The City of Austin and the Hill Country Conservancy are working together to develop the Violet Crown Trail system.
Violet Crown Trail begins at Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park and, once complete, will extend 30 miles south into Hays County. Width, grade, and surface type varies by location, but segments built by the Urban Trail Program are wide, smooth-surfaced, and suitable for all ages and abilities.
Violet Crown Trail System Overview
Due to coordination between Austin Public Works, Austin Parks and Recreation and the Hill Country Conservancy, many portions of Violet Crown Trail are completed and open to the public. These organizations are currently working on projects to expand and improve the Violet Crown Trail and build connections between completed sections.
Austin Public Works’ Urban Trails Program has been developing two projects within the Violet Crown Trail system: the completed Violet Crown Trail – South, and the in-progress Violet Crown Trail – North. Continue reading for more information about these projects.
Learn more about the Violet Crown Trail:
- See the Hill Country Conservancy’s Violet Crown Trail website to plan your trip and learn more about exploring the trail. Download maps of the completed portions of the trail here.
- Stay in the loop with Austin Parks and Recreation’s projects along Violet Crown Trail here.
Violet Crown Trail – South
Designed and constructed by the Urban Trails Program, Violet Crown Trail – South opened in August 2018. This 0.76-mile long section of the trail is located between Convict Hill Rd and Dick Nichols District Park, just south of the Hampton Branch Public Library to Convict Hill Rd at Brush Country Rd. View a map of the Violet Crown Trail project limits here.
Parking is available at the Violet Crown Trail trailhead, located near the intersection of Convict Hill and Brush Country roads. This portion of trail is a paved surface designed for people walking and people on bikes.
Violet Crown Trail – North
The Austin Public Works Urban Trails Program will begin construction on the Violet Crown Trail – North in mid-February 2022. This one-mile section begins at Home Depot Boulevard and extends to Mopac, just north of William Cannon Drive. Upon completion, Violet Crown Trail – North will connect Violet Crown Trail – South to completed portions north of the Barton Creek Greenbelt by linking with the sidewalk portion of the trail on Brodie Lane and the nature trail portion from Highway 290 to Zilker Park.
See a fact sheet about Violet Crown Trail – North here.
Anticipated Timeline:
- PER / Planning Phase: Spring 2014 to Winter 2014
- Design Phase: Spring 2015 to Winter 2019
- Construction Phase: Winter 2022 to Winter 2023
Project Process
The City of Austin has reached out to the community throughout this project, and has also been working in close coordination with the Hill Country Conservancy.
In 2014, the project team released a Preliminary Engineering Report for Violet Crown Trail – North. This report shows the recommended route for this trail. It also lists topics the City needs to consider to build this trail, such as environmental concerns, wildlife, nearby property ownership, public feedback, and more. See the Violet Crown Trail – North Preliminary Engineering Report here.
Public Meetings: The City of Austin hosted two planning meetings for Violet Crown Trail – North in July 2014 and January 2015.
January 2020 Public Meeting:
On Tuesday, January 7, the Urban Trails Program shared updates about Violet Crown Trail – North. See the project update boards from the January 7 Violet Crown Trail - North public meeting here!
Project Funding
- $1.177 M from a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) grant
- $1.2 M from the 2016 Mobility Bond
- $550,000 from the 2012 Bond
Project Total Cost: $2.9 M
Get Involved!
Share your feedback on Violet Crown Trail!
Contact Us
Email: Emily Smith to:
- Submit questions and comments about this project
- Request a presentation from the project team for your group or organization
Stay Updated
Sign up for email updates on Violet Crown Trail and other Urban Trails projects here!