Congress Avenue Bridge trail crossing

The trail passes beneath the bat-famous Congress Avenue Bridge; evening crowds, bikes, darkness, and bat-viewing activity require attention.

Choose a trailhead before driving. Festival Beach, International Shores, Auditorium Shores, street spaces, and other lots serve different loop segments; availability and payment rules vary.

The Boardwalk is open 5:00 a.m.-midnight daily, with a midnight-5:00 a.m. curfew. Connected parks and facilities may close earlier. This destination may have shorter, seasonal, event, maintenance, water-condition, or weather-dependent hours.

Restrooms and water are available at selected parks and trailheads, including boardwalk-area facilities, but not continuously around the loop.

Trail and boardwalk access are free. Parking, rentals, events, food, and nearby attractions may charge.

The boardwalk and many urban sections are paved and accessible; much of the loop is decomposed granite, and grades, detours, flooding, crowding, and construction affect individual segments.

Dogs are generally allowed on leash. Use only clearly designated off-leash areas, carry water, avoid hot surfaces, and keep pets out of Lady Bird Lake because of recurring harmful algae risk.

Short out-and-back segments, boardwalk overlooks, bridges, turtles, skyline views, and connected playgrounds work better for young children than committing to the full 10-mile loop.

The trail passes beneath the bat-famous Congress Avenue Bridge; evening crowds, bikes, darkness, and bat-viewing activity require attention. I-35 reconstruction is causing long-term detours, intermittent closures, and water-access restrictions near the bridges through the construction period. Check live trail notices, heat, storms, algae advisories, and flood conditions.

Downtown transit, bikeshare, neighborhood paths, and pedestrian bridges reach many trailheads. Select a start and finish before using a trip planner.