Trail Rules & FAQs
Rules & Frequently Asked Questions
Butler Trail Rules & Etiquette
Motorized vehicles, including electric scooters and one-wheeled skateboards, are not permitted on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Electric bikes are permitted under 10 MPH. Austin City Code 8-1-31 and 8-1-32 governs the use of motorized vehicles in Austin parks.
The Following Transportation Bridges that intersect with the Trail will allow E-Scooters: Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge- Scooters allowed South 1st Bridge- Scooters allowed Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge- Scooters are allowed.
To report e-scooters on the Trail, please contact 3-1-1.
- Hours: The Boardwalk is open from 5am to midnight each day, with a curfew between midnight and 5am.
- Boardwalk Access: The Boardwalk can be accessed at several points – the northeast corner of the American-Statesman parking lot, off the Riverside Drive sidewalk at Blunn Creek, from the northeast corner of the Riverside and IH35 intersection and at International Shores Park, 1820 S. Lakeshore Blvd.
- Parking: Street parking is available along S. Lakeshore Blvd. between Pleasant Valley Road and Riverside. Or if you are walking the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail loop, you can park at Festival Beach across the river, or at any of the parking areas near the trail.
- Fishing: is allowed on the rest areas but not along the main trail.
- Maintenance: To report trail maintenance issues, please call 311.
- Contact: Manuel Soza at 512-495-9163
In addition to the Texas Water Safety Act, the City of Austin has established several ordinances for Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake and Lake Walter E. Long. The purposes of these ordinances are to protect the health and safety of the public using the area lakes.
- Texas law requires the following with respect to PFDs (personal flotation devices). Recreational vessels (including canoes, kayaks, and other paddlecraft) under 26ft. in length when underway (including drifting or not at anchor).
- All children under 13 years old must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, (type I, II, III, or V (wearable).
- Adults must have a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, (type I, II, III, or V (wearable) that is easily accessible.
Fishing: It shall be unlawful for any person to fish from the deck or other portion of any bridge that crosses the Colorado River within the city limits. Additional information about fishing in Lake Bird Lake can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.
Events/Exhibitions: No public event or exhibition may occur on Lady Bird Lake without City of Austin and City Council authorization.
Swimming: It is illegal for any person to swim, bathe, wade or go into the waters of Lady Bird Lake, except in efforts to rescue and recover human beings.
Jumping/Diving:It shall be unlawful for any person to dive from or jump of any bridge that crosses the Colorado River within the city limits.
Motorized Vessels: No person shall operate a gas-powered or electric motor vessel on the waters of Lady Bird Lake, except with the permission of the city. Motorboats operated by officers and employees of the city in the performance of their official duties are exempt. Only watercraft powered by electric motors that do not exceed a capacity of five horsepower can operate on Lady Bird Lake. Home made watercraft with any motor additionally required Texas Parks and Wildlife registration and inspection.
- No person on any watercraft on Lake Austin, Lake Walter E. Long, or Lady Bird Lake shall possess, use or operate, or assist in the use or other similar device capable of propelling or launching fluid-filled balloons or other projectiles.
- No person within 150 yards of the shoreline of Lake Austin, Lake Walter E. Long, or Lady Bird Lake shall use or operate, or assist in the use, of other similar device to propel or launch fluid-filled balloons or other projectiles towards the waters of said lakes.
- It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy watercraft located on Lady Bird Lake for the purpose of sleeping between dusk and dawn or overnight habitation unless the City Council approves otherwise.
I lost my keys/my wallet/my phone/my child’s favorite toy on the Trail. Where can I look for them?
There is an on-Trail lost and found called the ‘Rock’ where people leave items of little value. It is located under MoPac on the north side of the Lake at the Johnson Creek Trailhead. If your item is not there, you can contact the main office of the Parks and Recreation Department at 512-974-6700 or by email at parks@austintexas.gov.
Motorized vehicles, including electric scooters and one-wheeled skateboards, are not permitted on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Electric bikes are permitted under 10 MPH. Austin City Code 8-1-31 and 8-1-32 govern the use of motorized vehicles in Austin parks.
