Lady Bird Lake

This reservoir on the Colorado River curves through central Austin and forms the spine of the city's outdoor life. Once an industrial cooling pond, it was reclaimed as a recreation corridor named for Lady Bird Johnson, who championed its beautification. A ten-mile hike-and-bike trail loops both shores, crossing pedestrian bridges and passing skyline views. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards launch from several points, and the Congress Avenue Bridge nearby shelters a famous colony of Mexican free-tailed bats that stream out at dusk each evening.