Travel: Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
Last weekend I spent some time in Austin and decided early Sunday morning to see a new part of the city. After having visited a number of times and lived there at one point, I was on a mission to explore and find something I hadn’t seen before. Austin is one of those cities where there is always something to do. It’s a smaller city, but bustles with a variety of different scenes from art, outdoor activities and music. Every time I leave, I want to go back. It’s colorful in some parts while serene in others. On Sunday, I decided to try out a new area for a good morning hike call the Wild Basin Natural Preserve.
The Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is located just off the 360 Loop. When you turn at the sign to go into the park, it’s a really short drive to find a place to park. You have two options for a hike, you can split at the fork in the pathway at the trail head to hike down the hill (as seen in these pictures), or you can stay on the paved trail and work your way on the eastern side of the trail. The trail is made up of a series of smaller trails less than .5 mile each. It was a nice, easy hike that would be good for a beginner. There are several informational signs throughout the paved portion where you can read more about the wildlife and area.
I’ve shared a few outdoor activity outfits in the past, but this one was a little different. It was really chilly that day and windy. I decided to layer one coat over another for additional warmth. In my opinion, layering is one of the best ways to dress when you are spending any time outside. It gives you the opportunity to remove if needed and you are prepared. Since it was a lighter trail, I decided to wear a pair of my Hunter boots instead of my traditional hiking boots. I wore two pairs of socks to keep my feet warm and dry.
The hike was serene with very few people on the trail. Some of the other trails in the area are oftentimes crowded, but this one had only a couple of people on the paved portion and I saw no one on the trail head. I’d recommend visiting if you are looking for an activity that’s only an hour or two. Located at the bottom of the trail is a waterfall. Unfortunately, it was not in motion on the day I visited, but would make a great photo spot in the future when the area has more water.
