Texas · best-of list
The 15 Best Outdoor Spots in Texas
All 15 outdoor spots our route editors picked in Texas, across 8 destinations, gathered in one list. 12 come with an insider tip, and 12 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
15 outdoor spots in Texas, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Hermann Park & Museum District 3 picks
Hermann Park
Hermann Park & Museum District · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
Houston's central park, with the Sam Houston monument, a long reflecting pool, McGovern Lake pedal boats and a miniature railroad.
Tip: Walk the reflecting pool from the Sam Houston monument to the Pioneer Memorial obelisk.
Photo: Agsftw · CC BY-SA 3.0
Japanese Garden
Hermann Park & Museum District · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
A walled garden inside Hermann Park with a teahouse, waterfalls, stone lanterns and a koi pond under pines.
Photo: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 3.0McGovern Centennial Gardens
Hermann Park & Museum District · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
Formal gardens in Hermann Park around a spiral garden mount with views over the treetops to the Texas Medical Center.
Tip: Climb the garden mount for the best view of the park.
Pearl & Museum Reach 3 picks
Brackenridge Park
Pearl & Museum Reach · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
A 340-acre park along the upper San Antonio River, with shaded trails, old stone bridges and a miniature railroad.
Photo: Corey Leopold · CC BY 2.0
Japanese Tea Garden
Pearl & Museum Reach · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
A free garden built in an old limestone quarry in 1918, with koi ponds, stone bridges, a waterfall and a pavilion.
Tip: Admission is free; go mid-morning, and check hours, which vary by season.
Photo: Jouaienttoi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Museum Reach
Pearl & Museum Reach · On our San Antonio New Year's Eve route
The northern stretch of the River Walk between downtown and the Pearl, with lit paths, locks and art installations under the bridges.
Tip: Look for the hanging fish sculptures under the I-35 bridge.
Photo: Corey Leopold · CC BY 2.0
Zilker Park & Barton Springs 3 picks
Barton Creek Greenbelt
Zilker Park & Barton Springs · On our Austin New Year's Eve route
A 7-mile limestone canyon trail along Barton Creek running west from Zilker Park, with swimming holes after rain.
Tip: Start from the Zilker end near the pool for an easy out-and-back.
Zilker Botanical Garden
Zilker Park & Barton Springs · On our Austin New Year's Eve route
Themed gardens on a hillside above Barton Creek, including a Japanese garden with koi ponds and a rose garden.
Tip: Check holiday hours before going on Jan 1.
Photo: Daderot · CC0
Zilker Park
Zilker Park & Barton Springs · On our Austin New Year's Eve route
Austin's 350-acre central park on the lake, with a great lawn, skyline views, a miniature train and the springs at its edge.
Tip: Walk the lawn to the hilltop near the parking loop for a skyline view.
Photo: Matthew Rutledge · CC BY 2.0
Austin 2 picks
Barton Springs Pool
Austin · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Spring-fed pool that stays near 68°F year-round in Zilker Park.
Tip: Small entry fee for non-residents; closed Thursdays for cleaning.
Photo: Downtown Austin · Public domain
Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony
Austin · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Up to 1.5 million bats stream out from under the bridge at dusk.
Tip: Peak Aug; watch from the Statesman bat observation lawn.
Photo: Cati Pons · Google
Bishop Arts District 1 pick
Lake Cliff Park
Bishop Arts District · On our Dallas New Year's Eve route
A park around a small lake on the Oak Cliff bluff, opened in 1906 as an amusement park, with views toward downtown.
Tip: The easy path around the lake makes a good first-day walk.
Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dallas 1 pick
Klyde Warren Park
Dallas · On our Texas BBQ Trail route
Deck park over a freeway with food trucks, lawn games and skyline views.
Photo: Kevin1086 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Downtown Houston 1 pick
Buffalo Bayou Park
Downtown Houston · On our Houston New Year's Eve route
Trails along the bayou west of downtown; the Eleanor Tinsley lawn and the Sabine Street Bridge frame the classic skyline view.
Tip: Go at sunset for the skyline over the water; the trails are lit after dark.
Photo: Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0
Texas Hill Country 1 pick
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
Texas Hill Country · On our San Antonio & the Texas Hill Country route
Pink granite dome rising about 130 m above the hills north of Fredericksburg; the summit trail is a steep 1 km climb.
Tip: Reserve a day pass online in advance; winter mornings are cool and clear.
Photo: Jmbuytaert · CC BY-SA 4.0
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the outdoor spots in Texas?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 15 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Texas has the most outdoor spots on this list?
Hermann Park & Museum District, Pearl & Museum Reach and Zilker Park & Barton Springs lead with 3 each; the other picks are spread across 5 more destinations.
Are any of these free?
12 picks on this list are marked free in our route notes: Hermann Park, Japanese Tea Garden, Barton Creek Greenbelt, Lake Cliff Park, Buffalo Bayou Park, and more. Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Texas
Best outdoor spots nearby
Destinations on this list
- Hermann Park & Museum District 3 on this list
- Pearl & Museum Reach 3 on this list
- Zilker Park & Barton Springs 3 on this list
- Austin 2 on this list
- Bishop Arts District 1 on this list
- Dallas 1 on this list
- Downtown Houston 1 on this list
- Texas Hill Country 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.