RIDING CONDITIONS

The route begins in downtown Austin where there are many options for detours off the route. Some that you will be close to include the state capitol, Barton Springs Pool — a local swimming hole, and Lady Bird Lake. For potential routes to reach these locations, see the Austin City Bike Map at advcy.link/austinmap. Leaving downtown Austin you’ll cross Lady Bird Lake and head past McKinney Falls State Park.

Riding south from McKinney Falls State Park to Gruene you will encounter a network of mostly narrow, rural 2-lane county and state roads. Traffic is fairly light and wind from the south can be the biggest challenge for cyclists. Watch for potholes as you approach the San Marcos River outside of Martindale. Flash floods have a tendency to wash roads away, and although it doesn’t often rain in Texas, when it does, it generally comes all at one time. Be prepared for flood-related road closures and detours on all parts of the route, especially when cycling during the wet season in late spring-early summer.

While in Gruene, stop for a stroll through the quaint town that becomes a thriving tourist destination on weekends and throughout the summer. Speed limits are the lowest you’ll encounter, but be on the alert for distracted drivers.

After Gruene you will follow the Guadalupe River up to Canyon Lake Dam on River Rd., a narrow 2-lane road. From May through September this stretch can become quite busy with “toobing” traffic (the Guadalupe River is a river tubing mecca) and it’s best to ride it early. The rest of the year the road can be ridden pleasurably any time of day.

When you reach the Canyon Lake Dam, the real Texas Hill Country begins. Get ready for a lot of ups and downs, scenic roads and less traffic. When you reach Ranch Rd. 32 you might consider taking 5-mile total out and back detour east and ride up to Devil’s Backbone, a rest area overlooking the Blanco River valley with an almost 180 degree view of the hill country.

As you continue on the route, you’ll cross U.S. 281 onto Little Blanco Rd./CR 101. Here you’ll discover low water crossings and cattle guards. A good rule of thumb on low water crossings is if they have water on them, walk your bike. They can be extremely slippery. Also watch for potholes around low water crossings because floods will wash roads out and they may not be repaired.

Cattle guards are similar to railroad crossings, with a few more metal bars. It is best to ride over these straight on. They can be a bit jarring, but riding over them beats trying to walk over them and getting a foot or leg caught in them.

Passing through Blanco, cyclists enter what many Texans consider cycling Nirvana as you ride through Gillespie County and Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg is one of the most popular destinations in the hill country. On weekends there is usually something happening and it is advisable to make reservations in advance.

The 30.5-mile Luckenbach Loop Alternate can be done as a day ride. On weekends Luckenbach can be a very busy place, with many of the patrons riding in on motorcycles.

Heading toward Llano, the land alongside SR 2323 is often covered with wildflowers in the spring. In Llano you’ll find a nice assortment of restaurants and accommodations. Crossing the narrow steel cantilever bridge over the Llano River can be a little unnerving for some, but there is a pedestrian sidewalk on the east side of the bridge that you can use.

You will pass two of the Highland Lakes, Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake, as you ride toward Burnet. A large part of the ride around the lakes is on lightly traveled 2-lane roads with only a 4.4-mile section on the 4-lane portion of SR 29 that has more traffic. There are a couple of parks to stop at along the lakes for a break.

The route from Burnet follows lightly traveled county and state roads to the suburbs of Austin. Traffic will increase as you ride through Leander and Cedar Park, but most of the busier roads that you will ride on will be 4-lanes wide with plenty of room for motorists to pass. In particular, Ronald Reagan Blvd. and W. Parmer Ln. is a route used by local cyclists due to its wide shoulders in spite of the sometimes heavy traffic.

For those who wish to avoid this urban riding on the north side of Austin, the Capital MetroRail system is a convenient option to make your way downtown from either the Leander or Lakeline Stations. For more information see advcy.link/austinmetro.

Upon reaching Austin, the route will be on established bike routes through quiet residential neighborhoods.

Long term parking is available at the Austin Bergstron International Airport. Though not the most direct route, if you are riding from there, we recommend riding south on the bike path paralleling SR 71, then west on FM 973 then north on Burleson Rd. to join the route near McKinney Falls State Park.

If your time in Texas is limited and you need to shorten your trip, you can take the 71.1-mile Pedernales Cutoff between Fredericksburg and Austin. Riding the northern loop is 238.6 miles while the southern option clocks in at 212.8 miles. Traffic will be light but fast moving. The terrain is rolling. North of Johnson City, U.S. 281 carries heavy traffic but the shoulder is wide.

CLIMATE

The eastern two-thirds of Texas has a humid, subtropical climate that is occasionally interrupted by intrusions of cold air from the north. Generally, annual precipitation decreases about an inch for each fifteen-mile displacement from east to west, with East Texas receiving about 44 inches of rain falling mostly in the month of May. With an average of sixty thunderstorm days a year, East Texas is most susceptible to severe localized phenomena like hail, high winds, and flash floods. On the other hand, winter is the driest time of the year in nearly all of Texas.