist tour during which we were introduced to some of the native flora found in the refuge. There were also lots of displays to check out. I had never seen Dragon Fly and Damsel Fly larvae before.

A great hike with a bit of everything
User: Austin Explorer - 11/30/2003  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 3.63 Miles Duration: N/A
This great hike covers a variety of different terrain that is found throughout the hillcountry. Unlike nearby Warbler Vista, this one is not adjacent to as busy a road, so the car noise is far less of a distraction and is non-existent on a good portion of the hike. Not as great a view as at Warbler Vista, but overall a better hiking experience.