AUSTIN (KXAN) — Hill Country Conservancy hosted a ribbon-cutting at Zilker Park on Saturday for the Violet Crown Trail “Mile Zero” trailhead.
The Hill Country Conservancy (HCC), in collaboration with the Austin Parks & Recreation Department, presented its ribbon-cutting of Violet Crown Trail’s new steel “zero” trailhead archway.
New additions also included new benches, a native wildflower meadow and a butterfly pavilion.
Mayor Kirk Watson cutting the Violet Crown “Mile Zero” trailhead archway in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2025. (KXAN Photo)
People attending the ribbon cutting in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2025. (KXAN Photo)
Violet Crown “Mile Zero” trailhead in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2025. (KXAN Photo)
Attendees going to venders at the Violet Crown Ribbon Cutting in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2025. (KXAN Photo)
Mayor Kirk Watson attended the ribbon-cutting and detailed the message he and the HCC wanted to convey to current and future Austinites.
“What we’re doing today in cutting that ribbon – is we’re saying that what we want is we want future generations of Austinites to have the same joy that we have and that we had in Austin,” Watson said. “The green space, the water, the trail that we’re talking about today – it makes Austin special.”
“This mile zero trailhead is the capstone of phase one of the Violet Crown Trail,” CEO of the HCC Kathy Miller said. Miller thanked attendees under the brand new butterfly pavilion and gave insight into what their mission and plans would be going forward.
“The Hill Country Conservancy’s mission is to protect important watersheds, recharge areas, native wildlife habitat and the magic of our Texas Hill Country backyard,” Miller said. “[The trail] will continue for another 17 miles beyond the 13 we have here.”
Violet Crown Trail’s brand new map. Purple trail is the current length, 13 miles. (KXAN Photo)
Group photo under the butterfly pavilion in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2025. (KXAN Photo)
Remarks under the butterfly pavilion in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2025. (KXAN Photo)
People gathered under the butterfly pavilion in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 15, 2025. (KXAN Photo)
The 13-mile trail is extended from Zilker Park to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. According to the HCC, the trail would be 30 miles long once it’s completed.
For more information, visit the Violet Crown Trails webpage.
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