The Following Transportation Bridges that intersect with the Trail will allow E-Scooters:
- Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge- Scooters allowed
- South 1st Bridge- Scooters allowed
- Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge- Scooters are allowed
To report e-scooters on the Trail, please contact 3-1-1.
Why is the Butler Trail not 100% lit?
Lighting the entire 10-mile Ann & Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail is a complex discussion. Currently, about 50% of the Butler Trail is unlit, while other areas have excessive or non-uniform lighting. During the community engagement phase of The Trail Conservancy’s 2021 Trail Safety and Mobility Study, we heard from advocates on both sides of the issue. Some advocated for improved lighting throughout the Trail, while others advocated for preserving the night sky and the ecology that relies on darkness.
The Trail Conservancy prioritizes the safety of Trail users. We incorporate the recommendations and principles of good lighting as outlined in the Butler Trail Safety & Mobility Plan on a project-by-project basis:
- The Rainey Street Trailhead Project utilizes three types of lighting – pedestrian pole, bollard, and dock lighting.
- Austin Parks and Recreation installed pedestrian pole lights along the Trail in the Waller Beach area.
- Site lighting is installed at all of TTC’s current capital projects, including the Butler Shores Exercise Area and the Holly Fishing Pier.
- In 2025, Austin Transportation and Public Works installed 0.25 miles of pedestrian pole lighting on the Holly peninsula.
- Due to community engagement feedback in the Holly Shores area (around the decommissioned Holly Power Plant) regarding safety on the Trail, TTC plans to install pedestrian pole lighting around the 0.5-mile Lakefront Trail area.
TTC is committed to doing our part to keep Trail users safe while respecting the surrounding natural environment. See the 2021 Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail Safety & Mobility Study.
Are there mile markers and wayfinding signage on the Butler Trail?
Yes! In 2022, The Trail Conservancy partnered with Stantec (formerly Page/Signage & Wayfinding) to design a modern, inclusive wayfinding system guided by community input and TTC’s 2021 Safety & Mobility Study. Signage was installed in phases, starting in October 2025, and will be completed in the spring of 2026.
- New mile markers (full and half mile) that include trail maps and directional information.
- Directional signage that includes walking and biking times to destinations.
- Regulatory signage that includes five park ordinances and the Trail speed limit. Two ordinances, “pets on leash” and “no motorized vehicles except E-bikes,” are highly recurring regulatory requests to display from Trail users.
- Identification signs that notify of restroom locations and adjacent trails or bridge connections.
- Welcome signs located at the Trail’s 12 trailhead locations where people repeatedly enter and exit the Trail. These include a comprehensive Trail map, information about The Trail Conservancy, Trail etiquette, and regulatory information. These signs will also carry temporary event and programming information.
See the Comprehensive Signage Plan project here.
Will TTC remeasure the Butler Trail and create new loop maps? My app says the distance is different than your loop map.
Yes! The Butler Trail was remeasured in Fall 2025 to take into account the addition of the Lakefront Trail at Holly Shores and the Wishbone pedestrian bridge at Longhorn Dam/Pleasant Valley Road. These new distances are shown on the Trail maps located on the full mile markers and welcome signs on the Trail. The new distances are based on Trail routes that pedestrians and bikes use and do not include stairs.
Please keep in mind that GPS apps are often inconsistent in their measurements. They depend on a variety of satellites to measure distances, meaning trees, clouds, or tall buildings can block the satellite signals needed for the devices to track distances.
I would like to buy a memorial bench or put a plaque on the Butler Trail. How can I do this?
Adopting a bench is a wonderful way to honor a loved one or give a meaningful gift. Benches can be dedicated by individuals, groups of people, or a corporate entity. The Trail Conservancy has several on-Trail adoption programs:
- Adopt-a-Bench: Adopting a bench on the Trail is a beautiful and impactful way to personalize a part of the Trail and honor a loved one. With a limited number of benches available, visit our bench adoption program page to find out how to reserve yours today.
- Adopt-a-Brick: An engraved brick is a unique and personalized way to honor any Trail lover. Bricks are available at two locations: Lakeshore Park (east Boardwalk entrance )and the Butler Shores Exercise area. Visit our brick adoption page to learn more.
