Plan your trip to the Lone Star State with this guide to the best Texas Hill Country mountain biking from top trails to recommended routes.
Texas has never really been on my must-ride list for mountain biking. Sure, I’ve heard of Spider Mountain (Texas’s one and only chairlift-accessed bike park), but it’s a state that I haven’t exactly felt drawn to.
But as I was planning my nth drive back across the country from Arizona, I thought “Why not?” Austin is supposed to be a cool city and I’ve heard rumors of some good singletrack riding in Hill Country. It also helped that a TWW reader was stationed in Austin and offered to show me around.
I’m so glad I took the bait! I’ve had a blast exploring the trail networks in Texas’s Hill Country from the maze of singletrack at Flat Rock Ranch to the downhill parks of Spider and Station Mountain and everything in between.
I had almost two weeks to explore the area and while I rode nearly every day (sometimes twice a day!) I didn’t get to all that Hill Country has to offer – there’s so much. I guess I’ll just need to come back 🙂
If this is an area you’ve wanted to explore, in this post I’ve rounded up the top Texas Hill Country mountain biking trail networks with the best trails, route recommendations, and more!
Texas Hill Country Mountain Biking Map
The mountain biking around Texas Hill Country is mostly spread out to the west of Austin from Spider Mountain in the north to Flat Rock Ranch in the south.
NOTE: I did not make it into Austin city limits to ride the trails closer in. However, a friend who has spent a lot of time exploring the mountain bike trails around Austin said that Barton Creek, Walnut Creek, and Brushy Creek are the three most popular areas to ride within a short driving distance of the city.
I hope to get back down to Hill Country at some point to ride the trails close to Austin!
Will you like Texas Hill Country mountain biking?
As I mentioned above, Texas has never really been on my radar for ‘must-ride’ mountain bike destinations. Surely you can understand why.
BUT, I did truly enjoy my time exploring this area and I think Texas Hill Country is a bit under the radar – and underrated – when it comes to mountain bike destinations.
Here are a few reasons to consider planning a mountain bike trip – or not – to the Austin area.
What to love about it
What to not
Top 10 Mountain bike trails in Texas Hill Country
Just looking for the best of the best? Here are – what I consider to be – the best mountain bike trails outside of Austin (at least that I rode).
The Trail Networks + Route Suggestions
So now that you’re curious about Texas Hill Country, where do you ride? I spent 10 days in the area and rode 9 out of those 10 days. I still didn’t cover all the trails or trail networks!
But I do think I hit the best that Texas Hill Country has to offer (outside of Austin city limits). Below are the top places to mountain bike in Hill Country.
1. Lakeway/Bee Cave
Ride it for:
- The most “mountain biking-esque” riding outside of Austin
- Great flow and cool features
- New-school machine-built flow trail on Fence Line
Need to know:
- This place is a maze – you absolutely need TrailForks downloaded
- There are some big and high-stakes features – scout before your ride
The Lakeway trail network was one of my favorite places that I rode around Austin. It felt more ‘mountain bikey’ compared to the mainly cross-country trails at the other destinations I hit.
That being said, there is some bootleg stuff here! Snot Rock It was very cool, but you could get into trouble on some of those turns and features. The same is true for several other trails at Lakeway. There are also a few hike-a-bike sections depending on what trails you find yourself on and if you choose to pedal up Mount Lakeway, bring some extra snacks.
The route I put together above is a good intro to the Lakeway trails. You definitely want to ride Wallmart (a soft black), which follows a band of limestone. Also check out the new school Fence Line Flow.
Having TrailForks downloaded to your phone is a must at Lakeway or else you’re guaranteed to get lost.
2. Pedernales State Park
Ride it for:
- Juniper Ridge – a very unique, but techy and tiring trail
- Beautiful forest with juniper and madrone trees
- Not a ton of climbing
Need to know:
- Most of the green/easy trails (aside from Madrone) are doubletrack
- Cell service can be limited
- The full Juniper Ridge Trail may be frustrating for less advanced riders
Pedernales State Park is situated on the banks of the Pedernales River about an hour west of Austin. I stayed at the campground for four nights during my trip to Hill Country – I did a big 20+ mile ride in the park and then used the campground as a base to explore the other trail networks nearby like Pace Bend and Milton Reimers (see below).
Pedernales State Park has quite a few mountain biking trails, however, the two best trails are Juniper Ridge and Madrone. I honestly wouldn’t recommend riding the other trails unless you have extra time or you’re a very new rider. Most of the easy/green trails are doubletrack and the other singletrack is pretty beaten up by horses.
But Juniper Ridge (no horses allowed) and Madrone are awesome! Juniper Ridge was one of my favorite trails of my whole trip to Hill Country. It’s mostly flat and follows a rock ledge band, but don’t think that it’s easy. This trail is rock tech at its best. Expect lots of embedded stones, goat-lunge moves, narrow tree gaps, and rock slabs. I loved it, but it won’t be for everyone.
If you’re not sure this is the kind of riding you’re into, start with the Half Juniper Loop route I’ve recommended above.
Want to visit Pedernales Falls State Park? Read my full guide for more tips and planning resources.
