Living in Westlake Austin: The Best Hikes, Schools & Lake Austin Lifestyle
If you’re considering moving to Westlake Austin, you’ve probably already heard about the schools.
But what I think people miss—especially families relocating to Austin from Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco or other major cities—is how much of the Westlake lifestyle actually happens outside.
This is one of the rare places where you can live minutes from downtown Austin while being surrounded by limestone cliffs, hiking trails, mature trees and Lake Austin.
You can hike before work, take your kids down to the lake after school, spend Saturday morning on the Greenbelt and still be downtown for dinner.
And for families, you have another major advantage: access to highly regarded public schools through Eanes ISD, along with several established private-school options nearby.
As a Westlake and Eanes-area Realtor—and someone who has lived and raised my own family in Eanes for years—this combination of schools + nature + water + proximity to Austin is one of the biggest reasons I see families choose this area.
So, what is it actually like to live here?
Where Is Westlake Austin?
When people say “Westlake,” they may be referring to several communities west of downtown Austin, primarily within 78746 and portions of 78733.
That can include West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Davenport Ranch, Lost Creek, Rob Roy, Cuernavaca/Austin Lake Estates and other neighborhoods within or around the Eanes area.
One important distinction for relocation buyers: a Westlake mailing address does not automatically determine school attendance.
If attending Eanes ISD is important to you, always verify the attendance boundary for the specific property you’re considering directly with the district.
Explore the district and its campuses here:
Eanes Independent School District
Why Families Move to Westlake Austin
Ask ten Westlake residents why they live here and you’ll probably hear some combination of:
The schools. The location. The hills. The lake. The community.
Westlake offers something unusual for a major metropolitan area: you can feel immersed in the Texas Hill Country without feeling removed from Austin.
Depending on where you live, your normal week might include hiking the Hill of Life, boating on Lake Austin, watching a Westlake High School game, meeting friends at the lake or driving into downtown Austin for dinner.
That indoor/outdoor quality of life is a huge part of understanding why Westlake Austin is such a sought-after place for families.
The Best Hiking Near Westlake Austin
One of my favorite things about living here is that you don’t have to plan an entire day around getting into nature.
It’s simply part of life.
1. Hill of Life + Barton Creek Greenbelt
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen our community out here. We actually have a group that hikes the Hill of Life every Tuesday at 9:00 AM.
The Hill of Life is accessed from Camp Craft Road in 78746 and connects into the larger Barton Creek Greenbelt.
And yes—the name is deserved.
The Hill of Life has roughly 300 feet of ascent/descent in about half a mile, making it one of the more challenging sections of the Greenbelt. From here, you can continue toward Sculpture Falls and miles of additional trail.
For me, this trail represents something I love about Westlake beyond the hiking itself: community happens here.
You see neighbors, parents, runners, mountain bikers and friends. Our Tuesday hike has become another way to connect with people who live here.
Explore the official trail information through Austin Parks & Recreation’s Barton Creek Greenbelt guide.
2. Barton Creek Greenbelt
The Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail is one of Austin’s signature outdoor spaces, with more than 12 miles to explore.
Depending on where you enter, you’ll find limestone cliffs, wooded trails, rocky terrain and—when rainfall cooperates—creek water and swimming holes. Hiking, trail running and mountain biking are all popular here.
One thing relocation buyers should understand about Austin: water in the Greenbelt is seasonal.
Barton Creek’s water levels depend heavily on rainfall, so don’t assume the swimming holes you see in photographs will always look that way.
3. Sculpture Falls
For a quintessential Austin experience, hike from the Hill of Life toward Sculpture Falls.
When Barton Creek is flowing, the limestone formations and water create one of the prettiest natural swimming areas near Westlake.
It’s the kind of place that makes you forget how close you are to a major city.
4. Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve
For something quieter and more nature-focused, I love Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve on Capital of Texas Highway.
Wild Basin protects 227 acres of Texas Hill Country habitat and combines hiking with conservation, environmental education and research.
