More than nine miles of shoreline along Lake Travis define Pace Bend Park. It is located in the far west of Travis County in the Hill Country region of Central Texas. For planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing the offerings at the lake from riverfront areas, trails and wildlife watching.

Lakefront and water activities

At Mansfield Dam Park on Lake Travis, visitors can picnic, swim and fish. The boat ramp has four lanes, with a wheelchair-accessible pier right beside it. The park also includes an underwater diving area with four diving platforms. This offers a range of water activities, from spending time on the shore to using the boat ramp and diving area.

Arkansas Bend Park offers two miles of shoreline for hiking, fishing, camping, picnicking and access to the lake. Two boat ramps and a service pier provide access to the water. The shoreline figures make the difference from Pace Bend clear: there are more than nine miles of shoreline there, compared with two here. Arkansas Bend adds 18 developed campsites with water hookups and 20/30/50-amp electrical hookups to its waterfront offerings.

In western Travis County, Reimers Ranch Park combines nearly three miles of continuous shoreline along the Pedernales River with more than 18 miles of mountain biking trails. Riverfront and an extensive trail network for mountain bikers meet here. There is also something to look up at: during an astronomy observatory program, visitors can see a star-filled sky and learn about the universe. Reservations are required for the program.

Sandy Creek Park offers a different kind of nature watching on one of the quieter coves of Lake Travis. The endangered golden-cheeked warbler lives there. Visitors interested in birds and conservation will find a distinctive connection to nature here, alongside the waterfront offerings of the other parks.

Trails, history and other discoveries

At McKinney Falls State Park, visitors can fish and swim in Onion Creek. The trails also differ clearly in length and use: Rock Shelter Trail is 0.6 miles long and for hiking only. Homestead Trail is 3.1 miles long and is a hiking and biking trail. All-terrain wheelchairs are available for use on the Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail. If you would like to use one, it is best to confirm current availability before your visit.

Historic heritage includes a hundred-year-old bridge in Richard Moya Park. It once served as the Congress Avenue Bridge over the Colorado River in downtown Austin. McKinney Falls State Park is also home to the Prehistoric Rock Shelter, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These two places offer different historical connections, while the trails at McKinney Falls State Park also provide a practical choice between hiking only and hiking or biking.

East Metropolitan Park also combines different activities: the fishing ponds have shoreline access as well as a modern fishing pier. The park includes a swimming pool maintained by Travis County Parks. As a regional conservation resource, the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve protects the habitats of endangered species in Travis County and also serves to offset habitat loss.

Discover more destinations: Austin, Leander, Pflugerville, Lakeway, Sunset Valley, Manor, Wells Branch, Windemere, Hudson Bend, Bee Cave, Jonestown, Manchaca, San Leanna, Point Venture, Volente

For the main travel overview: Texas.