The Butler Trail makes Lady Bird Lake part of daily Austin

The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail wraps Lady Bird Lake right through downtown Austin. The City of Austin describes a roughly 10-mile loop that meanders along the water's edge, passing skyscrapers, neighborhoods, ball fields, and cultural sites. The city calls it Austin's most popular recreational area, with more than 2.6 million visits a year.

For years the loop had a gap. In June 2014, the lakefront Boardwalk opened along the south shore, closing a 1.3-mile stretch where the trail used to dead-end at the water. That single addition turned the route into a continuous loop and is a big reason the trail feels central to so much of Austin life.

If you are weighing a neighborhood near downtown, this helps explain why trail, lake, and waterfront access come up so often. The city page is where to check the full map, access points, and park rules before you go.