Return to Stephenson Preserve

Quirky Park, Tons of Shade; Trail Markers Please!
User: plectrudis - 4/24/2017  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A

There were parts of this trail that I really liked, and parts that were really annoying, so I guess that adds up to a 3 out of 5?

The best part: tons of shade--one of the shadiest trails in Austin--I love that!  There's a mixed deciduous woodland and a big cedar brake, and I was in shade more than 85% of the time, I think.

Also, the locals clearly have a quirky, artsy aesthetic, as the trail is decorated with metal yard art at various spots.  Not lots of it--just the occasional tucked-away piece to surprise you as you walk along.  This is fun.

The less good: botanically, it was a bit of a yawn for me--very little was blooming, and what there was is super-common--mostly horseherb and weedy non-native carrot relatives.  I did see a good bit of pearl milkvine in bloom, but overall, it was a bit ho-hum for a plant peeper.

And the worst part, as almost everyone else has mentioned, is the lack of any properly marked trails.  I was worried about getting lost, so although I took a number of random side trails, I ended the hike at 2 miles out of fear of losing my way.  I'm usually looking for a 3-5-mile hike after work, so this is not really satisfactory.

However, the shade will definitely bring me back, especially in the dog days of summer.

User: ValEpiscopo - 4/19/2013  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Hiked in from Longview Park, around Stephenson's Preserve perimeter.
It was okay
User: texaskdog - 6/27/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Didn't see even one person, but could hear cars almost the whole time, so not sure how much "solitude" that is.  Got lost and wound up on Brodie. Nothing is labeled at all, even walking around the outside got lost.  No water or creeks.  The sculptures are pretty cool.  Saw 3 deer run from our right to our left about 20 feet in front of us.  Some cool things but not a very good park yet.

User: Ollie - 3/10/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 0.80 Mile Duration: N/A
Wet Stephenson Preserve
User: Ollie - 1/31/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 1.50 Miles Duration: N/A

The ground was soaked from a rainstorm a couple of days ago but it was still an enjoyable hike.  Saw some statues made out of the old barbwire from the old Ranch and I almost got lost a couple of times.  I would highly suggest bringing a GPS. 

Longview via wm cannon
User: kathyhearn - 10/30/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A
I KNOW THAT PARK LIKE THE BACK OF MY HAND
User: jgrussatx - 3/12/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 5stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 100.00 Miles Duration: 20 hours

I remember going to this place as as a teen over ten years ago.  My friend lived in the neighborhood and we all hung out there every day.  Infact my friend is the one with the dirt bike responsible for your trails.  What most people dont know or forget is the cemetery located in the park.  And the fact that its haunted Ive seen two ghost children and a tiny little creature walking on its hind legs SERIOSULY BEWARE

User: wallis - 1/6/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours
worth seeing
User: Caledonia - 9/7/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour

There's more than meets the eye here.  When you get north of the park, your on an old moto cross track.  Head toward Wm. Cannon while staying to the west.  Some interesting junkartwork is stationed around the trails.  Also an old  trail heads west and links up with the creek eventually running under Brodie lane.

The artist left his link: (guess everyone has a myspace or flickr site:)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adolfo_isassi/tags/longviewsculptor/

 

Where the heck am I?
User: perk1963 - 3/13/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 45 minutes

Thank goodness I brought my dog. He seemed to know where to go, for the most part. I made a small loop first that only took about 10 minutes. Headed up the paved path and cut off to the left at the first sign of a path. It meandered around a bit and brought me back out the other side of the park. We then went up the paved path again and cut off to the left at the end of the path. Lost the path for a bit but were behind houses--found another path that was open field and found some residents walking along that path--doubled back into the wooded area and followed a trail downhill (and through a pretty muddy area) and back into the park again. Not sure what ground I actually covered or whether I ever made it onto the actual preserve. Had fun with my dog and made for a brief adventure.

User: lancescape - 1/7/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Potentially good hiking area.
User: Dean Geuras - 5/13/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4point5stars
Distance: 2.90 Miles Duration: N/A
The preserve has some attractive wooded areas and some grassy fields with wild flowers. Unfortunately, there are so many interconnected trails that it is nearly impossible to stay on the right path. The first time that I hiked here, I had to exit the park and use the public streets to get back to my car. The next time, I used a GPS, which helped considerably. I think that this hike would be much more enjoyable if one main trail were clearly marked.
lots and lots of twisting trails
User: nobody - 2/6/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A
It seemed like the trails would never end. I spent 2 hours wandering around the preserve and wished I had a GPS to help find my way back. At the pace I was going, 2 hours works out to 5-6 miles. I saw some paintballers coming out at one point and very obvious evidence of their playing field. Be careful. Paintballers aren't always too careful about who they shoot.
User: budrow - 10/5/2004  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 3point5stars
Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: N/A
A glimpse of South Austin history
User: maecenus - 9/27/2004  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: N/A
This is a little secret here in South Austin. The trails are well marked and the scenery is nice. Some of the area seems to be returning to its natural habitat and there are numerous signs that it was once a ranch. Old stone walls, old barbed wire fences and rusted out tin cans from days gone by.
Trails and more trails
User: Austin Explorer - 1/31/2004  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 3point5stars Solitude: 3point5stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A
This preserve has twisting, criss-crossing trails, somewhat like Walnut Creek Park. Mountain bikers and/or motorcyclists have obviously been here before, though I did not see any on my hike. Still, if you don't get lost, you can find a bit of solitude here.