I think I am gonna head out there for as long a ride as I can stand today (Wednesday). if anyone else has the luxury of under-employment and cares to join me, send me a PM. going to head out before noon for certain.

Was out there last night, 96% hero dirt. Creek in Circle C still has water between Escarpment and Mopac. Bauerle had a few soft spots but nothing major.

With no rain the forecast for a while, should continue to get better and better.

I attempted the Curly Loop today. I saved the route on my phone and used that as a GPS, but that forces me to stop frequently and take my phone out of my pocket so check if I am on route. also not sure if I went the "correct" direction on the lollipop loop between Bowie High and Bauerle Ranch or if I went around Bauerle the correct way either. I went clockwise around the lollipop, which forces me to go UP the rocky switchback that takes you out of the creek bed (you know the one I am talking about!) and I have yet to clean that thing, with gears or singlespeed. the rock garden immediately after that switchback is also nearly impossible to ascend.

I went anti-clockwise around Bauerle, staying as far to the right as I could most of the time, including the sketchy downhill before Cactus Ridge runs into Slaughter Creek Trail. Not sure if that was part of it or if I was supposed to stay on Coyote.

bonus info: there is a drinking fountain available on your way to Bauerle: next to the playground/pool at the corner of Wolftrap and Aspen Creek.

Mack, the loop by Bowie will be counter-clockwise. You'll ride down the nasty switch back. Bauerle is counterclockwise as well.

or you can HTFU and ride the Bowie loop clockwise!

Mack, I was on a group ride once, with some pretty talented folks. None of them could get up that rocky ledge thing you are talking about on the South Veloway loop. And you are right, the rock garden above it is very hard to ride up.

I rode most of that loop, the South Veloway loop, today. It's in good shape. The grass had gotten long and had been obscuring some of the trail there. But that was not a problem today.

The gravel creek crossing on the north Veloway trail is finally dry.

All the bypasses to the Circle C Metro creek crossings can be ridden without getting feet wet. The three deep water crossings are still full of water. The first creek crossing west of Mopac, the wide rocky one, has a little bypass that I had never seen before. Someone has put some stepping stones just to the east, just five feet east, of the trail crossing. The water is maybe 6" shallower there than on the "trail." Very ride-able.

Perfect weather this afternoon. Trails are just about perfect too.

There is a problem with the Williamson Creek trail between Brush Country and Mopac. I would not attempt it right now.

There is an alternative route to complete the loop through Sunset Valley.

When you are coming through Indian Grass, out of Sunset Valley, instead of turning right, to go north across the creek and then under Mopac, turn left instead, and go south alongside the Mopac northbound service road. Go in front of Whataburger, Taco Cabana, cross William Cannon, past CVS, in front of Life Time Fitness, and then you are on Convict Hill. It's then an easy cross to drop back in at Whirlpool.

This is actually a route that the Violet Crown Trail people considered for a brief moment.

Originally Posted by The Tip

There is a problem with the Williamson Creek trail between Brush Country and Mopac. I would not attempt it right now.

There is an alternative route to complete the loop through Sunset Valley.

When you are coming through Indian Grass, out of Sunset Valley, instead of turning right, to go north across the creek and then under Mopac, turn left instead, and go south alongside the Mopac northbound service road. Go in front of Whataburger, Taco Cabana, cross William Cannon, past CVS, in front of Life Time Fitness, and then you are on Convict Hill. It's then an easy cross to drop back in at Whirlpool.

This is actually a route that the Violet Crown Trail people considered for a brief moment.

+1 on this. STAY OFF WILLIAMSON.

for the time being, should anyone be riding SNP at all? or are we just supposed to stay away from the Creek and area next to church? I really like the variety in SNP.

I'm really interested in biking around South Austin but don't even know where to begin with all these trails. I'm familiar with most of the official trails, but how do can I get around in the back woods so to speak? Anyone have a MapmyHike or GPS they'd be willing to share?

kan.tex@hotmail.com

Thanks!

Did you see this upcoming event?

