Round Rock’s updated trail plan isn’t just about adding more places to walk and bike.

It’s about connecting the places we already use every day.

If you’ve spent time on one of Round Rock’s trails, you’ve probably noticed something: some stretches take you surprisingly far, while others seem to end just when you wish they would keep going.

That’s something the City is working to change.

Round Rock City Council adopted an updated 2026 Trails Master Plan on Sept. 10, laying out a long-term vision for connecting parks, neighborhoods, schools, businesses and downtown through a more complete trail network.

Round Rock already has more than 20 miles of built hike-and-bike trails, but the bigger goal now is connectivity — filling in the missing pieces so individual trail segments become part of a system that can take residents farther across the community.

One Important Missing Link Is Moving Forward

One of the most significant pieces is Heritage Trail East.

The City has approved a construction contract for the project, which will extend the trail from Mays Street to Georgetown Street along the north side of Brushy Creek, including connections beneath existing bridges.

When completed, Heritage Trail East will close an important gap in the Brushy Creek Trail and strengthen the east-west trail connection through Round Rock.

Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months.

The project is part of the City’s voter-approved 2023 GO Bond program.

More Than a Place for a Saturday Walk

Here’s the part of the plan that caught our attention.

Round Rock isn’t looking at trails only as recreational amenities.

A connected trail system can also give residents another way to reach parks, downtown, businesses and other destinations without necessarily getting in the car.

That changes the conversation from “Where can I go for a walk?” to “Where can I get from here?”

And that’s a much bigger idea.

The planning process has also looked at future connections beyond Brushy Creek, including opportunities in northwest Round Rock and the Dry Creek and Chandler Creek areas.

Residents Have Been Asking for This

This isn’t a project happening in isolation.

During the Trails Master Plan update, the City asked residents how they use trails, where they want trails to take them, what makes them feel safe and what improvements matter most.

In a 2024 community survey, residents ranked hike-and-bike trails among the most important parks and recreation services the City should provide.

The City has also been looking at things that can make the trail network easier to actually use — including directional signs, mile markers, trailhead information and better ways to understand where different trails connect.

The Bigger Picture

The pieces have been coming together for years.

Lake Creek Trail created an important connection between western Round Rock and downtown, including a route beneath I-35.

Heritage Trail and other Brushy Creek projects are gradually filling additional gaps.

The updated master plan gives Round Rock a roadmap for what comes next.

For residents, the payoff could eventually be fairly simple: more places where you can step onto a trail near one part of town — and keep going.

Explore Round Rock’s Trails

Want to see where the existing trails go and what’s planned next?

The City maintains trail information and maps through its Parks and Recreation Department.

RRSO Tip: Take a look at the trail map and find a section you haven’t explored yet.

You may be surprised how much of Round Rock you can already see without driving through it.

Resources & Learn More

2026 Trails Master Plan / Current Project: City of Round Rock — Round Rock Moves Forward With Connected Trail System

Trail Information & Maps: City of Round Rock Parks & Recreation — Round Rock Trails

Background: City of Round Rock — Trails Master Plan public-input information