Here Are The Best Dog-Walking Routes In Austin

AUSTIN, TX — Dog owners know that finding the perfect walk for their four-legged friends is no easy feat. Harder still is finding a route enabling people to stop off for groceries or sit down in your favorite restaurant with their furry companions.

Thankfully for man and beast, the good folks at Rover — the world’s largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers — have created a curated a list of dog-friendly walking paths throughout Austin.

The different curated local walks were created in honor of the upcoming National Dog Day on Aug. 26, and include a downloadable audio guide, video, and Google Maps directions. The routes range from that top-tier dog park, to dog-friendly restaurants, and even favorite public areas where dogs can freely frolic.

A note of caution, however, from Rover: "At this time, Lady Bird Lake is experiencing an algae bloom, which is very dangerous for dogs. Water access is currently closed to dogs at parks including Auditorium Shores Dog Park and Red Bud Isle. Watch for warning signs and keep your pup safe!"

Rover officials issued the statement after being contacted by Patch about dog deaths that have occurred at area bodies of water after animals ingested affected water. At least two dog deaths occurred at Lady Bird Lake, and toxic algae was detected at Red Bud Isle.

Here are all the spots included for Austin:

Name: Auditorium Shores Dog Park

Address: 800 W. Riverside Dr., Austin, TX 78704

Hours Open: Monday-Friday: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Name: Ann & Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail

Address: Street parking is available along S. Lakeshore Blvd. between Pleasant Valley Road and Riverside or at Festival Beach across the river.
Hours Open: Daily from 5 a.m. to midnight

Name: Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden

Address: 79 Rainey Street, Austin, TX 78701

Hours Open:

• Mon-Wed: 11am-11pm
• Thurs-Sat: 11am-12am
• Sun: 10am-11pm

Name: Austin DOGA

Address: 3610 Abbate Circle, Austin, TX 78721

Hours Open: By appointment

Contact Info: (512) 413-3648

Name: Scholz Garten

Address: 1607 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Hours Open:

• Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sunday: Noon to 8 p.m.

Name: Red Bud Isle

Address: 3401 Redbud Trail, Austin, TX 78746

Hours Open: Monday-Friday: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“As our dogs become more ingrained in our day-to-day lives, dog parents are looking for new and interesting ways to include their dogs in everything they do,” said Bill Kong, CMO at Rover. “Our new Dog’s Day Out guided city walks offer modern dog parents a fun way to explore dog-friendly destinations with their furry best friend.”

Here are all the cities Rover completed a curated walk for:

• Austin
• Boise
• Boston
• Chicago
• Cleveland
• Dallas
• Denver
• Indianapolis
• Los Angeles
• Minneapolis-St Paul
• New York
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Portland
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Washington, D.C.

“Dogs are actually better walking partners than we are because they never make excuses for not going on a walk,” Phil Tedeschi, human animal behavior expert on Rover’s Dog People Panel, said. “They don’t have emails to return or shows to binge watch.”

To see the full report from Rover, click here.