New Route: Texas Hill Country Loop is Ready to Ride

May 19, 2016

On May 5, 2016 we released the latest addition to the Adventure Cycling Route Network, the 310-mile Texas Hill Country Loop. This route begins and ends in the capitol city of Austin and features terrain from flat to rolling hills.

Events and festivals throughout the region will entice you to keep your pedaling pace leisurely so you can extend your stay and take in as many as possible.

Between events, you’ll want to discover the many state parks along the way. A springtime tour has a near-guaranteed field of wildflowers in Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, while the popular Enchanted Rock State Natural Area offers bouldering, climbing, and stargazing opportunities year-round to round out your off-bike experiences.

You’ll find wineries in Fredericksburg and Johnson City with plenty of BBQ options throughout the loop! And with Austin’s reputation for music, you can’t go wrong ending your tour on a high note in the city.

If you don’t have time to ride the entire route, the Pendernales Cutoff shortcuts across the main loop, breaking it into two shorter options. The northern half is 178 miles while the southern half clocks in at 208 miles, giving you two great long-weekend touring options.

Adventure Cycling’s detailed maps, printed on waterproof paper, as well as GPX data for your GPS device, smartphone, or tablet, are both available for purchase online.

Photo 1 by Ed Rosebloom | Photo 2 by Greg Edwards | Photo 3 by Leo Wertin | Photo 4 by Terry Mace.

—