Wells Branch Park

I have played at disc golf places all over Austin. This is an average course. I would prefer to play at courses further west. Sometimes there is mud here.

Beautiful green belts. Great for bike rides and feeding the ducks at the pond. My kids love the playground as well. The neighborhood does a great job of keeping up the grounds. In the springtime they have a beautiful field full of bluebonnets that is prefect for taking pictures.

I haven’t visited many of the greenbelt walking trails around Austin, but this 6 mile walking/​jogging trail, is and has been «My Gym» since 2007.
I love spring time when we have had rain and everything is so green and lush! You can actually smell the different wild flowers in the air and the wet grass. I grew up in Aspen Colorado so I have experienced some of the best outdoor sports and rec parks, trail heads for hiking, rafting, etc.
To be clear, this trail doesn’t hold a candle to Aspen, but it is like a small piece of my childhood hometown, here in Austin TX. At least in the spring time when it’s so green, and the trickling little streams along the way. (They are actually very nice drainage pathways). lol But hey the water is clear and it’s nice and quiet and winds around a large neighborhood, under Wells Branch PKWY, then behind couple apartment properties that backup to part of the Greenbelt. There for the most part, this section of the trail has a nice big space between the trail and the apts. It’s also a small part of this trail, and if you prefer, can be avoided if you look at the map beforehand. There are many trail-​heads leading into this 6 mile figure 8 trail, park areas.
There are a lot of trees that shade large parts of the trail through the neighborhood to the duck/​fishing pond. Great in the summertime. You will find Wooden Porch Swings along the trail way if you need a break, or just to swing and enjoy the scenery and or people watch. There are a few scattered small playgrounds along the trail with cute wooden bridges over water crossings, as well as a nice size playground, pick-​nick areas, pavilion, swimming pool, tennis courts, winding around a decent disc golf course.
I have seen many of times, family photographers using this trail/​park area for a nice backdrop for pictures. You will see a person with a nice camera and a group of nicely dressed people walking as a group. It’s hard to miss when you see them.
The changes of scenes and the Wells Branch Parks offers plenty of different things to see and do. Lots of choices for both adults and families.
It’s well maintained, pathway lights in most areas, and patrolled for crime at all times of the day and year. You may occasionally smell pot by the disc golf area, but this is Austin and it’s not like its Spring Break in Cancun with a bunch of rowdiness.
I think it is a decent trail for north Austin outskirts. Well worth checking it out.

Disc golf course was great but I don’t recommend playing after a rain. Besides being muddy, there is water in play in most holes. After a rain the creek makes it harder to recover stray discs. Plus there are a couple spot where you have to cross the water.

Wells Branch Park is the southerly «Godfather 3» in the trilogy of parks within the Wells Branch Municipal Utility District, starting with the picturesque and duck-​filled Mills Pond to the north, continuing to the family/​sports-​friendly Katherine Fleischer park in the middle.
It’s not my favorite, as it seems the least maintained with higher grass and weeds. A lot of it is just a path between the backside of apartments/​houses and a ditch. In some places it’s just very narrow, and two crossing joggers need to claim their path to avoid each other. Though it is 2.2 miles in a 4.3ish mile figure-​8 that centers at Fleischer, which is good if your goal is not repeating the same section over and over to get some miles in. The trail here has more percentage concrete than its northern counterparts, including some tricky drainage patches you could trip on if not careful, and involves three road crossings (plus two tunnels to go under Wells Branch Parkway).
But what seems to be the draw of this park is the frisbee golf. It seems well marked, and a full 18 holes. It’s busy all times of day, with the golfers, or as I believe they like to be called «stoners», bringing their gym bags filled with all sorts of discs. Some of the discs even light up, presumably for evening play. Perhaps the higher grass is to make the golf more «interesting».
Like the Mills Pond area, this park could use the lighting found on the Fleischer paths, and maybe a water fountain. But it is a fairly good use for what otherwise would just be a drainage creek.

