This realistic Mayfield Park Austin Texas Guide helps you plan your next adventure in the city oasis.

Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve is a park in Austin, Texas. This city oasis has a historic cottage, beautiful grounds, majestic peafowls, and easy hiking trails.

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Sights & Places of Interest

Mayfield Park is a beautiful property on the shores of Lake Austin. It is in a very scenic part of the city. There is a lagoon, rugged bluffs, and creeks in Mayfield Park.

Locals knew it as Mayfield-Gutsch Estate before the owners donated the estate to the City of Austin in 1971. Mayfield Park opened to the public a few years after becoming a city property.

Outside of the breathtaking scenery, you could count on seeing a historic cottage and well maintained gardens. A stock of peafowls is a cherry on top of this city park.

This Mayfield Park Austin Texas Guide documents places to go and things to see in the park. It covers the historic cottage, walled garden, and hiking trails.

1. Mayfield Cottage

The Mayfield Cottage is one of the closest sights to the parking lot. A short walk brings you inside the Walled Garden. These stone walls help keep the peacocks safe from coyotes and other predators.

You will see the cottage as soon as you enter the grounds. This white building with a red roof is the centerpiece of the park. It is hard to believe that this one-story wooden house dates back to the 1870s.

Like the Neill-Cochran House and Elisabet Ney’s Formosa, this house is a city landmark. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places. You could study these plaques near the main entrance.

The Mayfield Cottage looks a bit like Val-Kill in Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, New York. The screened terraces carry the most resemblance with the home of the former First Lady.

Sadly, you cannot go inside the Mayfield Cottage. This historic building is off limits to the general public. There are no guided or self guided tours that bring you inside the cottage.

Booking an event is the only way to see its. A reception or a wedding with up to 45 guests inside of the cottage would cost you around $1,500. You might be better off exploring the park grounds instead.

2. Peacocks

There are plenty of other things to see in the park. But, without a doubt, peacocks steal the show in Mayfield Park. They are the reason why so many locals and visitors come to this city oasis every week.

Peafowl is a gender inclusive name of these birds. It includes peacocks (male) and peahens (females). You could find both in Mayfield Park. There are about 20 peafowls roaming the park grounds.

They have lived on these grounds for over 70 years. All of these peacocks trace their ancestry to the original stock from the 1930s. These birds were gifts to the former estate owners.

You could never know where the peacocks will be during your visit. They might be spending time in their houses trying to escape the daytime heat. But chances are, a few birds might be roaming the grounds.

They could be in the flower beds and near the ponds. Lawns around the Cottage are also a common place to find peacocks in Mayfield Park.

But, more often than not, you should look up when spotting peafowls. They could be walking on the roof of the cottage or sitting on a live oak branch.

When you see a peafowl, remember to give it space. Peacocks could attack when threatened. Do not risk yourself and other visitors by irresponsible behavior.

Follow a few simple rules to have a great experience viewing peacocks. These rules are no rocket science. A little common sense could go a long way.

• Keep these wildlife species wild.
• Do not approach, touch, feed, or chase the peacocks or peahens.
• Enjoy them from a safe distance.
• Take pictures without flash to avoid confusing these birds.

3. Ponds

Mayfield Park has are plenty of landscape features for you to see, too. There are 6 ponds in the park. Their arrangement looks a bit like a giant flower if you see them from above.

Each pond has a unique ecosystem. But nearly all of them have water lilies. These aquatic plants are very picturesque when in bloom.

They could rival the views of blooming American Lotuses in Meridian State Park. But Mayfield Park saves you a long drive to this town up north in rural Texas.

The ponds are a magnet for wildlife. If you look close enough, you will see koi fish in the ponds. Tadpoles, turtles, and snakes also call these ponds their home.

There are fewer turtles at Mayfield Park than in Barton Creek next to the Butler Hike & Bike Trail. So, you might have to wait for a few minutes to see them.

In fact, patience is your biggest ally when watching for wildlife in Mayfield Park. Beautiful pictures of turtles and water lilies could serve as a reward for waiting.

4. Flower Garden

Water lilies are not the only flowers you will see in Mayfield Park. A southeast corner of the Walled Garden houses a community flower garden.

