The Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, enhance, and connect the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail for the benefit of all. Established in 2003 as the Town Lake Trail Foundation, The Trail Conservancy furthers the historic efforts set forth by the Citizens Committee in 1971.
The Butler Trail will always be public parkland and will always belong to the people. To serve our city in all its diversity, the Trail must be a welcoming and engaging place for everyone. TTC is committed to improving, maintaining, and operating the Trail to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy one of our city’s most treasured attractions.
The Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a 10-mile Trail that wraps around Lady Bird Lake in the heart of downtown Austin. The Trail began as a vision by Lady Bird Johnson and Ann Butler in 1971.
With nearly 5 million visits annually, the Trail Conservancy continually enhances amenities and preserves points of interest so everyone can enjoy exploring the Trail. Visitors of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail can access bikeways, ADA-accessible trails, bathrooms, drinking fountains, as well as gardens, rest areas, and rotating art installations.
Drinking Fountains
Benches
Showers
Restrooms
Pedestrian Bridges
Bikeways
Parking
Boat Ramps
Tree Groves & Urban Forestry
Ecological Restoration
ADA Accessible Entrances
Installations
Fishes Types
Species
Visitors per Year
Trees
Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, is a tall, deciduous conifer that can reach over 75 feet in height. The tree has "knees" that project from submerged roots at the base and light airy foliage on the crown. Bald Cypress trees line the edges of the Trail and Lady Bird Lake and provide shade and cooling for the Trail users and wildlife.
Birds
The pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) is a species of the grebe family of water birds. The pied-billed grebe is primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas.
Amphibians
Scincella lateralis, formerly Lygosoma laterale is a small species of skink found throughout much of the eastern half of the United States, and into northern Mexico.
Fish
Fishing is a popular past-time on the Lake with anglers catching Largemouth Bass, Redbreast and Redear Sunfish, and Bluegills. And don’t forget their food! Invertebrates like Swallowtail Butterflies, various moths, spiders, beetles, and dragonflies can be found on Lady Bird Lake.
Plants
Correll's false dragonhead (Physostegia correllii) is a rare, flowering plant characterized by purple-pink flowers and dark green leaves. It belongs to the mint family and is found in forested and herbaceous wetland habitats.
Mammals
What can we say, this is the iconic bat of Central Texas. The star of the show at Bracken Cave, Congress Avenue Bridge, and many other bat viewing sites in the Central Texas SBA (Significant Bat Area).
Reptiles
Resting on logs and peeking from the Lake surface you can find Red-eared Slider turtles, Spiny Softshell turtles. Remember to give Cottonmouth Snakes a wide berth, and listen for Gulf Coast Toads.
Invertebrates
Damselflies are flying insects and are similar to dragonflies. They are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body.
The Trail Conservancy is committed to Trail enhancements, responsible stewardship, and attracting philanthropic dollars to support the Trail as the demand and use of the Trail increases.
Through community engagement and ecological demand, we identify projects each year to help enhance and improve the Trail experience.
Use an interactive map, download a map to your phone, or (coming soon!) use Google to embark on a journey unique to you. These maps help you learn about current and future projects, explore routes, spoke trails, and state-of-the-art amenities like drinking water fountains, restrooms, and parking lots.
Your Stories of
and on the Trail.
