Maxwell Trail Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
Riding Area

Mary Gay Maxwell Tract
Austin, Texas
Difficulty Rating

Blue Rate
Voted Difficulty

Blue (3 votes)
Local Popularity
95 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 95 in E-Biking
- 95 in Trail Running
- 55 in Hiking
Global Ranking
#9894 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #13845 in Trail Running
- #17579 in Hiking
Trail Type

Singletrack
Bike Type

AM, XC
Direction

One Direction
Climb Difficulty

Green
Physical Rating

Moderate
Trail Visibility

Always easy to follow
Season

Year round
eBike Allowed

Yes
TTFs on Trail

Drop, Rock Garden

The Slaughter Creek Trail has a little bit of everything - flow sections, gnarly rock gardens, a couple of nice drops and plenty of sharp off-camber limestone that central Texas is known for. Bikes are only allowed to ride clockwise, while hikers and those riding horses must use the trail in a counter clockwise direction. The first 100 yard section is flat. It's a good warm up to a small hill filled with jagged limestone outcroppings. At first the extended rock garden doesn't seem so bad, but as you wind up and around it gets more difficult to find a good line. After you reach the top, there is a dusty and loose section before heading back down. There is a fantastic ledge on the initial decent and then the trail splits. Head right for a shortened loop. Head left to ride the longer loop. If you decide to man up and go left, the trail weaves its way in and out of cedar trees, smaller rock gardens and some actual dirt. Once you make it out of this section, you will begin riding up the other side of the hill you conquered at the beginning of the ride. This part is exposed with a lot of fist-sized loose rocks and and pebbles over hard pack. You will then dive back down and back up the hill to another rocky, loose section that's pretty fast. After rolling through a dry creek and more cedar trees, you're in the home stretch. The final section is also fast and flowing all the way back to the parking lot. It's impossible to get lost on this trail as there is just one main loop.

Access Info

Turn into the main driveway off FM 1826. Drive to the parking lot and you'll see an opening through a gate that leads to the trail hea.

Disclaimer

There is a gate that automatically closes at sunset. Dogs are not allowed. Check Slaughter Creek's Facebook page before heading out there. The trail is closed after even light rain.

Local Trail Association

Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club (www.austinridgeriders.com)
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
trail development & maintenance.
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Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week

0 rides

6 Months

48 rides
13 miles avg distance

All

898 rides
Last: May 30, 2026

c1	c2	c3	c4
January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

update trails status or condition

Maxwell Trail Trail Reports

status	date	description
	May 9, 2026 @ 9:53am (America/Chicago) May 9, 2026
	Jun 29, 2025 @ 12:59pm Jun 29, 2025
	Mar 2, 2025 @ 8:56am Mar 2, 2025
	Sep 4, 2024 @ 9:45am Sep 4, 2024	A little too wet in lower spots creating mud caked tires. Advise waiting another day or two to ride.
	Aug 6, 2024 @ 1:18am Aug 6, 2024	Trails are in good shape but sections of trail are very overgrown with grass / weeds