The Most Instagrammable Spots Along the San Marcos Greenbelt
Your smartphone and your social media accounts are the San Marcos Greenbelt’s biggest allies. We do our best to conserve these precious Central Texas green spaces, maintain them, and educate the world about this green gem in our midst.
That’s where you and your Instagram account come in. When you post images of the natural beauty of the Greenbelt, you’re helping spread the word.
To encourage you to keep posting, here are some of the most Instagrammable outdoor spots along the San Marcos Greenbelt.
#PurgatoryCreek
Source: @instagramtexas, https://www.instagram.com/p/BMKY-fkj_2A/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Three trails wind their way through the Purgatory Creek Natural Area of the San Marcos Greenbelt. Purgatory Creek is popular with mountain bikers, trail runners, and wildlife and bird enthusiasts.
Step off the trail and into the shade for a moment under some natural overhangs and rock formations. There’s no shortage of Instagrammable spots here.
Tip: Bring your own hydration, because only one of the trailheads has water.
#BlancoShoals
Source: ehjeh_smtx, instagram – https://www.instagram.com/p/BrgkGODAHvk/
The striking landscape of the Blanco Shoals area is perfect for your Instagram page. Not only will you find some of the high bluffs and shoals for the perfect photo op, but there are a lot of native plants, like pecans and sycamores.
Those native trees and plants offer food and shelter to the insects and animals of the Central Texas ecosystem. They also lend a distinctive Lone Star aesthetic to the landscape, one that might give you some ideas for your own Texas garden.
#SpringLake
The Spring Lake Natural Area is another natural for Instagram.
“My favorite spot is the route that allows you to bird watch over by the Blanco Shoals natural area or the Spring Lake area. You can see the beautiful cardinals and the hummingbirds in the springtime,” says Danielle Ryan.
Ryan, who lives in San Marcos, spends many hours on the trails with friends and family. She enjoys taking in the peaceful landscape … and taking pics on her phone to share on Instagram.
You can access this area on the northeast side of San Marcos. Be prepared to pay a fee if you enter through the Aquarena Springs Drive entrance — but it’s so very worth it.
#RingtailRidge
Source: @dakotaranchapts, instagram – https://www.instagram.com/p/BvSQINKAqL8/
The Ringtail Ridge Natural Area access is right next to the Dakota Ranch Apartments. It’s so breathtaking, the apartment complex management posted it on Instagram.
Ringtail Ridge is about 45 acres, and along with the serene green of the landscape, there are also birds and insects for some cool posts. There are about 30 parking spaces, and it can get busy on some weekends here. Be sure to pack your own water, too.
#SchulleCanyon
Source: sanmarcosbirding.com (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/375065475188869746/?nic_v2=1a67tnCNj)
One of the rules of hiking is “Take only pictures, leave only footprints,” which makes Schulle Canyon the perfect trail for an Instagrammer. The short, half-mile Root Rock and Itsy Bitsy trails are easy to access and manageable for hikers with mobility challenges.
Picture Your Own San Marcos Greenbelt Adventure
Nothing stays the same at the San Marcos Greenbelt. The weather, the seasons, and the river constantly change the greenbelt, and there’s always something new for hikers, bikers, runners and bird watchers to discover.
Next time you’re out, just add #smgreenbelt so you can help your fellow nature lovers find some of the best outdoor spots in Central Texas.
Written by Jenna King, a writer, avid hiker, and survivalist who lives outside of Austin. She spends most of her time backpacking and using organic elements within nature.
** This content was provided by LawnStarter of Austin, an early-stage startup that connects consumers with lawn care providers through an easy online/mobile platform.
About Post Author
