Mount Bonnell

(originally posted 3/27/07)

This is one of those must-see places in Austin. If you've seen Slacker, you'll recognize this as the place at the end of the movie where they throw the camera off a cliff. It seems like every time I go up there, I see more houses in the surrounding hills. And these are nice, big, expensive houses. I suppose if I had the means, I'd want to live there, too. Despite all the houses, the view is still good.

To get to the top, you must walk up a loooooooooong flight of stairs. The view is well worth the tired legs and heavy breathing. Below, you can see Lake Austin. If it's a good day, jet skis and boats towing water skiiers occupy the lake. There are a couple of picnic tables kinda hidden in the brush, and if you stand on them, you get a great view of the downtown skyline.

If you go right at the top of the stairs, there's a big trail that allows you to walk along the cliff. I have a fear of heights, so I don't like to get too close to the edge. I don't even like to see other people get too close to the edge because there's no guard rail to protect you from falling. And people have fallen before, so there's reason enough to not get too close.

There are two ways to get to Mount Bonnell: the fun, scary way, and the shorter, not as adventurous way. The fun way involves taking 2222 west from Mopac. After you pass Mesa Drive, look for Mt Bonnell Rd on the left. There's no sign telling you where it is, just a little street sign. You'll drive through a nice neighborhood with fancy houses. Pay attention to signs indicating the safe speed to use while taking corners. Some of these corners are really sharp, and it would be easy to wreck if you were driving too fast. Keep driving until you see cars parked on the right, and look for the stone staircase.

The shorter way involves taking the 35th street exit from Mopac and heading west. You'll come to a Y in the road, and you veer left. You'll see a park with a stone fence on the left, and there'll be a road on the right that you take. Stay on that road, and you'll drive up a steep hill. You'll see cars parked on the left and the stone staircase.

Mount Bonnell is open daily from 5 am to 10 pm.