There are 32 flower beds in the park. Volunteers maintain all of them. Beautiful flowers and plants are next to small metal signs. You will always know who to thank for a particular flower bed.

Volunteers grow different flowers in the garden. They range from tulips and daffodils to cyclamen and azalea. Flowers of all colors imaginable are growing in Mayfield Park.

Spring is the best time to visit Mayfield Park to see the blooming flowers. But you could count on catching a plant or two in bloom during nearly all seasons.

In fact, this is true even in winter. Mild winter conditions in Austin make this possible. Head to Mayfield Park in January or February to see blooming cyclamens.

If you live in Austin and gardening is your passion, consider joining this community volunteer group. Who knows, maybe your name will be next to a flower bed in this park next year.

5. Park Grounds

The grounds of Mayfield Park will keep surprising you as you go around the Mayfield Cottage. If peacocks, ponds, and the flower garden are not enough to wow you, look for other landscape features.

A stone arch is the next to the Flower Garden and the Ponds. This simple limestone structure is very scenic. Even better, it is impossible to miss when visiting Mayfield Park.

This arch usually scores very high on the list of the most romantic places in Austin. It is easy to see why plenty of people would want to have their photo session in Mayfield Park.

You are also certain to notice a circular tower with a red round roof. This two-story limestone structure is a storage room in the northeastern corner of the Walled Garden.

The tower looks like a miniature version of the Hagrid’s Hut from Harry Potter movies. What are the chances that you could see one in Tarrytown in Austin, Texas?

Similar to the Cottage, you cannot enter the tower. Its wooden red door remains locked. It might be the most scenic storage shed in the United States. What an ingenious way to turn it into a photo spot!

There is one more notable structure in the Walled Garden. Take a few steps to the north. You will arrive at another stone arch next to a limestone fence.

This time, there is a cast-iron bell hanging from the center of the arch. It looks just like the bells at Mission Espada in San Antonio, Texas. It is another surprising addition to Mayfield Park.

The Bell Arch is the start of the Bell Trail. It takes you outside of the Walled Garden into the Nature Preserve. The next section of this Mayfield Park Austin Texas Guide covers this and other hiking trails.

6. Hiking Trails

As beautiful as the Mayfield Cottage and Gardens are, they take up about 1/8th of the whole park. That leaves plenty of areas to explore in Mayfield Nature Preserve.

Each trail at Mayfield Park is shorter than 0.2 miles (0.3 km) long. They have little elevation gain. As a result, they are best for beginner hikers and families with little kids. Here is an overview of the park trails:

1. Main Trail: a 0.1-mi (0.2-km) out-and-back path with a Cottage Garden Trail connector.
2. Lake Trail: a 0.2-mi (0.3-km) out-and-back path with a Lake View Trail spur to a viewpoint.
3. Laguna Gloria Trail: a 0.1-mi (0.2-km) out-and-back path to the fence of Laguna Gloria.
4. Meadow Loop: a 0.1-mi (0.2-km) loop path between Main, Lake, and Taylor Creek Trails.
5. Taylor Creek Trail: a 0.1-mi (0.2-km) out-and-back path from the Meadow Loop to the Bell Trail.
6. East Creek Trail: a 0.1-mi (0.2-km) out-and-back scenic alternative to the Taylor Creek Trail.
7. Bell Trail: a 0.1-mi (0.2-km) out-and-back path to the Bell Arch.

It is hard to recommend Mayfield Park as a hiking destination. There is less than a mile (1.6 km) of hiking trails. They will get old after the first visit to Mayfield Nature Preserve.

But you could hike a 0.6-mi (1-km) loop from the parking lot to the Gardens. It involves parts of the Lake Trail, Meadow Loop, East Creek Trail, and Bell Trail.

Two viewpoints and a handful of creek crossings will keep the hike exciting. Stay on trail and watch out for wildlife. Snakes are present in Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve.

Continue with this Mayfield Park Austin Texas Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Mayfield Park

Mayfield Park and Preserve is in the northern part of Tarrytown neighborhood of Austin. The park is at a T-intersection between 35th Street and Mount Bonnell Road.

