A waterfall

Visiting the Preserve

Wild Basin is Open for Hiking Every Day 

The preserve offers almost three miles of beautiful trails for hiking. On weekdays, there is no day-use fee and no reservations are required. To visit on weekends and holidays, reservations are required and a nominal day-use fee is charged. Designated trails are open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset.

  • Parking is limited, and the entrance gate will close whenever the parking area is full. The Visitor Gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.  An outdoor restroom facility is located in the parking lot.
  • Wild Basin is a nature preserve, where everything is protected. Please stay on the trails and follow The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace during your visit. Pets, bikes, smoking/fire, weapons, drones, picnics, and collecting are prohibited. 
  • Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is located at 805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX, 78746.

Book a Reservation for Weekends and Holidays 

If you want to visit Wild Basin on a weekend or federal holiday, you’ll need to reserve a hiking pass, which is good for up to three hours. Simply book online, or call (512) 327-7622 to learn more and make your reservation.

Reserve a Hiking Pass

Hilltopper Hiking Access — The Other Hilltop

Current St. Edward's University students, faculty and staff use this reservation link to make their free hiking reservation for weekends and federal holidays (have your ID number handy).

Hilltopper Hiking Pass

A tour group at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Education for All

Learn more about educational field trips, programs, curriculums, lessons, videos and more offered through Wild Basin Creative Research Center. 

Special Events at Wild Basin

Reservation Events Menu

Monthly

Reservation required (see event links for more details)

Weekly 

One Time Events 

The image depicts a wooden directional signpost in a natural setting. An upward-pointing arrow indicates the direction to a waterfall. The left-pointing arrow suggests the way to a creek. The right-pointing arrow possibly indicates a trail or area named Yaupon. The signpost is surrounded by trees and foliage, suggesting it's located in a park or nature reserve.

Self-Guided Hiking From Sunrise to Sunset

The preserve is open for self-guided hiking every day from sunrise to sunset, with reservations required for weekends and federal holidays. 

Be prepared for rugged Hill Country terrain and varying weather conditions. Bring water to carry with you on the trail, as well as our handy trail map.

The image captures an indoor scene where a group of individuals are gathered, some seated and others standing. A child in a red shirt stands facing away from the camera, holding up a camera or phone as if taking a photograph. Two monitors display wildlife images; one shows an insect, and the other is partially visible. Above the monitors, text reads "ZOOM INTO WILD BASIN." On the wall, there's text related to an artist residency program.

Wild Basin Visitor Gallery

Our Visitor Gallery, located on the ground floor of the Creative Research Center, is open weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The Gallery hosts a number of educational and engaging interactive exhibits. The Center has public restrooms, a water cooler and other amenities available to visitors.

  • WEEKENDS: During 2024 the visitor gallery will be open on the first and second Saturday of each month from 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

To protect the preserve and prevent overuse, Travis County approved a new day-use fee system. Registration and day-use fees are required on weekends and holidays only, when preserve visitation is at its peak. During the 50 years of free and unlimited public access to Wild Basin trails, natural areas have become visibly distressed. Human impacts such as cut-through trails, plant damage, and increased trash and traffic overwhelm the natural creek basin. Managing the number of visitors and collecting a small fee supports preserve operational costs and helps Wild Basin staff in their work to conserve and restore the preserve.

Adults (Ages 18+): $5.00
Youth (Ages 6-17): $3.00
Children (Ages 1-5): Free
Group Rate (4 to 6 adults): $15.00

For financial assistance on weekends, you can request a fee waiver online or call 512-327-7622 or email wb_reservations@s2sfoundation.org.

Online advance registration is required for weekends and federal holidays only. On weekdays, entry is free and reservations are not required, but the gate will close whenever the parking area is full. If your weekday group is over 5 vehicles, please call or email wbasin@s2sfoundation.org at least 7 days in advance to coordinate. The parking lot is small with limited space.

Schools and community groups are eligible for free tours and educational programs. For more info, contact us.

Each reservation is good for one vehicle with up to 6 people. All individuals and vehicles in your group must be included in your reservation(s).

The trails at Wild Basin total almost 3 miles and take guests from the top of a hill at the Creative Research Center down to the basin of Bee Creek. The shortest loop, Arroyo Vista at 0.6 miles, includes a stop at the scenic Overlook. Hikers can explore a longer hike with creek crossings along the Creek Loop, at 1.5 miles. Ledge Trail is an intermediate option at 0.8 miles that follows a natural limestone outcrop. Woodland Trail is steep and rocky, and contains some of the largest Ashe juniper specimens along the trails. At almost 2 miles, the Yaupon Loop is the longest trail, crossing Bee Creek to follow the preserve’s southern border.

Whichever trail you choose, prepare to hike over a period of 2 hours across rugged, rocky terrain. All participants should wear closed-toed shoes, dress appropriately for the weather, and bring water to carry on the trails. A sun hat and sunblock are recommended. Carry a printed or digital Wild Basin Trail Map.

If you have reserved a hiking pass (as required for weekends or holidays), you’ll need to exit the preserve at the end of your hiking session time slot. On weekdays, visitation is allowed from sunrise to sunset.

The Visitor Gallery is open Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. and closed on weekends. No water is available on site when the visitor gallery is closed. A portable restroom is located in the parking lot. 

No. Wild Basin is a nature preserve, not a park. Pets can disturb habitat and disrupt the behavior of native wildlife.

No. As part of the nature preserve, Bee Creek's waters and wildlife are all protected and must not be disturbed. 

No. Reservations are valid "rain or shine."

Email wb_reservations@s2sfoundation.org or call 512-327-7622 to cancel your reservation. You must cancel 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

For financial assistance on weekends, you can request a fee waiver online. You can also request a fee waiver by emailing wb_reservations@s2sfoundation.org or calling 512-327-7622.  Please allow 48 hours to respond to a request.

St. Edward's University manages daily operations at the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve (through a joint agreement with Travis County) and also manages the Wild Basin Creative Research Center. Travis County oversees the land management of the Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, ensuring adherence to the terms of the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan. 

Learn more

St. Edward's University Wild Basin Creative Research Center is located within Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. This 227-acre nature preserve is co-owned and co-managed by Travis County and St. Edward's University, and is a treasured resource for our entire community.