R We There Yet Mom?

Traveling the Great USA One Darling Adventure at a Time

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Work with Us
    • Contact Us
  • Texas
    • Austin / Central Texas
    • Dallas/Fort Worth
    • Houston
    • San Antonio
    • Other Texas Fun
  • Austin
    • Austin Attractions
    • Austin Hotels
    • Austin Food
    • Austin Events
    • Austin Family Fun
  • Destinations
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Caribbean
    • Europe
    • Disney
    • Theme Parks
    • Luxury Travel
  • Lifestyle
    • Cars
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Tech
  • Family
    • Entertainment
    • Family Fun
    • From the Heart
    • Holidays
  • Travel Tips
    • planning & packing
    • Camping
    • Cruising
    • Road Trips
    • Skiing
  • Entertainment
    • Disney Movies
    • Movies
    • Television
You are here: Home / Austin / Mt. Bonnell ~ Austin, Texas

Mt. Bonnell ~ Austin, Texas

April 4, 2012 by Rebecca Darling

Spread the love

When we first moved to Austin, I compiled a list of “must dos” as newcomers to the city. Based on the advice of neighbors and fellow Austinites, everyone said I had to hike Mt. Bonnell.  Of course, I pictured a tall mountain in the middle of Austin that required hiking boots and a walking stick to climb up.  Not the case my friends…..

Mt. Bonnell is not a mountain and it is not in the middle of downtown Austin.

It is however a gorgeous hill that overlooks the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River.  And with a short “climb” up a small set of stairs, you reach the summit fairly quickly.

Mount Bonnell is listed as a Historic Texas Landmark and has been a popular tourist destination since the 1850’s. And as I tried to read up on the history of Mount Bonnell, would you believe that I found 4 different stories as to who it was named after floating around the old internet?  Regardless of if it was named after a Captain in the Texas Army during the War for Independence or a popular newspaper publisher, it is a FUN outing with the kids!

My kids scrambled to the top to catch the spectacular views of Lake Austin.  As disappointed as I was for the overcast day (hence the not-doing-it-justice-pictures), the kids loved pointing out cool pools they saw, boats, bridges, and even a helicopter that flew at our height.

What I loved is that you can turn right around and see downtown Austin in the other direction.  Several families had brought lunches up here to enjoy, as there are a few tables to sit at – I love it!

We spent most of our time exploring all the trails the take you around the Covert Park area.  Big wide ones like this are perfect for the little ones. Some areas do not have a fence or railing, so please watch your kiddos closely.

So after 4 years, I can check this one off my To-Do list.  But it is not like this is a one-time visit for us. I can’t wait to come back at sunset with my hubby for a date!  Ohhh…how romantic! 

Other Fun Things to Do in Austin:
Austin Bats 
Austin Children’s Museum
Austin Mural Scavenger Hunt
Austin Nature & Science Center
Austin’s Park
Austin Zoo
Big Top Candy Shop
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Cathedral of Junk
Cedar Rock Railroad
The Dinosaur Park
Dino Pit
iFly
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Pioneer Farms
Texas Military Forces Museum
Texas State Capitol
Waterloo Ice House
Texas Travel Facts for Mount Bonnell:
Location: 3800 Mount Bonnell Dr, Austin, Texas (GPS it!)
Admission: Free
Recommended Time: 1 hour
Good to know: Wear comfortable, rubber-soled shoes; lots of stairs to climb to get to the top; some areas do not have a railing, so watch your kiddos!
Website: http://www.austinparks.org/apfweb/park.php?parkId=287

Filed Under: Austin, Austin Attractions

Comments

  1. Connie Weiss says

    April 4, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    That looks beautiful!

  2. MiMi says

    April 4, 2012 at 5:03 pm

    Texas has a mountain?!

  3. Lisa says

    April 4, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    That looks like a great spot for a hike – nice that it’s not too steep so that the kids can join in the fun.

  4. Rustown Mom says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    I love Mt. Bonnell. We were brave enough to visit it last summer – mid-season. Took our jug of ice water, for sure. I wish people wouldn’t litter up there. The view is awesome, though!

Welcome


Welcome! R We There Yet Mom is a family travel website that is all about creating exceptional memories with family. Whether that be on the other side of the world or right down the street, our goal is to help you create exceptional memories too. More about us.

FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIALS!

RSS R We There Yet Mom Feed

  • A Day in Denton
  • Best Holiday Lights in Dallas/Fort Worth | 2021
  • Best Holiday Light Displays in Austin: 2021
  • Top 10 Holiday Events in Houston: 2021
  • 16 Holiday Events in DFW for 2021 | Dallas & Fort Worth, TX
  • Top 10 Holiday Events in San Antonio: 2021
  • 10 Thanksgiving Books for Kids
  • Top 28 Holiday Events in Austin & Central Texas
  • 13 Leftover Halloween Candy Recipes
  • Ultimate List of Scary Movies for Halloween

Let Me Help You Find What You’re Looking For:

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in