3. Pace Bend
Ride it for:
- Wookiee Way!
- Good mix of tech and flow for not much climbing
- Fun little skills park
- Try not to dab on Rock Garden of Greatness
Need to know:
- The trails aren’t overly technical, but there are lots of rocks
- It gets busy on weekends
- There are occasional events held at Pace Bend
Pace Bend is one of the more popular mountain bike destinations outside of Austin. It’s about an hour’s drive from the city, but if you’re looking for a classic ride in Hill Country, Pace Bend is a great choice.
The trail to ride here is Wookiee Way. Built by a well-known local trail builder, it’s well-routed and features lots of tight twists and turns, interesting rock features, and good flow for not much climbing. If you’re thinking about doing Juniper Ridge at Pedernales State Park (see above), Wookiee Way is a good intro. I rode it north-to-south, but it can be ridden in either direction.
You can also add on the short Rock Garden of Greatness loop. For experienced mountain bikers, it’ll be pretty easy, but for newer mountain bikers, it’s a good challenge. Try not to put your foot down! There’s also a cool little skills park with wooden features off of Powerline trail.
Pace Bend also has camping and is located on Travis Lake. When I visited, the lake level was extremely low, but you can usually swim and play out on the water.
Learn more about mountain biking at Pace Bend State Park in my detailed guide.
Need Help Planning Your Trip?
I’d love to chat about your Texas Hill Country mountain bike adventure! Click the link below to set up a trip-planning session.
4. Milton Reimers Ranch Park
Ride it for:
- A less popular side of Hill Country mountain biking
- Fast flow on the green and blue trails
- Rocky and chunky tech on the black trails
Need to know:
- These trails don’t get a lot of love, so expect them to be a bit rugged
- There’s a $5 entrance fee
- The Flow Trail has some big drops and features – scope before you send if you head out there.
I enjoyed my ride at Milton Reimers Ranch, but it’s important to note that these trails don’t get a lot of trail work (at least that was my impression). The green and blue trails were in pretty good shape, but the black trails definitely have seen better days (still worth doing if you’re an intermediate/advanced mountain biker).
The riding is kind of in between Lakeway (more challenging) and Pace Bend (less challenging). There is some fast, flat flow on Greenway and then more climbing and rocky tech on Sikeway and Jen’s Loop. Depending on your skill level, there are few places that are good to session. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, Kent’s Krash and Henne High are the two black trails – I liked them, but then again, I also like chunky, rocky, tech with punchy climbs 🙂
You definitely need to do the descent down Fenceline, though. There are small little kickers all the way down, which makes for a great finish to your ride.
There is a $5 entry fee for Milton Reimers Ranch. There’s also free wifi in the parking area.
5. Station Mountain Bike Park
Ride it for:
- Jumps, jumps, jumps!
- Get towed uphill by a tractor
- Support an entrepreneurial kid
Need to know:
- A day pass is $50
- There’s some big stuff here – preride, reride, freeride
- Only open on Saturdays and Sundays
- You can’t access Station Mountain from the west entrance of Crider Rd. (which Google may try to send you down)
- Must sign a waiver
Station Mountain is a new-ish bike park in Texas Hill Country. It’s located just a short 30-minute drive from Texas’s only lift-serve bike park (see Spider Mountain below), but it’s completely different.
Station Mountain is all about jumps (although there are some short DH tracks and an easy flow trail). But for the most part, riders come to Station Mountain to get some air – big and small.
The backstory of this park is actually pretty cool. It was started by a local high schooler – Rhett – who had a school project to create a ‘Masterpiece’. Some students started clothing businesses, another came up with a TV show. Rhett decided to build Station Mountain.
I spent a day at Station Mountain and while I was a little intimidated at first, I eventually relaxed and had a great time – even solo. There are jumps and trails for everyone, so just bring a go-get-it attitude. One of the best parts about riding at Station is getting towed uphill by a tractor!
Not sure if Station Mountain is for you? Learn more in my First-Time Visitor’s Guide.
6. Reveille Peak Ranch
Ride it for:
- Unique rock slab riding
- Old school tech
- A very cool freeride park with some of the biggest jumps and drops I’ve seen in my life!
Need to know:
- There is a $10 day pass fee
- It is almost impossible not to get lost. Have TrailForks downloaded
- These miles are hard-won
- Camping is available
- This is an open ranch – you’ll probably see cows
- Must sign a waiver
Reveille (pronounced rev-alee) is a pretty unique place when it comes to Texas Hill Country mountain biking. If you look at it on a map, the ranch is home to a substantial network of trails – almost 30 miles.
However, unlike most of the other trail networks on this list, Reveille is kind of like the punk rock misfit. It’s challenging and the miles are hard-won, but it also features some of the coolest riding – much of it on granite slabs. It also has a badass freeride zone with jumps and drops if you’re into getting big air.
Many riders come to Reveille to ride the RPR Loop. This trail winds around a granite mountain with large slabs of slickrock and it’s ‘signed’ with reflectors – the kind you’d see on a newly paved road. Keep your eyes peeled because sometimes they’re hard to spot!
