Lady Bird Lake

Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail Austin's favourite run circles Lady Bird Lake in a loop of about 10 miles, with bridges that let you cut it to whatever suits the morning. Much of it is soft decomposed granite rather than tarmac, kinder on legs after a flight. The highlight is the 1.3-mile boardwalk on the south shore, a concrete deck over the water with LED lighting and its own trailhead restroom, open from 5am to midnight. Restrooms and drinking fountains along the loop help on hot days, which in Austin is most of them.