The Lady Bird Lake Trail

The Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail circles Lady Bird Lake, formerly known as Town Lake, in downtown Austin. Town Lake was formed in 1960 by the damming of the Colorado River, with the Longhorn Dam on the eastern boundary and the Tom Miller Dam on the western boundary.

In 2007, the name was changed from Town Lake to Lady Bird Lake to honor the former First Lady, Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson, an advocate for wildlife and conservation all across the United States. Lady Bird Johnson was appointed to a committee to beautify the banks of Town Lake in 1971, and used a significant amount of her own money in order to create a trail that surrounded its banks.

The Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, colloquially referred to as “The Town Lake Trail”, is a 10.15 mile course that has areas for bikers, joggers, walkers and even dogs and cats. It is the longest trail in Austin, and thousands of Austin citizens make use of it every day. Its conservancy is managed by a non profit organization, The Trail Foundation.

The trail is an Austin icon that runs through the heart of downtown Austin; Lady Bird Lake runs parallel to First Street and Riverside Drive, both home to numerous bars, restaurants and other attractions. It weaves between Zilker Park, another famous Austin institution, and passes across Auditorium Shores, a beautiful grassy area commonly used for concerts and festivals. For any active Austinite, or even a visitor to the city, “The Town Lake Trail” is a must-see attraction.

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