5. Westcave Preserve – Road Mountain
A favorite of locals is to hike and enjoy the fresh hill country air is the Westcave Preserve located on the outskirts of Austin. The preserve consists of gorgeous canyons with a 40-foot waterfall that is breathtaking, an education and discovery center along with an Uplands Trail hiking area. Weekends generally aren’t too busy and the guides are very knowledgeable about the history of the caves, how the preserve came to be and the plant and animal life. The guided tour of the caves leads you up and down gorgeous rock staircases, aged trees, carved out caves and behind the waterfall. Although it isn’t smack dab in the middle of the city for $10 a person or $25 for a family, it’s an incredible outdoor experience worth the trip.