This location puts Mayfield Park outside of the always busy areas of the city. Downtown, University of Texas at Austin, and Domain are close, yet still a drive away.

You could reach Mayfield Park from all of these neighborhoods in less than 15 minutes by car. Austin Airport is further away. Still, it is usually about 20 to 35 minutes from the park.

Mayfield Park is next door to a few other Austin sights, too. The Contemporary Austin – Laguna Gloria museum is 0.2 miles (0.3 km) west. You could walk this distance thanks to a paved walkway.

Mount Bonnell, a beloved viewpoint on Lake Austin, is 0.7 miles (1.1 km) north of Mayfield Park. You could even catch a glimpse of the Pennybacker Bridge on 360.

A walk between Mayfield Park and Mount Bonnell could get quite strenuous. A 180-ft (55-m) elevation gain is to blame. Both avid and beginner hikers might feel a bit like they are climbing a mountain.

A car is the easiest way to visit Mayfield Park. There is a 30-car parking lot. But it often fills up on the weekends and holidays. In this case, park along 35th Street.

If you would rather not deal with traffic, take Bus 335 to Exposition/Warren stop. Get ready for a somewhat unpleasant 0.7-mi (1.1-km) walk next to a busy road.

Where to Stay near Mayfield Park

Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve is in a residential part of Austin. You should forget about finding a place to stay within a walking distance of the park.

But there are plenty of options if you have a car and do not mind a short drive. Check out Austin Arboretum, Domain, and Downtown neighborhoods.

Both Arboretum and Domain are a few miles (km) north of Mayfield Park on Mopac Expressway. You could reach the park in about 10 minutes without traffic.

Take a look at Residence Inn by Marriott Austin The Domain Area and Sonesta ES Suites Austin The Domain Area. These hotels are solid choices near dining and entertainment spots.

Consider Hyatt Place Austin Arboretum Domain Area and Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Austin NW – Arboretum Area, an IHG Hotel. A similar description applies to these places to stay.

There are a handful of hotels a few more miles (km) north. Check out SpringHill Suites by Marriott Austin The Domain Area and Homewood Suites by Hilton Austin NW near The Domain.

Down south, choose from The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel and Hampton Inn and Suites Austin University Capitol. You will be close to the University of Texas campus and the Texas State Capitol.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Mayfield Park and Preserve is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the year. Peacocks, ponds, and trails attract visitors year round. But holidays and weekends in the spring and fall get very busy.

The beauty of Mayfield Park is the main reason for crowds. But the lack of admission fees is certainly a close second.

This free city oasis could rival a handful of museums and sights that charge admission. In fact, it is much bigger than French Legation and on par with Pioneer Farms in size.

Beautiful grounds make Mayfield Park a popular destination for photography sessions and weddings. This park accommodates both. But you have to follow a few additional rules.

Each photo session requires a permit. You need to book it between 4 and 30 days in advance. The permit for a 2-hour session at Mayfield Park costs $50.

You could rent Mayfield Cottage for your event. The gardens could fit up to 100 people. But no more than 45 could be inside the cottage. A 2-hour garden only package costs $350. An all-day package is $1,350.

The City of Austin reserves the right to adjust prices at any point. Visit the official government website for the latest information before booking.

Takeaways: Mayfield Park Austin Texas

Mayfield Park and Nature Preserve is a hidden gem in Austin, Texas. This park has it all: a historic cottage, colorful gardens, and scenic grounds. Easy hiking trails bring you to Lake Austin.

Ponds and Walled Garden are home to wildlife, from koi fish and turtles to peafowls and herons. The majestic peacocks and peahens are a highlight of any visit to the park.

A handful of botanical gardens and parks charge admission while having fewer attractions. Mayfield Park gives you all of this for free.

As you could imagine, this park gets busy on weekends and holidays. A 30-car parking lot might not be enough to fit all visitors. Street parking along 35th Street has been an answer so far.

You could only explore the 1870s cottage and other buildings from the outside. This might be one of the only downside of visiting Mayfield Park.

Take a look at this Mayfield Park Austin Texas Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

https://youtu.be/d2v9NasVbGE

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!