Lacch Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 I have a 4 and 6yr old who have both started to show interest in "trail" riding. They've got capable bikes and gear, but I'm running out of places to take them. We live up N and they ride the flat/wide greens at Walnut (point six, inner log loop, various connector trails, etc ) They also love riding many of the hike/bike trails at some of the Texas state parks. Are there other local Austin trails that I can take them to? I'm going to explore the S. Austin trail network in the next few weeks, but I've never been down that way so it'll be completely new to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 Peddlers! It was my kids' favorite when they used to ride. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 SATN if you know what trails to avoid. There's some chunk mixed in there for sure, but not much elevation. Muleshoe Bend is mostly green. There's a few green routes in Reimers Ranch but it might not be worth the long drive. Slaughter Creek Trail, with the only entrance on 1826 is beginner-friendly with a few character-building rock gardens thrown in. It's a relatively short, one-way loop with a bonus spur. Impossible to get lost and easy to gauge your progress to see how skillfully you tackle the obstacles that are there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAZOS1845 Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 Katy Crossing Trail in Georgetown is generally fine for kids. There are a few neat spots along the way to enjoy the river. It’s also right next to San Gabriel park, which has a decomposed granite path that wraps its way around a few playgrounds for a nice play break. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 Can anyone comment on the status of trails here? https://facebook.com/events/s/east-austin-trail-tour-at-litt/5013412248712983/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRider3141 Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 3 hours ago, AntonioGG said: Peddlers! It was my kids' favorite when they used to ride. +1 My 9yo has been riding it for 2-3 years now and loves it, My 6yo is still warming up to it... 3 hours ago, Lacch said: They've got capable bikes I will say, a capable bike is a good idea. My oldest didn't really start to ask to go on rides with me until she got her 24" wheeled bike with front fork and gears. Her old 20" was pretty bumpy, even on peddlers. Gearing down the single speed helped a lot so did running really low tire pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATXZJ Posted January 23, 2023 Share Posted January 23, 2023 5 hours ago, mack_turtle said: Slaughter Creek Trail, with the only entrance on 1826 is beginner-friendly with a few character-building rock gardens thrown in. It's a relatively short, one-way loop with a bonus spur. Impossible to get lost and easy to gauge your progress to see how skillfully you tackle the obstacles that are there. X2 Definitely recommend this one for kids or new riders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustinBike Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 Another vote for slaughter creek, eventually walnut would be fine too if you pick your route properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) Maxwell Slaughter Creek is NOT beginner friendly. It USED to be, but now it has eroded to be a definite blue trail. My wife, who is not a beginner, but still not very accomplished, wanted to ride there. I went to pre-ride it to specifically count how many spots I thought that she would have to get off and walk. I counted 18 spots. When I went with her she ended up walking 17 times. And it's only five miles. That means getting off the bike every 1/3 of a mile. So NOT beginner friendly. The one appeal to a beginner at Maxwell is that it is a no decision trail. You can't get lost and no one is going to run into you. What is beginner friendly though is Onion Creek Park. Over ten miles of trail. There's not much elevation changes, hardly any rocks, and it's very pretty and wilderness-y. It's a great introduction to get someone excited about mountain biking. Edited January 24, 2023 by The Tip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) 36 minutes ago, The Tip said: What is beginner friendly though is Onion Creek Park. Over ten miles of trail. There's not much elevation changes, hardly any rocks, and it's very pretty and wilderness-y. It's a great introduction to get someone excited about mountain biking. I concur, MSCT is not as easy as I remember it from my first few visits. It might be a good intro for a very ambitious and athletic rider who is starting out, but might be too frustrating for kids and less ambitious riders. Onion Creek trail will teach you—one way or another—to respect horses. Equestrian travel if permitted on Slaughter as well, but I've see a lot more horses on Onion. Anyone have feedback on the riding at McKinney Falls? Edited January 24, 2023 by mack_turtle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 I agree with Peddlers Pass. I would say that Suburban Ninja would be a good candidate also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacch Posted January 24, 2023 Author Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) Awesome, thanks! Lots of good stuff here. I think they'd be able to handle parts of Peddlers just fine, but there are a handful of sections where they don't yet have the skills. The "pump track" part near the end would be perfect for them. Can I get them in/out of that section and skip the rocky parts? Also same with Picnic, some of those sections are super chill, if i can skip right to them. I think I know the answer, but... Is it frowned upon to 'off-road' your way in/out of a trail section? Are there any sanctioned shortcuts for Peddlers? I need to ride Suburban Ninja again... I did it once in the heat of summer and the sun made it a miserable experience. It's more of a hiking trail, right? or maybe I just need to explore it more. I'll start checking out the others on this list. Onion Creek sounds perfect! Which trailhead should we use? Edited January 24, 2023 by Lacch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRider3141 Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 46 minutes ago, Lacch said: I need to ride Suburban Ninja again... I did it once in the heat of summer and the sun