ABOUT THE PLACE

This park would normally have gotten a 4 or 5 flag rating, however, the inexcusably high entrance fee results in a lower rating. Not that long ago, the entrance fees on weekdays were $4 per car and $6 on weekends. But now they charge a whopping $8 per car every day of the week... extortion!

Emma Long Park is a very large park on Lake Austin, and it has close to a mile of lakefront access. There is a beach swimming area, volleyball courts, a boat ramp, camping areas, and day-use picnic areas. You can bring your dog here, and even though you're supposed to keep dogs on a leash, most people don't, so this is a nice dog-friendly place to go.

It should be noted that parts of EMLP are free. Only the lake-access area is where you have to pay, but also within the park boundaries is Turkey Creek, one of the best hikes in all of Austin. There is also a motorcycle trail which I hear is also popular with mountain bikers.