Strollers serve two very important purposes when you’re a mom trying to get out of the house: making babies mobile before they can walk and making kids sit still after they’ve learned to run. If you’re in the stroller phase of motherhood (or someone in your family uses a mobility device of some kind), it can seem like you’re limited to your neighborhood sidewalks or a mall, but there are plenty of great trails around Austin to see the great outdoors, get in some exercise or meet up with other moms with strollers for a long talk and walk.

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Here are some of the best stroller friendly trails in and around Austin.

Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve: This asphalt out-and-back trail makes for a peaceful walk through the trees and ends in an overlook deck in the canyon. It’s just over a mile total and very shady. The trail entrance is on a neighborhood street.

Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail: With 10 miles of trail, you could visit this trail time and again and see something new every time. You can visit different parks, Lady Bird Lake and downtown all on the same trail. It’s no wonder it’s a local favorite.

Brushy Creek Regional Trail: This almost 8-mile trail in Round Rock and Cedar Park is mostly concrete, so it’s perfect for wheels. You can start in any of six parks — check out the waterfall by Twin Lakes Park, wander by the creek at Brushy Creek Lake Park, or let your kids run around on the playgrounds or sand pit at Champion Park.

Shoal Creek Greenbelt: Have a picnic at Pease District Park or ride bikes at Duncan Park before strolling the Shoal Creek Greenbelt down to Town Lake. There’s a paved path for most of the 3.25 miles, though you may run into some construction while the Kingsbury Commons is finished.

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park: There are lots of unpaved and hilly trails in this park for hiking and mountain biking, but you can also stick to the paved two-way biking trail if you have a stroller. You’ll cross bridges over the creek and pass plenty of pleasing scenery.

Balcones District Park: Take the northern path at Balcones District Park for a wheel-friendly stroll. The Northern Walnut Creek Trail ends here and connects to the Balcones District Park Trail, a shady mostly paved path near the creekbed. The trail south from the parking lot will lead you to a steep, rocky part of the trail not good for strollers.

Garey Park: This park in Georgetown is worth the entrance fee, with an awesome “play ranch” and lots of hiking trails. The Meadow Loop is a flat scenic walk of just over a mile. Stop in the wildlife viewing blind to catch sight of some birds or take a quick detour to watch the San Gabriel River flow by from an overlook.

Twin Creeks Historic Park: Though there is one short steep section of this paved trail in Cedar Park, the Twin Creeks Historic Park trail is a pleasant and wide path that takes you right by a babbling creek with several small waterfalls — the perfect background noise to sit and read while your baby takes a hard-earned stroller nap.

Bee Cave Park Loop: Take a nature walk around the almost 1.5-mile concrete loop at Bee Cave Central Park, and reward your little ones with some time on the two playgrounds afterward.

Dick Nichols District Park: This paved loop path is just over a mile and a very smooth ride. Check out the wildflowers and cactus, and then take a break on the accessible playground.

Now buckle that baby in, pick a trail, and get out there with your strollers!

Bethany Farnsworth
Bethany Farnsworth is a human jungle gym, napkin, and personal shopper to her kids Peter, 5, and Lydia, 3. She met her husband at Baylor and moved from Waco to Houston to Dallas before finally settling in Austin in October 2019. She loves podcasts, iced coffee, uninterrupted bathroom time, traveling, coming home after traveling, and spending too much time planning activities that hold her kids' attention for 30 seconds. On a good weekend, you'll find her and her crew on a hiking trail or at a brewery -- you'll recognize them by the table full of toys and snacks. Read more at @austinwithkids or @bethanyfarns on Instagram.

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