- On-Site Project Recognition: If having a name at the Trail is a primary concern, talk to our team about how your contribution to the Trail could fund one of our several major Trail enhancements. There is a minimum donation level for on-site recognition, and the amount is agreed upon with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (APR). Please contact TTC’s development team at development@thetrailconservancy.org for any more questions!
A bathroom on the Trail isn’t working correctly. Who can I contact to fix it?
Contact 311 or parksmaintenance@austintexas.gov with a description of the problem and an address. Restrooms installed by TTC have a sign with the restroom address that should be told to 311 or added to the e-mail.
- Heron Creek Restroom: 1125 W. Cesar Chavez St.
- Johnson Creek Trailhead Restroom: 2100 Veterans Drive
- Míro Rivera Restroom: 701 Cummings St.
- Auditorium Shores at Town Lake Metro Park Restroom: 700 W Riverside Dr.
- Butler Metro Park Restroom: 201 Dawson Rd.
- Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park at Festival Beach Restroom 1: 35 Robert T Martinez Jr St.
- Edward Rendon Sr. Metro Park at Festival Beach Restroom 2: 1401 Nash Hernandez Sr Rd.
- International Shores at Town Lake Metro Park Restroom: 1820 S Lakeshore Blvd.
- Metz Neighborhood Park Restroom: 2407 Canterbury St.
- Shoal Beach at Town Lake Metro Park Restroom: 707 W Cesar Chavez St.
Someone dropped a bunch of trash on the Trail. Who can I contact so it will be cleaned up?
Contact 311 or parksmaintenance@austintexas.gov with a description of the problem and an address.
I see trash all along the Boardwalk! What can I do to help?
TTC has been in communication with the City of Austin Watershed Protection about the amount of trash along the Boardwalk. What it boils down to is that all of the tributaries that feed into Lady Bird Lake dump trash in whenever there is a rain event. Much of the trash is coming from upstream! And Watershed Protection cleans the area around the Boardwalk weekly (if not more frequently), but as soon as the wind changes direction, it blows trash right back into the pylons of the Boardwalk, which tend to catch and hold the trash. There is, sadly, a limit to the amount of staff and hours the city departments can put towards pulling litter out of our beautiful lake.
There are several things that you, as a citizen of Austin, can do to help:
- Volunteer with The Trail Conservancy at our weekly ecological restoration volunteer days
- Volunteer with Keep Austin Beautiful during its bi-monthly Clean Lady Bird Lake
We need the support and action of concerned citizens like you to mobilize and beautify the lake and the Trail!
Someone sprayed graffiti on The Trail, where can I report this so it can be cleaned up?
The City of Austin Graffiti Abatement program removes graffiti from private and public property anywhere in the City of Austin. Report it at 311.
An encampment of people experiencing homelessness has popped up along the Butler Trail. Why aren’t you addressing this?
The Trail Conservancy shares your concerns about the safety of homeless camps along the Butler Trail. While we continue to address this issue with City Council members and City Staff, TTC has no public policy or enforcement authority.
Our best strategy is to be the collective voice of the 5 million Trail visitors. We need your help expressing concern on the issue. When you are on the Trail and see a camp, please contact 311 to report non-dangerous situations or 911 if it is a dangerous situation. You can also download a 311 map for on-site submissions. Additionally, we ask that you contact your own Council member directly. Please include as much detail in all of your reports as possible (time, place, and photos). If you are unsure of your Council district or representative, you can find that here.
I saw a commercial tent set up and marketing at the Trail. Is that allowed? And, how can I set up a tent on the Trail?
Austin City Code currently prevents marketing and/or commercial activity on the Trail.
To report commercial marketing and/or sales at the Trail, please report to 3-1-1. We also encourage you to capture a photo and email it, along with location, date, and time, to marketing@thetrailconservancy.org.
Austin City Code §1.06 Vending A. Persons shall not conduct the commercial sale or offer to sell any goods, wares, drinks, food or items nor render or offer to render any service for hire, at any park, wildlife preserve or facility except as authorized by contract or permit properly issued by the Parks and Recreation Department.
