Return to Southeast Metropolitan Park

very dry
User: jimmy peace - 9/8/2019  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 4point5stars
Distance: 1.70 Miles Duration: N/A

we need rain,  trails had huge cracks in them, could swallow you up

Overlook and ponds--improved trail needs more trees!
User: plectrudis - 10/7/2017  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 5.40 Miles Duration: N/A

We hiked the primitive trail loop and then, to pad out our steps, took the unprimitive sidewalk around the playing fields to a jeep track to the shoulder of 71, then back to the trailhead.

The good: the primitive trail is nice and shady and includes a scenic overlook and couple of ponds.  There are flush toilets and picnic tables near the trailhead.

The meh: It's pretty-ish, but it's no Wild Basin or Turkey Creek.  Lots of mesquite.  The primitive trail (the only part that feels like "hiking") is a little short, and much of the paved/graveled non-primitive path is hideously treeless and exposed.  And we accidentally wandered onto private property and had to take the 71 shoulder to get back to the park, which was no kind of fun at all.

The uncategorizable: the battered and dessicated corpse of a mid-size mammal lay in the middle of our path.  We couldn't tell what it was--young coyote? Juvenile hog?  It was certainly interesting, but, lordy, it did not smell good.  

some parts of trail becoming overgrown
User: jimmy peace - 10/16/2016  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
User: Jamie - 2/9/2016  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A
User: chadjstevenson - 1/22/2016  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 3point5stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Hiking Trails And More
User: Blaze - 4/22/2014  [View Log Page]
Rating: 1point5stars Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 1point5stars
Distance: 8.40 Miles Duration: 3 hours, 2 minutes

Southeast Metropolitan Park is a large municipal park that has numerous amenities, including athletic fields, play areas for kids, picnic spots, a paved walking/jogging path, and a network of dirt trails for hiking.

I went to Southeast Metropolitan Park primarily for the hiking trails, but also walked the rest of the park for additional mileage.

Rerating
User: texaskdog - 2/22/2014  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 2.75 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 4 minutes

Glad I reread this before we went.  They oiled the driveway and it was closed, but knew there was a concrete trail.  we went to the right and it counted down instead of up, and actually got lost once.  It is nice but once in 4 years is enough for us.  If you're out this way McKinney Roughs is nicer, longer, and worth the extra drive.  Some idiots playing soccer had their radio so loud we could here it all the way up a good chunk of the path.

User: crocodile235 - 8/17/2013  [View Log Page]
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 3point5stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 5.50 Miles Duration: N/A
User: jimmy peace - 6/9/2013  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 3.50 Miles Duration: N/A
awesome county park winds around three stock ponds.. saw rabbits, birds, etc
Perfect Hike... except for the cobwebs
User: mstacer - 7/4/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4point5stars Difficulty: 3point5stars Solitude: 4point5stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 5 minutes

I was very impressed by this trail except for one thing... the cobwebs.  Holy crap.  I have to say, I am not a squeamish gal.  I don't mind bugs, spiders, snakes, mud, etc.  And I LOVE hiking and backpacking with my dogs so I'm willing to put up with a lot.  But I am not exaggerating when I say I was hit in the face with cobwebs every 15 seconds or so.  And not just a string of cobweb, a full-on spider web.  It was almost comical, but I got to the point where I just wanted it to be over... and that's sad to say about any hike.  I found a 3-foot branch shaped like a leaf rake and swung it in front of me the whole time to clear the way.  It actually had me thinking twice about coming back.

And that's a shame because this trail has everything else I want in a hike.  Only 30 minutes away, a full loop, just over an hour to hike, no one else on the trail, tree cover the whole time, and ponds for the pups to swim.  The trail is narrow, lots of up and down and bridges, all the hills and trees make you feel very secluded.  It's beautiful.  I will give this place another shot, but not until the fall when it's cool enough to come later in the day when someone else has cleared the way for me. :)

park trees
User: jeff g - 4/19/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A

As you enter the park, bear to the left to get to the trail head. You have to drive all the way to the back of the park and there is a small parking lot here for trail use.

Also be sure to check out the fruit and nut trees on the left right after the entrance to the park that the city has planted. There is a descriptive poster and each individual tree is labeled.

Great hike!
User: austinali27 - 10/24/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A

Despite the spiderwebs and spiders in my FACE it was great!!  Sometimes I wish I have a great dane instead of a cocker spaniel.  All my dog can do is disturb grasshoppers. 

The trail was nice!  It was a little over grown in spots but easy to trudge through.  Great hike through the woods!  I did not expect the bodies of water though and I have to say, that was a great treat.  There was a gentleman fishing on the side.  It was so nice and peaceful I had to stop for a minute and soak in the scene.  (brady also had to swim!)