This park is pretty epic if you ask me. I always used to play the disc golf course, which has been greatly upgraded. The baskets are all nice and shiny and painted red and black so you can see them easily. Each tee is concrete and clearly marked. No more wondering which hole you’re at anymore.
I went on a long run the other day, and oh boy is this park big, and spread out for that matter. Look at a map before you go or you might get lost. They have playgrounds, tennis courts, historic-​looking buildings, and even a pretty good sized lake with fish and all kinds of ducks. Go for a walk, a run, go play disc golf or just plain frollick around.

I took my boys here last Sunday, and my boys loved it. They are 7 (yes twins), and they had a blast finding different ways to cross the little wet weather creek. I had a few difficulties finding the different areas to start the next hole, but everyone else out there was very friendly and helpful!

Wells Branch Park has been recently updated into an actual disc golf course. You no longer have to cross Wells Branch Road — all the holes are on the south side. It now starts from way down behind Whataburger on the road that parallels the I-​35 frontage road. There’s quite a few good, interesting holes — some open, some more closed in, a variety of curves, etc. The only downside is there’s only a couple of longer holes — most are within 400 feet. However, it has been vastly improved from the way it was even six months ago. If you haven’t been there in a while, it’s time to try it again.

This is a pretty nice park area to hang out or chill if you’re planning to play some games (i.e. outdoor activities) or have a dog and want to do some jogging.
I find most parks in TX have a severe lack of … trees? or shade I find it to be kind of weird since I could’t just sit out in the middle of the field and take in the UV index of 9 every day … but then again maybe there was shade elsewhere and I just didn’t find it.
The grounds are ok, there are some courts for you to play tennis and basketball if you’d like and they really do like to keep this area fairly clean. I think there’s a playground somewhere as well although I could be wrong since it was far and across the park.
There is also a golf course here. I think that’s what most people come for.

*UPDATE*
Most recently (Spring of 2011) the course was completely updated for an improvement.
The baskets have been painted, and look much better to stand out in the area. The original «Front 9» remain in the same spots with a few variations, and an additional 9 have been added along the greenbelt.
Front 9: Holes 1 through 4 are the same. When you get to Hole#5, the Tee is no longer on the right side across the road (next to the walk/​run path) as it used to be. It is now across the road on the LEFT side near the Utility conduit boxes in the grass (old #5A). You will throw to the same basket near the run/​walk path towards the building.
To get to Tee #6, from Basket#5, walk up the path towards the road to the OLD Tee Box of #5. this is your NEW Tee for #6. Standing at the box, look across the creek/​grass area into the cluster of trees about 190ft and you will see the basket sitting there.
After you complete Hole #6, follow the path to Tee #7, and the rest should flow naturally bringing you down the green belt and back towards the original front 9 to finish out the 18 holes.
The group did good work on making this a good use of Greenbelt space that was otherwise just collecting trash, homeless junk, and other hazards for the community.
The new layout provides you many TIGHT technical challenges for your short to mid-​range approach game. Around the holes there will be the chance to LOSE PLASTIC in a few spots, so bring a disc grabber or retriever. or just avoid the challenge and lie it up safe.
Just remember, you don’t really need a «big arm“to throw here, but you will need patience, perseverance, and a good attitude for risk vs. reward shots. This still adds a great benefit to the greenbelt and the community for those wanting to play a short lunchtime round, or someone who wants to challenge themselves with a diversity of shots.
Now get out there and play. Seriously. go play!

My dog takes me for a walk on the trail about 3 times a week. The local WB District does a great job in keeping the entire area clean and safe. Taking a early evening walk around Mills Pond (complete with ducks) is a great way for some exercise and to clear your head. They also offer a complete kids playground area as well a concerts in the Park during the summer.

Great park! Has pretty everything you could possibly want to do here. Great place to jog, take your dog, take you kids, play basketball, football, soccer, tennis, and pretty much anything else you can think of.