The Backbone Creek hike-and-bike trail follows its namesake creek through the heart of Marble Falls. Staff photos by Dakota Morrissiey
Backbone Creek hike-and-bike trail in Marble Falls is a peaceful, gravel thread that weaves together the city’s parks. The mostly shaded and easygoing path is just over a mile long and accommodates hikers, bikers, disc golf tossers, and leashed dogs. You can explore the city’s green spaces without having to hop back in your car.
I strolled from Johnson Park, 230 Avenue J South, to Westside Park at the intersection of Second Street and Avenue Q. You can start your journey at either end, but budget your time accordingly because you’ll have to go back the way you came. Backbone Creek trail makes sort of a fish-hook shape through town and does not relink. If you don’t mind adding distance to your trek, you can leave the trail and walk along Avenue J and Second Street to get back to the parking lot of either park.
A one-way trip down the trail should take about 20 minutes, if you don’t stop to snap photos, chat with other hikers or cyclists, or contemplate the mysteries of the universe.
Waterfowl wander the waters of Johnson Park at the southern end of the Backbone Creek trail.
Johnson Park bears all the hallmarks of a quality city green space: busy squirrels, frolicking families, ample shade, playgrounds, and semi-aggressive geese near a lovely body of water. From there, Backbone Creek trail slowly carries you away from the sounds of town. Enormous pecan, elm, hackberry, and oak trees line the initial walk, and you have an unobstructed view of the creek. The path is clearly marked and unmistakable. It maintains a width of about 10 feet, so you won’t feel crowded, even on the busiest days.
A fox squirrel gnaws on a nut on the gnarled trunk of an oak tree in Westside Park along the Backbone Creek trail.
The towering trees near the creek are replaced by scattered mesquites and shrubs as the trail periodically meanders away from the water. An early morning or evening walk would likely offer great wildlife-viewing opportunities as there are multiple habitats along the way, lots of water, and slight seclusion from busy city streets. I trotted the trail in the heat of the day and still spotted dozens of birds flitting through the trees and open spaces, set to the soundtrack of droning cicadas overhead. The city of Marble Falls website notes that you shouldn’t be surprised to see deer, armadillos, turkeys, and other creatures.
The marker for the 15th basket on the Westside Park disc golf course is deep in the Backbone Creek trail.
While watching for wildlife, also keep an eye out for heavy, flying discs. A John Houck-designed, 18-basket disc golf course starts in Westside Park and continues through the northwest portion of the trail. Bring your own gear for a side quest.
Westside Park is deeper into town and away from the water, but it has its own charm. Nearby is Ruff Park, a fenced-in, well-maintained dog park. You will also find plenty of picnic tables and grills, huge fields for impromptu foot races, a recently renovated basketball court, and playgrounds for different ages.
The virtue of the Backbone Creek hike-and-bike trail is its connection to the city’s parks. Kids can bike back and forth without the worry of crossing busy streets, dogs can safely snoop around, nature-lovers can watch wildlife, and cardio junkies can run a couple miles without leaving the city limits. Whether visiting or residing in Marble Falls, take advantage of the lovely trail that binds the city together.
dakota@thepicayune.com