The Big Southie - A tour of South Austin's best trails

The maps on the Big Southie site show most of the trails you could ever want to ride down here. Just be aware that the trails are in an urban environment close to businesses and houses and some of the trails have been known to accidentally cross property lines. If you see a "private property" sign, find a different route!

There are groups riding the trail nearly every Saturday and Sunday morning for the last few weeks, usually leaving Dick Nichols Park at 9 am. There are also some locals who do night rides on week nights- I can get you in touch with them if you want.

Thanks y'all! I appreciate the info and hopefully I can make it out to a ride on Sunday. Really looking forward to exploring some more trails and expanding my trail network knowledge down south!

Overnight rain never materialized. As of noon Sunday, all trails from Circle C to Bauerle are 100%.

I went for a ride to explore Williamson Creek today. I am talking about the natural trail that runs between Brush Country and Mopac.

It is all good to go!

The past problem, that was mentioned in the posts above, was that a small portion of the natural trail that runs through there was on land claimed by New Hope Church. They are on Monterey Oaks. Whenever anyone looked at their GPS rides on that trail, the map over lay of property lines, showed the trail NOT on the church's property. But the... (what is the male equivalent of "lady"? Gentleman?)...the church gentleman thought otherwise and has worked hard to deny anyone access to that small portion of trail that ran along that bit of the north bank of the creek. This is why it was posted to not try to ride the trail.

But apparently there is trail, that crosses the creek twice, back to the south bank for a short way, that bypasses the church's alleged land. I rode it today. Several times! The creek crossings are fun and challenging. I was unable to ride up two banks as they are too steep for me. But don't let that deter you, I am not that good. Riding down them is fun though! I'll eventually figure out how to get up them.

At one point it looks like you are in a house's back yard because there is a picnic table there. I am sure those folks are use to having that land all to themselves. But it is for sure a park. It even has a name; Williamson Creek West Greenbelt. It has 76 acres to it. The park rules sign is next to the bridge on Brush Country. Bikes allowed!


The trail on the south bank, behind those folks houses, is no different a situation than the trail that runs behind the line of houses between Hampton library and Dick Nichols park.

It was a great afternoon for a ride. My new hope is that this newly discovered trail remains non-denominational. Yes, that was two jokes in one sentence.

Closer view of the park space - uploaded City of Austin's Parks shapefiles ...

Couldn't ride today, so I went out to do some trail work. I have become a lot more sensitive to punji sticks on trees since I was injured by one at Cranksgiving. So a lot of my work is just making the trails safer.

I was amazed at some of the low hanging branches, with nasty sticks pointing at riders, that I had NOT run into. How did I manage to not impale myself on them? How did I not see them before and realize how dangerous they were? Of course I can see a lot more walking slowly as opposed to riding. But some of the dangers were so very real I couldn't believe my previous luck.

Anyway, I cut several off. So now you are free to ride much faster and more recklessly knowing that your fails will have less consequences!

I have actual scars from these trails that I got from running into some of those trees!

Originally Posted by mack_turtle

I have actual scars from these trails that I got from running into some of those trees!

lol, I just had a vision of a bunch of us, post ride, beers in hand, showing off our scars, like the boat scene from "Jaws."

Maybe that could be a contest held in conjunction with the after event of The Big Southie.
"And the award for the most awesome bike related scar goes to..."

Took a ride this afternoon in shorts and short sleeves. Chilly at first, but soon it was perfect.

Williamson Creek Greenbelt (got up one bank!) was great. Sunset Valley was surprisingly not muddy at all. A puddle or two by Taco Bell that I have never seen there before. Strange. Coming west out of SP (that I did not go up to) under Brodie was muddy. Can we just name that 50 yard stretch "Ever Wet?" Candy was wet on the east end, but easily bypassed walking. As strange as the puddles next to Taco Bell was the absence of any mud on Whirlpool. The north part of Mopac was fine.

It is very interesting to me how the rains affect things differently for different rain events.

I think everything, including the other trails, will be fine Saturday.