Reveille is very cool and very unique, but I can’t stress again that the miles here are tough and you’re almost certain to get lost. Have TrailForks downloaded to your phone.
Learn more about mountain biking at Reveille Peak Ranch and what to expect in my full guide.
7. Spider Mountain Bike Park
Ride it for:
- Lift-served DH fun
- Ride Texas’s only lift-served bike park
- Very well-built (and fun!) trails
- Get a photo on the Lone Star flag wall ride
Need to know:
- Ticket prices are dynamic – buy ahead of time to save $
- Ride within your skill level
- Lifts run Friday – Monday
- Open year-round
- Must sign a waiver
I was a little skeptical about Spider Mountain Bike Park because [one] the vertical drop is only 350 ft and [two] there are a total of 7 miles and a dozen trails – a far cry from the mountain bike parks I’m used to out west like the massive Mammoth Mountain.
BUT, after spending a full day at Spider Mountain and cramming in 23 laps and hitting all the trails, I can confidently say that it is awesome! I really loved this little park. Each trail is unique from the beginner-friendly flow line on Itsy Bitsy to the feature-packed Tarantula, to the fast and furious Viper’s Den.
Even though there are only a handful of trails, I never got bored. There are multiple lines within each trail section, so you can make it different – and challenge yourself – on each run.
Spider Mountain is open Friday through Monday. If you can, though, I do recommend trying to ride it on Friday or Monday, since the weekends can be very busy.
Plan your day or weekend in Burnet, Texas with my Spider Mountain Bike Park guide.
Shopping for a full face helmet?
Protect your face and pearly whites. When I’m at the bike park, I always wear a full face helmet. Not only does it give me more peace of mind when I’m bombing downhill, but I also know that it’s going to do a lot more to protect my head and face in the event of a crash.
My favorite full face helmet is the Smith Mainline. It’s comfortable to wear, has decent ventilation, and is downhill-certified meaning it has been tested for safety.
This helmet also comes with three different cheek pad sizes, so you can get a snug fit.
8. Flat Rock Ranch
Ride it for:
- Some of the best Hill Country riding
- Beautiful and peaceful setting
- Route finding is easy
- A chance to chat with Jimmy
Need to know:
- There is a $15 day use fee
- No dogs allowed
- Trails are directional
- They host events, so check the website before you go
- Must sign a waiver
Flat Rock Ranch was my first stop on my Texas Hill Country mountain biking adventure and it set the bar high. I loved exploring the trails here – they’re beautiful, unique, and easy to follow (unlike most of the trail networks in Hill Country, which I came to find out). There’s also a decent amount of variety, although it will definitely appeal to the more XC crowd.
I camped at Flat Rock Ranch for two nights and rode both the Upper and Lower loops. I wish I’d had time to stay a few more days! If you get a chance to sit down and chat with Jimmy, it’s fun to hear his stories about building the trails and hosting events.
Make the most of your time at Flat Rock Ranch with my detailed guide.
Tips for mountain biking in Texas Hill Country
Set on planning a mountain bike trip to Texas Hill Country? Here are a few tips that might come in handy:
Suggested Itinerary
If I had four days to ride in Texas Hill Country, here is how I’d spend my time:
The Best of Mountain Biking in Texas Hill Country
Other things to do in Texas Hill Country
The mountain biking in Texas Hill Country will keep you busy for as long as you want it to, but if you’re looking for some non-biking things to do, here are a few other things worth checking out in Hill Country:
Have you explored the mountain bike trails around Texas Hill Country? Which are your favorites? Which ones look the best to you? Leave a comment below!
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Great write up! Austin is added to my bucket list!
I loved it! Such as fun surprise 🙂
Excellent write up! So glad to meet Becky and join in on some of the rides during her stay in Texas. Becky’s summaries capture these trails with great detail and are highly recommended for visitors to the area. I look forward to following your guides on my own future travels – enjoy your adventures!
It was great meeting and riding with you, Bob! Hopefully our paths will cross again 🙂
Epic write-up, but there’s one major problem. As we discussed, there are TWO e’s in Wookiee. And you really shouldn’t risk offending Chewbacca, even if the trail signs themselves are misspelled 😉
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/25/530039999/40-years-after-star-wars-error-newspaper-apologizes-to-wookiee-community
So glad you came out and played with us in central Texas the last couple of weeks! Look forward to your next visit; make it a month next time so you can try all the rest. You definitely hit many of the highlights, but there really is an astonishing amount of spicy, rocky, natural tech left to explore. And add the under-construction Rough Hollow pedal-up bikepark in Lakeway (that we got one preview run down), the two ever-expanding chairlifted / tractorpulled bikeparks, the insane new lines at Reveille, and the legit DH tracks on Cat Mountain, the freeride scene around here is starting to feel like Kamloops or something. Keep Austin Weird!
Hahaha! You even pointed out the correct spelling when we rode Wookiee Way 🤣.
Thanks SO much for playing tour guide – I really enjoyed our rides! I need to come back and check out the trails closer to Austin. Someone else mentioned Rocky Ranch on the east side of the city as well.
See you on the road!