The Slaughter Creek Trail manages to be fairly technical while still being beginner friendly, which is not a combination you find in most other MTB trails. It’s a directional loop, and you will be sharing the singletrack with other users. As such, you’ll need good brakes and excellent bike handling skills if you plan on ripping through it fast. However, you can also take it slow due to off-camber sections and the jagged limestone outcroppings on the trail.
The Austin, Texas, slaughter creek trailhead is part of the South Austin trail network, and the trailhead can be easy to miss if you’re not careful. The parking lot entrance should be slightly past the slaughter creek crossing on the 1826 for those traveling south. Naturally, it should be just before the crossing for those traveling north.
Once you’re in the parking lot, there should be a gate leading to the trail just on the other end. Given that it’s a loop, this is where you start and end your 5-mile ride. Depending on the season, there may be some bluebonnet flowers near the entrance that help set the mood for the ride.
Notably, you can only ride the trail clockwise, while hikers and horse riders go the other way around. Also, you’re required to yield way for other trail users if you come across them. As such, if you go there on a busy day, there will be plenty of stopping, so you might not get to go through the trail as fast as you want. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about dogs since they aren’t allowed.
It’s perfect for beginners who want to up the difficulty if all they’re used to is flowy trails.
The Slaughter Creek trail eases you in, with the first 100 yards or so being flat. After that, there may be some elevation changes along the way, although there’s nothing too challenging. There are plenty of rocky sections along the way, so the hardtail mountain bike may not be a good idea. Additionally, there are some off-camber sections with limestone surfaces and rooty sections.
The trail as a whole is twisty and goes through fields and woods, so even if you’re not a beginner, it’s an enjoyable trail, especially in the middle of the week when there aren’t many people around.
While on the trail, watch out for the jagged limestone on some of the trail sections.
It’s worth noting that the trail is part of a water management area. As such, trail users are required to stick to the singletrack. Furthermore, it may be closed occasionally, especially after a rain storm, and as such, you may want to check whether it’s open or closed on the trail’s Facebook page before heading out.
Also notable is that if you find the parking lot full, the trail is likely at capacity, and as such, you may have more fun elsewhere.
Depending on the season, you may get to see the bluebonnet flowers near the entrance.
Watch out for the small branches that creep into the bike path. They can poke your eyes or scratch your face if you’re not careful.
10 mi 
