Austin Scavenger Hunt

48 finds from the pink Capitol to the bat bridge and Barton Springs, all free to see.

Austin Scavenger Hunt

TeamMeet at (place and time)

  1. Stay with your team on public sidewalks, trails and parks.
  2. Cross only at marked crossings, with the signal.
  3. Buy nothing, take nothing and climb nothing.
  4. Photograph nobody outside your team without asking.
  1. A theater sign from 1915 on Congress AvenueThe Paramount Theatre. Write the letters on its vertical sign.
  2. A food truck park or trailer courtTick it only; buying is not part of the hunt.
  3. The statue on top of the Capitol domeLook up from the south lawn. Write what she holds up.
  4. A statue of a rider and horses rushing out of a fountainLittlefield Fountain, a World War I memorial completed in 1933, at the foot of the UT South Mall.
  5. A mural with a word written bigDowntown has many. Write the word.
  6. A 500-year-old oak with its own parkThe Treaty Oak, on Baylor Street between 5th and 6th. Foresters put it at about 500 years old. Do not touch.
  7. A monument on the Capitol grounds with a cannonThe grounds hold many monuments. Write the year on one.
  8. The university tower seen down a streetThe UT Main Building's tower is 307 feet with 27 floors. Look north.
  9. A skyscraper with a pointed crown like an owl's faceThe 33-floor tower at 4th and Congress. Some see an owl in its top; say what you see.
  10. A star set in the floor or the gate of the CapitolTexas stars are everywhere here. Count the points.

Next step Turn it into a photo hunt

How it works

Bats at dusk, a spring-fed pool and a 500-year-old oak: this Austin scavenger hunt holds 48 finds in four areas, each seen from a sidewalk, a trail or a park.

Read the full guide

Plan round the bats

The page opens on Capitol and Congress Avenue. Walk south through Lady Bird Lake and bridges and time the last stop for sunset, when the bats leave the Congress Avenue Bridge from spring into fall. Press Print this list for each area.

Proof on paper

Most finds ask for a count, a word or a color, so teams prove a find by writing it. The note under each is the judging rule.

Tips
  • Summer afternoons are hot. Carry water, and save Zilker Park for the morning.

Questions and answers

When do the Austin bats fly?

At dusk, from spring into fall, when the colony under the Congress Avenue Bridge leaves to feed. Watch from the lakeshore trail or the bridge's sidewalk.

Can you do a free scavenger hunt in Austin?

Yes. Every find here is seen from public ground: the Capitol grounds, the lake trail, Zilker's lawns and the South Congress sidewalks. Nothing needs a ticket or a purchase.

Is it good for kids?

Yes, with an adult in every team. The lake trail and Zilker Park suit children best: turtles, kites and a small train.

More tools

Browse Word Games

All 48 finds

Capitol and Congress Avenue 12

  • A 500-year-old oak with its own park The Treaty Oak, on Baylor Street between 5th and 6th. Foresters put it at about 500 years old. Do not touch.
  • A food truck park or trailer court Tick it only; buying is not part of the hunt.
  • A monument on the Capitol grounds with a cannon The grounds hold many monuments. Write the year on one.
  • A mural with a word written big Downtown has many. Write the word.
  • A skyscraper with a pointed crown like an owl's face The 33-floor tower at 4th and Congress. Some see an owl in its top; say what you see.
  • A star set in the floor or the gate of the Capitol Texas stars are everywhere here. Count the points.
  • A statue of a rider and horses rushing out of a fountain Littlefield Fountain, a World War I memorial completed in 1933, at the foot of the UT South Mall.
  • A tall iron tower that once lit the streets like moonlight Austin's moonlight towers are the only ones known by that name. Write the street corner where you found one.
  • A theater sign from 1915 on Congress Avenue The Paramount Theatre. Write the letters on its vertical sign.
  • The pink granite Capitol at the top of Congress Avenue It stands 302.64 feet tall, taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Tick it from the avenue.
  • The statue on top of the Capitol dome Look up from the south lawn. Write what she holds up.
  • The university tower seen down a street The UT Main Building's tower is 307 feet with 27 floors. Look north.
Show all 48 finds (36 more)

