North Austin Nature Trail Operators To Implement $10 Fee

NORTH AUSTIN, TEXAS — Come March, it's going to get more costly to take a hike in North Austin.

According to reports, hikers from outside the River Place Limited District will each have to pay a $10 fee to enter the River Place Nature Trail in the northwest part of the city starting March 2. CBS Austin reports the fee also applies to each pet entering the site with a hiker. Residents will be admitted for free with a membership ID, according to an announcement posted on the River Place Limited District’s website.

Given their ownership of the attraction, the news station reported, operators River Place Limited District are able to implement the fee because it is a private trail. Revenues generated from the new fee will help mitigate trail overcrowding, partially fund trail maintenance resulting from bolstered non-resident use and to reduce the burden on residents who currently pay to maintain the district’s parks and trails, the trail's owners told the news station.

Only credit card payments will be accepted once the fee is implemented, officials added.

According to the AllTrails website, the popular attraction is a 5.5-mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Greenshores, Texas, that features a waterfall and is rated as difficult. "The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash," operators wrote on the website.

Its operators added in the description: "Great trail with tons of stairs. Even more challenging if you park at the park at the bottom of the neighborhood and run up all the hill, however this is not for the light of heart."

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