Mount Bonnell

Mount Bonnell Courtesy of Visit Austin Credit Austin Parks and Recreation

While you are visiting Austin be sure to save plenty of time for a scenic hike up Mount Bonnel, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city since the 1850s.

Mount Bonnell, aka Covert Park, sits alongside the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River, providing an unbeatable vista of the city, Lake Austin, and the surrounding hills.

The scenic spot sits on 5 acres and is considered to be the highest point in the city at 775 feet. While that may sound intimidating, the climb to the viewing deck and picnic pavilions at the top is only 102 steps up a set of limestone stairs. This climb is about 0.3 miles, but you will gain nearly 200 feet in elevation along the way. Guests typically spend about 30 minutes on the hike and sightseeing at the top, longer if they pack a picnic and enjoy a meal at the top.

Fun Fact: Mount Bonnell was named after George Bonnell, the commissioner of Indian affairs for the Texas Republic.