Violet Crown Trail facts for kids

The Violet Crown Trail is a special path in Austin, Texas, where people can walk or ride bikes. It's about 30 miles long! This trail was started in 2006 by a group called the Hill Country Conservancy.

The trail follows Barton Creek from Zilker Park and the Mopac Expressway. It goes southwest and finally ends at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Most of the path is made of a type of crushed rock called decomposed granite. But some parts are only good for hiking, which means walking on foot.

Where to Start Your Adventure

You can start your journey on the Violet Crown Trail from many different places. These starting points are called trailheads.

• Zilker Park: You can begin near Barton Springs in Zilker Park. From here, you can also connect to the Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail, which goes around Lady Bird Lake.
• Barton Creek Greenbelt: There are several places to get on the trail along Spyglass Drive, Barton Skyway, Loop 360, and the Mopac Expressway.
• Sunset Valley: In Sunset Valley, you'll find different trailheads and routes on the streets that connect to the main trail.
• Latta Drive/Whirlpool Cave: This spot has a parking area where Latta Drive meets Convict Hill Road.
• Dick Nichols Park: You can reach the trail by using the loop path inside Dick Nichols Park.
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center/The Veloway: A more natural hiking path goes through Slaughter Creek and finishes at La Crosse Avenue.

The Trail's Future Plans

There are exciting plans to make the Violet Crown Trail even longer!

Extending the Path

The goal is to extend the trail from the Wildflower Center all the way to the Onion Creek area in Hays County.

New Connections

In 2020, when SH 45 was built, it created a new connection. Now, the Violet Crown Trail links up with the SH 45 Trail, which runs along that highway.

Long-Term Vision

Looking far into the future, there are plans to eventually extend the trail even further, reaching the city of San Marcos.