ATX Sapphic Hiking Crew

When putting directions in your phone, set it to Live Oak Meadow. There’s a lot of street parking, and we’ll be set up in the nearby grassy area with a giant rainbow parachute. Here’s the link on Google Maps: Live Oak Meadow

We'll also have Allison from Hill Country Ride for AIDS joining us to talk about the ride!

The Hill Country Ride for AIDS (HCRA) is the largest fundraiser in Central Texas for HIV/AIDS services. A family-friendly and festive bike ride through the beautiful hill country, the Ride raises funds that are given directly to nine local nonprofits who help those in our community affected by HIV/AIDS. In the past 25+ years, the Ride has raised over $13 million! The Ride has been voted “Best Ride” in Austin twice by the Austin Chronicle and the “Best Cycling Event” by Austin Fit Magazine for three consecutive years and again in 2024! It is a beloved community event with an amazingly loyal and supportive following.

The HCRA is a ride, not a race; all levels are welcomed and celebrated. Participants choose the distance and route that best suits them: 12, 27, 45, or 75 miles. All routes are fully supported with exciting, helpful volunteers in a fun, party-like atmosphere.

ATX Sapphic Hiking Crew has a team this year, so please message Courtney or Braxton (organizers) or DM @ATXsapphichikingcrew on Instagram if you're interested in participating or have any questions about the picnic. You can also request to join the Discord group. It's a good idea to join the group in case you're running late or need help finding us at the park so you can reach out to us on the day of.

We’ll introduce ourselves about fifteen minutes into our gay little get-together, and then we'll just be hanging. See you soon, friends! 🌈

• It is highly recommended that you purchase your $6 day pass as soon as possible. This state park is usually fully booked on the weekends during the spring.
• You will need an account with the Texas State Parks website in order to reserve your pass.
• Select McKinney Falls State Park > Day Passes.

This hike includes slight elevation gains, rocky terrain, a river crossing (bring water shoes!), some unshaded stretches of trail, and lots of spring wildflowers.

*Precise meeting location coming soon.*

We’ll introduce ourselves at the beginning of the meetup, and after the hike, we’ll finish with a dip in the river. Please bring snacks and blankets for a picnic.

We coordinate carpooling via our Discord group. Please message Courtney or Braxton (organizers) or DM @ATXsapphichikingcrew on Instagram if you’d like to drive or ride and we’ll add you to the Discord group. It's also a good idea to join the group in case you're running late or need help finding us so you can reach out to us on the day of.

We do try to wait for any latecomers but in order to respect everyone's time, we will hit the trail no later than 30 minutes after the posted start time.

See you soon, friends! 🌈

There are 16 spots available. If you'd like to go, please RSVP via the Google form by May 5. This is the only way to reserve your spot (not through Meetup).

Here's the important information you need to know:

• Tents and meals will be provided.
• You will need to provide your own sleeping gear and camp chair. If you don't own these, we encourage you to ask your friends to borrow!
• You will also need to provide any additional snacks and drinks you'd like outside of our main meals.
• The cost of the trip will depend on how many people sign up. We're expecting it to be somewhere between $25 and $50.
• We will not be able to provide transportation to the park, but we will help organize carpooling to minimize the number of vehicles.
• Dogs are allowed! However, they must stay on a leash for the duration of their visit to the park, and they are only allowed on the Frontcountry trails in this particular park. (It's 6 miles of trails, so there's plenty of hiking if we have any furry friends on the trip.)
• There will be a Zoom meeting the week of May 4-10 to finalize details, including gear that people are bringing and carpool arrangements.

Here is the loose agenda for the weekend:

Friday: Arrive at the park and set up camp.

Saturday: Make breakfast and enjoy coffee at the campsite. Go for a mid-morning hike. Come back to the campsite for lunch. For those who are interested, in the afternoon, we will drive to the Medina River for an afternoon swim. For those who don't want to swim, you can stay in Government Canyon to do a second hike or just relax at the campground.

Sunday: Wake up early and watch birds and wildlife (optional). Eat breakfast. Break down camp and drive home.

Please note that you MUST RSVP through the Google form to reserve your spot. Marking "Attend" through the Meetup group does not guarantee you a spot.

AllTrails link: St. Edward's Park

Google Maps pin for parking: St. Edward's Greenbelt Parking Lot