Trail Rules & FAQs
We want every trail user to have a wonderful hassle-free experience on the trail. Please be mindful of others and their user experience when on the trail. Â
- Pass on the Left, Walk on the Right.
- Speed Limited to 10mph.
- No electric scooters.
- Dogs on leashes 6ft or shorter.
- Scoop their poop.
- Share the trail; 2 across max.
If you have complaints about trail user etiquette please call 3-1-1. We also recommend you be a good neighbor and kindly teach others proper etiquette.
If you see E-Scooters on the trail please report to 3-1-1. Â We are hyper-focused on supporting Austin Parks & Recreation Department and their pilot program that has banned the use of E-Scooters on the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. We are collecting data through the link above to send to the city. Let your voice be heard!
Thank you for your support in creating and cultivating a happy Trail environment!
Are motorized vehicles allowed on the Trail?
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 10MPH. 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.
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 on the Trail.Â
To report commercial marketing and/or sales at the Trail, anyone can contact the Park Ranger office at (512) 978-2600 and there will be someone dispatching 7-days a week from 8 am-6 pm. For before/after hours, there is voice mail and the Rangers can use those times to set up directed patrols if marketers are present outside of the daytime operating hours. That information is also useful to the Rangers in demonstrating a need for additional staff or changing their shift coverage in the future. We also encourage you to capture a photo and email it, along with location, date and time to marketing@thetrailconservancy.org.Â
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.
- 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.Â
- 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:Â is allowed on the rest areas but not along the main trail.
- Maintenance: To report trail maintenance issues, please call 311.
- Contact:Â 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.Â
Events/Exhibitions:Â Â 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:Â 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.
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 ununiform lighting. During community engagement around our 2021 Trail Safety and Mobility Study, we heard from advocates on both sides of the issue. At the same time, some advocated for improved lighting throughout, while others advocated for preserving the night sky and ecology that relies on darkness.Â
The Trail Conservancy prioritizes the importance of the safety of Trail users. We are incorporating 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 will break ground in late Spring and will include three types of lighting – pedestrian pole, bollard, and dock lighting. TTC has also designed (or is designing) site lighting for all of the current capital projects we are working on, including the Butler Shore Exercise Area, Rainey Street Trailhead, and the Holly Shore Project.
TTC is committed to doing our part to keep Trail users safe.
Some of the mile markers are missing. Will TTC replace them?
There are plans to redo the measurements and the mile markers in the future. We are currently working on a Comprehensive Signage Plan for the entire Butler Trail that will include updated mile markers and other wayfinding signage.Â
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.
The loop map was created many years ago using USATF certified distances. We recalculated those in Fall 2022 to take into account the Holly Shores Trail loop.
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.
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:Â 1125 W. Cesar Chavez St.
- Johnson Creek Trailhead Restroom:Â 2100 Veterans Drive
- MÃro 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 daysÂ
- 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?Â
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 would like to buy a memorial bench or put a plaque on the Butler Trail. How can I do this?
We understand the need to give back to the Trail in memory of a special friend or family member. The Trail is a special place for many people. While Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department has no need for new benches or plaques along the Trail, there are several options available for a memorial at the Trail:
- If having a person’s name out at the Trail is most important, we currently have two commemorative brick locations open: Lakeshore Park – the east Boardwalk entrance and Butler Shores Exercise area. This allows a person’s name to be placed at the Trail where it will lie in perpetuity. Learn more about this program via our commemorative brick page
- Adopting a bench along the 1.2-mile Boardwalk 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 while they’re still available.
- If having a name at the Trail is a primary concern, we can talk about your donation helping fund one of our several major Trail enhancements in the works. There is a minimum donation level for on-site recognition and the amount is agreed upon with the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). Please contact TTC’s development team at development@thetrailconservancy.org for any more questions!
