Know Before You Go: Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve

Every trail has a personality. Austin’s woodsy paths are my friends and, just as with any group of buddies, different outings call for different faces. Right now, as I get back on my feet and reclaim my trail fitness, Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve is my perfect workout partner.

Wild Basin Basics

Located just off North Capital of Texas Highway (known to locals as Loop 360), this 227-acre wilderness is one of Travis County’s many parks. Home to St. Edward’s University’s Wild Basin Creative Research Center, Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve provides protected habitat for endangered species and opportunities for researchers to study Hill Country ecology under management by the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP). They’re doing good work for environmental research but, as a hiker and trail runner, I’ve never actually paid a visit to the center (it’s on my “to do” list).

Everything necessary is located outside the Creative Research Center: bathroom, kiosk with trail map, and parking. The preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset; check those exact times on the Wild Basin website, because the gate closes automatically and you don’t want to get shut in.

Facilities are improved but still basic. General info:

• leave your dog at home
• bring your own water
• skip the picnic (not allowed)
• park in the paved lot
• four handicapped parking spots
• one Port-a-Potty near trailhead
• security guard (but lock away valuables at all times)
• explore 2.5 miles of trail
• Wild Basin is free, but don’t forget to leave a donation!

All the details are laid out in the Travis County Parks website, including some neat video showing trails. For the research side, partner St. Edwards University’s website provides information on research, tours, and the like. Me? I’m here to share the hands-on commentary.

Working Wild Basin’s Trails

If you’re new to trail running or looking for fun outdoor family activities, Wild Basin is a very accessible park. Trails provide an unusual amount of shade without, thanks to diligent maintenance, a lot of invasive plants like poison ivy (which is rampant on Walnut Creek Park trails). Whether due to its location or small size, Wild Basin is blissfully free of big groups, even on the weekends.

What I love most about Wild Basin is its variety. Even though it’s a small set of trails, those 2.5 miles can be strung together in many ways. And each segment provides unique training benefits.

Loop-de-Loop

Oh, I’m a big fan of a loop. You can make several loops at Wild Basin, if you don’t mind a bit of repetition. Here are some clockwise concentric circles, from smallest to largest:

• Arroyo Vista Loop, as shown on the trail map,is the basic (.5 miles)
• Arroyo Vista (from trailhead top portion) to Triknee, right on Ledge, and back to trailhead via Laurel and Arroyo Vista (.8 miles)
• Arroyo Vista (from trailhead top portion) to Triknee and Possum to Creek, right on Woodland, left on Ledge, and right to trailhead via Laurel and Arroyo Vista (1.2 miles)
• Arroyo Vista (from trailhead top portion) to Triknee and Possum to Creek, right on Warbler, left on Laurel, and left on Arroyo Vista back to trailhead (1.35 miles)
• Arroyo Vista (from trailhead top portion) to Triknee and Possum to Creek, left on Yaupon, left on Warbler, left on Laurel, and left on Arroyo Vista back to trailhead (1.5 miles)
• Bored of loops? Try a zigzag: Arroyo Vista Loop, right on Laurel, left on Ledge, right on Woodland, right on Creek, left on Yaupon, left on Creek, right on Woodland, right on Ledge, left on Tricknee, left on Arroyo Vista back to trail head (whew! 2.05 miles)

Ground Work

Wild Basin’s variety extends to terrain. The upper trails, particularly Arroyo Vista Loop and Ledge, are quite groomed. Smooth crushed granite is very friendly on the feet, whether you’re a little kid, mobility impaired, or new to trails. Those flat fast portions are a good place to pick up the pace and practice some speed.

As my trail mentor Joe Prusaitis advised, “Run what the trail allows.“

Roots and limestone ledge step-ups are endemic to Hill Country trails, and you’ll find both at Wild Basin.

Triknee features limestone step-ups (layered shelves of rock that create stairs). Woodland, Warbler, and Creek–the interior shaded segments–showcase packed dirt, leaves, and knobby tree roots.

Each in their own way, rocky bits and rooty sections help to train you for picking up feet; a roadie shuffle will land you flat on your face.

Bee Creek runs across the Creek and Yaupon trails. There are three creek crossings. Like any place in Texas, creek levels depend greatly on recent rain. All three crossings have stepping stones in place–nice for casual hikers, though trail runners like to get their feet wet. I know I do. Though water may be higher, it’s never been so high I had to wade across (note: rocks can get slippery when the creek is really flowing).

My favorite aspect of Wild Basin’s trails? Yaupon. What’s so great about Yaupon, you ask? Elevation. The trailhead sits at the top of the canyon and Bee Creek at the bottom. Yaupon acts as an outdoor StairMaster. Sure, Barton Creek Greenbelt’s “Hill of Life” is longer (the hill itself is a solid half mile) but the HoL can be crowded. Wild Basin gets much less traffic, which means I often have that gorgeous hill all to myself. The assent starts almost immediately after you cross the creek and continues unbroken until you reach the canyon rim (no plateaus). I think it’s steeper than HoL.

The one type of Texas terrain Wild Basin doesn’t feature is skree. Skree is what you call that accumulation of small, loose rocks on the side of a hill. Running on skree is a definite art, which involves light, skimming steps and a brave heart. If you’re ever planning on doing any of the trail races in Bandera, Texas, you’ll need some skree practice . . . and another park.