made it a miserable experience. It's more of a hiking trail, right? or maybe I just need to explore it more. SN is a great XC system with a few features to keep it interesting. I've been hesitant to bring my 9yo because it's a pretty large area and her stamina is still low, otherwise with a few walkable parts it's fairly beginner friendly, as long as you don't get lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacch Posted January 24, 2023 Author Share Posted January 24, 2023 1 hour ago, RedRider3141 said: I've been hesitant to bring my 9yo because it's a pretty large area and her stamina is still low right. that's a great point. That's one of the reasons I love taking them to Walnut, we're never more than 10min from the parking lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 (edited) The Travis Country pumptrack might be a good option. You're never more than a 60-second ride back to your car if you park near it. On that note, the Mueller concrete pumptrack is generally mellow and they built a tiny, even mellower pumptrack area for beginners. Gaylord Sackler Memorial Skate Park https://maps.app.goo.gl/P2qbu7DrGGWUbNht77 Not dirt, but still fun! The Mueller neighborhood has miles of gravel paths with sculptures and gardens to explore, and you can stop for ice cream along the way. Edited January 24, 2023 by mack_turtle 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRider3141 Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 1 hour ago, Lacch said: That's one of the reasons I love taking them to Walnut, we're never more than 10min from the parking lot. Peddlers is like that too. I like to night ride it in the summer because if I ever have an issue just head south and you'll hit the parking lot. 4 hours ago, Lacch said: I think they'd be able to handle parts of Peddlers just fine, but there are a handful of sections where they don't yet have the skills. The "pump track" part near the end would be perfect for them. Can I get them in/out of that section and skip the rocky parts? Also same with Picnic, some of those sections are super chill, if i can skip right to them. The Pump Track section or the "Roller Coaster part" as my kids call it can be easily accessed and repeated without doing the whole trail again. If you go from the BCRT (paved main trail) to the Parmer cross over section, from under the north bound Parmer bridge you can get right into it. Then you can exit a few different sections easily and rinse and repeat. It's really only the middle 1/3 of the trail. The next step up would be doing the entire East Side. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted January 24, 2023 Share Posted January 24, 2023 4 hours ago, Lacch said: Onion Creek sounds perfect! Which trailhead should we use? There's a large parking lot off of Nuckols Crossing Rd. Just head west from there. Have a trail map app pulled up so you can get back when needed. The park is very spaghetti bowl-ish. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacch Posted January 27, 2023 Author Share Posted January 27, 2023 @RedRider3141, Thanks for the map! Heading there this afternoon to scope out a plan for the kiddos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtb_jeremy Posted January 27, 2023 Share Posted January 27, 2023 I add to mack_turtle's post about pump tracks for kids. My kid always has a great time at the Mueller pump track. Only problem is that it can get pretty busy, especially with the smaller kid there for the first time (crashing often). Here is a video of my kid having fun that I uploaded to the google review site: https://goo.gl/maps/ciU2JJe39bEmVYsR6 There is a new asphalt bike pumptrack in the Sonterra neighborhood in Jarrell (20 minute drive from Round Rock). I haven't had a chance to visit it yet, but plan to soon. It is located here: https://www.google.com/maps/place/30°48'34.3"N+97°36'14.5"W/@30.809527,-97.6047528,298m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x1b1e1de9641a0b5e!7e2!8m2!3d30.8095267!4d-97.604016 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zander Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Katy Crossing in San Gabriel park is ideal for the kids. Low traffic and very mellow. Walnut, Wilco and Ninja are other good options on the north side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacch Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 I'm not familiar with Wilco or San Gabriel park, I'll check them both out, thanks! Are there any trails/areas in particular I should check out? I rode the Peddlers "pump track" section on Friday to see if it would work for my kids. Unfortunately my 4yr old on 16s would struggle too much to make it fun. I think the advice to stay on concrete or asphalt pump tracks is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zander Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 Give Katy Crossing a try. It’s on the east side of San Gabriel park. Very easy two mile loop. Take my young daughter there often and see lots of other kids out there. Even on push bikes. Wilco Park is just north of 1431 bw 35 and Parmer. Lots of mellow options there too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacch Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share Posted January 29, 2023 @Zander @BRAZOS1845 Katy Crossing looks like a great option! We might head there this afternoon if the weather holds up. Is this the trailhead? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAZOS1845 Posted January 29, 2023 Share Posted January 29, 2023 1 hour ago, Lacch said: @Zander @BRAZOS1845 Katy Crossing looks like a great option! We might head there this afternoon if the weather holds up. Is this the trailhead? That’s it! You can park on either side of the river. Have a blast! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie193 Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 My kids are 7 and they both like the green trail at Reimers. I think I first took them there just before they turned 6 and they did fine. There are a couple of rocky spots in the first few minutes but it is mainly smooth. There’s not much shade though so we don’t go in the summer. They also ride on SATN quite often, usually starting at the Walgreens next to Bowie high school (5011 W Slaughter Ln). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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