Urban Hiking, Trails in the City

Locations in this article:  Austin, TX Houston, TX San Francisco, CA

You may think you have to drive miles from a city to find a great hike. But in fact, there are some great hiking trails that give you the best of the great outdoors, without straying too far from the city.

If you want a great view of the Boston skyline without traveling far, head about 15 miles south to the Blue Hills Reservation near the town of Canton.

This 20 minute walk through a pine forest takes you to an observation tower, with incredible view of Boston and the ocean.

Angel Island State Park is just a ferry ride across the Bay from San Francisco.

There are two moderate hiking trails, and when you ascend to the top of Mount Livermore, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the city and the bay.

If you prefer to stay within a city, try the two-mile White Oak Bayou Hike and Bike Trail which gives you great views of downtown Houston, or Austin’s Barton Creek Greenbelt, where you can cool off with a dip in one of the natural swimming holes along the way.

The lesson here? Don’t assume that taking a hike means going far—sometimes the best travel experiences are in your own backyard.

For more offbeat urban experiences, check out our Off the Brochure Travel Guides.

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