Mount Bonnell
Head to Covert Park to get a whole new perspective of the lake. This hillside park is home to the 775-feet Mount Bonnell, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors have been coming here since the 1850s to enjoy panoramic views of the water, city, and surrounding hills. To get to the top, you’ll have to climb 102 stairs. Once there you’ll find a small stone pavilion, so settle in for a picnic with a spectacular view before making the trek back down.
Pennybacker Bridge
Also known as the 360 Bridge, the Pennybacker Bridge’s two stately arches span Austin Lake without touching the water — all the better to accommodate the many boats that float beneath it. Designed to blend into its surroundings, its weathered, rust-colored exterior has received awards for its innovative design. The bridge has become such a recognizable part of the Austin landscape, you can find it on many souvenir posters, keychains, and mugs. For an incredible view of the real thing, park in a small lot off the western road of the north span, then complete a short but steep hike to an overlook that offers incomparable views of the bridge, Austin, and — if you time it right — the sunset.
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
If you truly feel the need to jump into the cool waters of Lake Austin, this is an excellent (and legal) place to do it. This 1,142-acre park features waterfront barbecues and picnic tables, docks, piers, and a designated swimming area with a small sandy beach — where you’re likely to jostle with little ones wearing water wings. There is also a network of hiking trails, including the popular Turkey Creek, a tree-lined 2.8-mile path that winds alongside, and at several points crosses, a babbling creek.