Lady Bird Lake

Lady Bird Lake is the green heart of Austin — a reservoir on the Colorado River that bisects downtown, flanked by 10 miles of hike-and-bike trails on both banks. The trail, connecting Zilker Park in the west to Pleasant Valley Road in the east, is the most-used park amenity in the city, drawing runners, cyclists, kayakers, and dog-walkers throughout the day.

The views from the trail back towards downtown — skyscrapers reflected in the water, the Congress Avenue Bridge, the bats emerging at dusk — are among the best urban scenes in Texas. Kayak and canoe rentals are available at several points along the lakeside. The south shore trail through Zilker Park is the most pleasant stretch; the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge crossing the lake near the middle of the trail gives good views in both directions.

things to do sight park
A story
Lady Bird Lake was created in 1960 by damming the Colorado River, and was renamed in honour of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson in 2007, three months before her death. Johnson was a passionate conservationist who spearheaded the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 — which planted wildflowers along American highways — and the lake renaming reflected Austin's appreciation of her environmental legacy.