There was a point, around marker 53, I was wondering if it was ever going to end and just as quickly as I thought that I heard the familiar sound of ball hitting bat from the baseball diamond not far from the trailhead.  I knew I was getting close!

User: sjs - 9/26/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

We did the "primitive trail" loop today with our dog.  Nice trail, but a little overgrown in places.  Didn't see a lot of other people.  Some industrial noise, especially on the north end of the park -- and it's a Sunday!

User: karawynne - 6/22/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 2.60 Miles Duration: N/A
this was a lovely hike. although i hiked it solo on a very hot day, i loved the solitude and the views. i was not hugely excited about being able to hear the highway for almost the entire hike, but it was a beautiful trail.
User: claireific - 5/23/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours

This was a well-marked, safe, and very isolated hike. The entire time I was hiking I saw one other person and that was in the parking lot - and he was heading for the multi-purpose trail. This one is good for beginners since you'll always know that you're on trail with all of the markers, and while I didn't spot any mammals, I did see some amazing butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, and a lizard during my trek. You'll also see some dense patches of cacti, two ponds, a few foot bridges and some steep inclines. There were also some parts that were so quiet it was like I had cotton stuffed in my ears. Very cool. This isn't the prettiest trail; I personally like the scenery in Westlake/Barton Springs better, but it's enjoyable and peaceful.

User: Riff Raff - 4/3/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 3point5stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Worth the trip
User: texaskdog - 3/21/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A

I didn't expect much but it was great!  It is a well marked loop, and solitude for a trail so close to town?  We only saw one family there on a sunday afternoon on the whole loop.  It rained pretty hard yesterday so the entire loop was muddy.  No big wet mud holes, just the trail itself is muddy.  Lots of bridges so very crossable.  Was completely out of breath from the ups and downs.    The duck blind spur wasnt worth it: all the elevation and not much to see.

January Hike 2010
User: Piedra - 1/11/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 5stars
Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: N/A

Hiked the trail with another family, six of us total, and the trail was a little soggy, but overall the hike was good. Did not see much, as far as wildlife, but the trail was clear and the views of the city were great.

User: Sleepindog - 3/21/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Did the loop, some geocaching. Had an armadillo run in between my legs. Nice hike, great views! 2 nice little lakes that I didn't know existed.

close in but a good getaway.
User: seamonkey78704 - 2/22/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 2.20 Miles Duration: 2 hours

I think i may start going here once a week and running the trail. It's a nice mix of up and down hills, even if it winds around a little bit, and feels really short.

I really dislike the trail markers. Every 200ft is one telling you your exact progress, and making it impossible to imagine even for a few minutes that you're lost. I can see why others will like them, but really... its a closed loop hiking trail. Do we really need a numbered marker every 60 seconds?

The trail is very narrow, and feels more isolated than it really is, if you can ignore the low rumble of the city's auto and plane traffic. Unlike some other trails further out, that never really goes away here. On a bright, sunny Sunday afternoon, there were half a dozen cars in the parking area and we passed or saw around five or six other couples on the trail. A pleasant indication of the newness of the park and the fact that it hasn't registerd on most people's radar yet.

 

User: Marzieh - 6/12/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: N/A
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Nice park but not the best I've been to. We were a group of 15 who went to the hike and when we came back we had all been bitten by some insect which made us itch and scratch our legs for one whole week.
Enjoyable but a bit muddy
User: christiniprosperity - 4/2/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 4stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 1 minute
I liked this hike. It really got my heartrate up. The 'rustic trail' was awesome because it felt like I was out exploring back in the day, except for the trail markers and the bridges. I only saw one pair of female hikers besides me. It was almost too secluded! I did enjoy the gardens and the vantage points sprinkled through out. And a few of the trails that dead-ended did so in really beautiful vistas. It was really a nice hike all in all.
User: lancescape - 11/25/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 4point5stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A
I walked the 2.5 mile loop.
User: Donald Bos - 5/28/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 4stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 2.50 Miles Duration: N/A
My son was playing soccer at the park and I decided to check out the trailhead and see if I could get some exercise in. I loved it and was surprised to see such a trail in the area especially the fact that it seemed fairly isolated. The trails were definitely rugged for me; I am 52 and overweight. I hadn't been walking much over the last several weeks and so experienced a sore knee, which eventually worked itself out; shin splints, which also eventually subsided, though not so quickly as the sore knee; and lastly I felt some fatigue with which I can survive if I just gut it out. All I mean is that overweight 52 year-olders should beware. All in all I loved this trail. I observed a pair of cardinals following along as their fledging went from tree to tree. That was a treat. We see baby blue jays and mockingbirds all the time in our neighborhood, and though we see cardinals from time to time in the yard, I take it they try to find more secluded areas to nest.

Next