Lady Bird Lake and bridges 12

  • A bat-watching sign on the lakeshore Write one thing it tells you about the bats.
  • A boardwalk that runs over the water Part of the trail leaves the shore on a boardwalk. Walk a stretch.
  • A distance marker on the lakeside trail The Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail loops the lake. Write the number on it.
  • A dog drinking from a trail fountain Trail fountains often have a low bowl for dogs.
  • A heron or egret standing in shallow water Name which: gray or white.
  • A kayak or paddleboard on Lady Bird Lake Count them from one spot.
  • A rower in a long narrow boat Write how many rowers.
  • A turtle sunning on a log Look at the lake edge on a warm day.
  • A walkers-and-bikes-only bridge with a curve The Pfluger Bridge opened in 2001. Walk across it.
  • An arched bridge carrying cars over the lake The Lamar Boulevard Bridge, about 200 feet west of the walking bridge.
  • The bridge where bats fly out at dusk The Congress Avenue Bridge shelters a huge urban bat colony from spring into fall. Watch from the bank at sunset.
  • The skyline reflected in the lake Best from the south bank in still air.

Zilker Park 12

  • A cedar tree with shaggy bark Central Texas hills are full of them. Look, do not peel.
  • A creek with clear water over limestone Barton Creek runs through the park. Write the color of the rock.
  • A flat rock ledge by the water Stay dry if the water is high.
  • A grackle, the loud black bird of Austin Its long tail folds like a boat's keel. Listen first.
  • A kite over the Great Lawn Zilker Park hosts a kite festival every spring. Any kite counts.
  • A live oak with branches that touch the ground Stay off the branches; they break.
  • A picnic table under a shade tree Sit together for a team check-in.
  • A sculpture garden gate at the edge of the park The Umlauf Sculpture Garden holds works by Charles Umlauf. The sign at the gate counts.
  • A small train track in the park Look near the playground. Tick the track or the train.
  • A spring-fed pool in the middle of a park Barton Springs Pool is fed by natural springs and stays about 68 to 74 degrees all year. Score it from the fence or the hill.
  • The downtown skyline from the Great Lawn Count the cranes, not just the towers.
  • Swimmers on the grassy hill above the pool Tick it from outside the fence.

South Congress 12

  • A bike rack shaped like something fun Write what shape.
  • A creek crossing under the avenue Look for a small bridge and write the creek's name.
  • A food trailer with a hand-painted menu Write one dish on it. Buy nothing.
  • A giant painted mural of a guitar or boots Write what it shows.
  • A neon sign in a shop window Write one word it spells. No need to go in.
  • A painted cow, armadillo or longhorn statue Write which animal.
  • A porch with rocking chairs outside a shop Sit only if the sign allows.
  • A street musician playing on the sidewalk Tick it; tip only if you choose.
  • A Texas flag flying Count its colors.
  • A vintage car parked on the avenue Write its color.
  • A wall that says something about Austin Write the words.
  • The Capitol seen straight down South Congress The avenue runs due south from the river, with an open view back to the Capitol.

How this list was compiled: Written for this page in September 2026: 48 finds on foot in central Austin, Texas, sorted by area, all scored from sidewalks, trails, parks and bridges with nothing bought and no ticket. Nothing was copied from another list, and no bar street is on it. Levels are our judgment. Names, dates and places in the notes were checked on 2026-09-24 against English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ followed by Texas_State_Capitol, Treaty_Oak_(Austin,_Texas), Moonlight_tower, Paramount_Theatre_(Austin,_Texas), Frost_Bank_Tower, Main_Building_(University_of_Texas_at_Austin), Littlefield_Fountain, Ann_W._Richards_Congress_Avenue_Bridge, Mexican_free-tailed_bat, Lady_Bird_Lake, James_D._Pfluger_Pedestrian_and_Bicycle_Bridge, Lamar_Boulevard_Bridge, Ann_and_Roy_Butler_Hike-and-Bike_Trail, Zilker_Park, Barton_Springs_Pool, Umlauf_Sculpture_Garden_and_Museum and South_Congress. Licence: own work