Hamilton Greenbelt
Hamilton Greenbelt is a beautiful, well-maintained trail located at Lohmans Crossing Road, Lakeway, Texas, around 20 miles west of Austin. Please do not get confused with Hamilton Pool Preserve; it also has no connection with Barton Creek Greenbelt.
This beautiful, shaded trail features small waterfalls that visitors of all ages can enjoy. The trail network includes Hurst Creek Preserve and Smith Greenbelt, offering a few miles of developed and primitive trails along Yaupon and Hurst creeks. The main trail route entrance is well-groomed, making it suitable for walking, nature exploring, and hiking.
A Brief History
In April 1990, Hamilton Greenbelt was officially opened to the public, thanks to Jack and Myrtle Hamilton’s generous donations.
Several additions and improvements happened over the years, resulting in a top-notch trail network. With the additional funds and donation of land from Coleman and Mary Smith, Friends of the Park’s volunteer services, and Lakeway Municipal Utility District’s easement, the trail network alongside the Hurst Creek Preserve and Smith Greenbelt now feature several miles of developed and primitive trails, this allows visitors explore along the Yaupon and Hurst creeks.
Hamilton Greenbelt offers an excellent area for families, groups of friends, and outdoor lovers to enjoy biking, picnicking, swimming, hiking, and more. Find more info
How to Get to Hamilton Greenbelt
If locals and tourists prefer driving to reach, below are the driving directions:
First, they need to head south into Lakeway town if they start the journey from the west of Austin. Next, they have to turn right onto Lakeway Blvd. Then, head west around one mile. Finally, turn right onto Lohmans Crossing Road. From the crossing turn, they can look for a parking area on the right corner around 0.25 miles.
Fun Things to Do in Hamilton Greenbelt
Hamilton Greenbelt offers a parking lot at Lohmans Crossing’s entrance at Cross Creek. From there, visitors are welcomed by a beautiful garden with a park map, a restroom, and benches. The garden also has small waterfalls and a pond to allow for rest. Kids can also have free play here.
The benches and picnic tables are found along the trail, making it a perfect picnic area. The wide, flat trail surface offers a safe and suitable space for pushing all-terrain strollers. Click for info
The trail has around 5 miles of hiking area. But hikers can make the route as short or long as they wish. Visitors can find picturesque waterfalls approximately .6 miles into the walk. If kids want to experience a short hike, this route is perfect for them. 
Venturing off the waterfall’s main path leads everyone to some awesome rock formations. While they are fun to climb, visitors should watch out for snakes. In some cases, the creeks can be fairly dry. So, if you want a more exciting trail experience, visit Hamilton Greenbelt when the creeks are full of water.
After passing the waterfall, expect that the trail becomes a bit tricky. Some trail parts are covered in the mulch. The trail also starts to rise above Hurst Creek. However, the real terrain change happens at the primitive trail’s waypoint.
While it is not technically challenging, expect the trail to have a rougher nature compared to the more park-like trail. The primitive trail leads to a ridge’s slope. Then. It splits into two at the T-Left’s waypoint.
If hikers go left, they will find several roughest portions and Hurst Creek’s incredible views. The right fork will lead hikers to the alternate trailhead. After completing the slope, the trail will descend to the water level. It also slices through the Cedar Elm trees’ meadow at the Hurst Hollow waypoint. There is a large stone picnic tables near the turnback point, offering Hurst Creek’s beautiful views.
On the back loop, it is noticeable that the trail starts to ascend the slope over the lake. Then, it descends one more time down back to Hurst Hollow. Hikers can choose to explore the trails to the alternate trailhead or retrace their steps back to the trailhead on the return path. If they want to explore the alternate trailhead, they need to the left at the Crossover waypoint on the parallel path.
This trail is also regarded as an excellent spot for bird-watching. It has a bird blind, allowing kids to spy on birds often only seen in Central Texas. The bird blind refers to a shelter where people can observe birds closer. It also features a posted identification chart helping visitors determine the bird species on the trail.
During hot summer days, some people complain about the strong Texas heat. Fortunately, Hamilton Greenbelt provides plenty of shady areas. Of course, do not forget to bring plenty of water. If you want to avoid crowds, visit the trail during the morning hours.
Important Information About Hamilton Greenbelt
- Address: 1173 Lohmans Crossing Road, Lakeway, TX 78734
- Phone: +1 512-314-7530
- Website: lakeway-tx.gov
- Business Hours: Monday to Sunday – 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM