— On cloudy days like today, I am often reminded of the beauty and tranquility at the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge‘s Doeskin Ranch. Located just outside Austin, under an hour from my house, this place is easy to get to and provides around 7 mi (11.25 km) of hiking trails from sunrise to sunset daily. There is no entrance fee. Also, a cell phone signal is very spotty in the area.
You can opt for a leisure half-a-mile (0.8 km) walk on the Pond and Prairie trail or take the short Creek trail under shaded oak trees. For a more intense and strenuous hike, the Rimrock trail (2.2 mi / 3.5 km) will take you up on the hillside you see in the photo above with beautiful views of the Hill Country. Another easy trail is the 1.5-mi (2.4 km) Indiangrass trail. Regardless of which trail you pick, you can rest assured of expansive views and beautiful scenery. It is best to visit in cooler weather.
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