Shoal Creek

Shoal Creek is a local gem, sporting a pleasant hiking trail.  It is serene and gives one the full impression of being in nature, despite the creek going through the City of Austin.  It has is a concrete walkway that's easy to traverse, but the trail occasionally changes to gravel.  Along the trail, there are different areas with different themes.  The most interesting one, in my opinion, was one titles "Shells".   This amazing trail delves into a canyon-like scene.  The canyon-like formation is the result of water erosion and a walk through it reveals impressions of shells. These shells are authentic fossils, observable to anyone that visits. It is mind-bending thinking about how those fossils got there:  Central Texas was once the floor of the ocean, and we have proof of it in a local park.

The other areas weren't as novel, however.  The creek itself was very soothing, and it was interesting crossing it at certain points along the path.  The scenery was also very relaxing, with grass and trees in the area.  The trail also goes through Pease Park, another well frequented area in Austin.

Source:http://www.austinbike.com/mtb/shoalcreek/image01.jpg

I problem I had with the trail was that there was a substantial amount of garbage along the sides of the creek, but it is a forgettable blemish the area possesses.  Overall, the walk down the trail was enjoyable.  It spans several miles, and is even cut by 15th Street.  People bring their dogs, and seeing them play is a sight for sore eyes.  Some people use bike trails along the hiking trails, and others just hike.  I would definitely visit again (I live a few minutes away), and I would recommend this area to anyone that wants to take a relaxing walk through a nice trail.