It’s a different experience from the Greenbelt—less about getting a workout and more about slowing down and experiencing the natural landscape of West Austin.
5. Turkey Creek Trail
A little farther north, Turkey Creek Trailhead is another favorite West Austin hike.
It’s shaded, wooded and follows the creek with multiple crossings, giving it a very different feel from some of Austin’s exposed limestone trails.
It’s also especially popular with dog owners.
Living Near Lake Austin
Then there is the water.
This is a piece of the Westlake lifestyle that can be difficult to understand until you actually live here.
Lake Austin isn’t simply something you look at. People build their lives around it.
Weekends can mean boating, wake surfing, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing or meeting friends at the park.
For buyers relocating from the coasts, this can be one of the biggest surprises about Austin.
You may be giving up the ocean—but you don’t necessarily have to give up a lifestyle centered around water.
Commons Ford Ranch
One of my favorite examples is Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park.
Commons Ford sits directly on Lake Austin and includes approximately 215 acres with wildland, picnic areas, a boat dock and swimming access.
It’s beautiful, relaxed and very Austin.
Families bring picnics. Friends meet by the water. People swim, paddle and spend long afternoons under the trees.
For residents of Cuernavaca and Austin Lake Estates, having this type of public waterfront recreation nearby is one of the neighborhood’s major lifestyle advantages.
Learn more through Austin Parks & Recreation’s Commons Ford Ranch page.
Boating and Watersports on Lake Austin
Lake Austin is also a major boating and watersports destination.
From cruising under the Pennybacker Bridge to wake surfing, kayaking and paddleboarding, getting onto the water can become part of normal Austin life rather than something reserved for vacation.
There are marinas, boat ramps and water access points throughout West Austin, including around the 360 corridor and 78733.
And that’s one reason I always tell relocation buyers:
Don’t choose your Austin neighborhood based solely on the house. Choose it based on how you want your life to feel.
If Saturday mornings on the lake matter to you, that should be part of your home search.
Eanes ISD Schools
Of course, for many families searching Westlake homes for sale, education is the first reason they begin looking here.
Eanes ISD currently operates five elementary schools, two middle schools and Westlake High School, in addition to its transition-services program.
The elementary schools are:
- Barton Creek Elementary
- Bridge Point Elementary
- Cedar Creek Elementary
- Eanes Elementary
- Forest Trail Elementary
Students then attend either:
- Hill Country Middle School
- West Ridge Middle School
before attending:
- Westlake High School
For the 2025–26 Texas accountability data currently published by the state, Barton Creek, Bridge Point, Eanes and Forest Trail elementary schools received A ratings; Hill Country Middle School, West Ridge Middle School and Westlake High School also received A ratings. Cedar Creek Elementary received a B.
You can review current state accountability information directly through the Texas School Report Cards for Eanes ISD.
For buyers, however, I always recommend looking beyond rankings.
Visit the schools. Understand the programs. Talk to parents. Think about your individual child.
And most importantly, verify the attendance zone of any home you’re considering directly with Eanes ISD before purchasing.
Private Schools Near Westlake Austin
Not every family living in Westlake chooses Eanes ISD.
West Austin also puts families relatively close to several established private schools, which can make the area appealing even to buyers who don’t intend to use the public-school system.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
St. Stephen’s Episcopal School is located right in 78746 at 6500 St. Stephen’s Drive.
The coeducational Episcopal school serves grades 6–12 and offers both day and boarding programs. Its program combines academics with athletics, arts and service learning.
Its beautiful Hill Country campus also feels very connected to the landscape of West Austin.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is another well-known Austin private-school option.
St. Andrew’s serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Its Upper School campus is located on Southwest Parkway, making it particularly relevant for many families living in Westlake and southwest Austin. For the 2026–27 school year, the school reports approximately 1,020 students across its K–12 community.
Regents School of Austin
Regents School of Austin is a K–12 classical Christian school located on an 82-acre campus in Southwest Austin.
Regents reports nearly 1,100 students and organizes its curriculum through its Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric schools.
For families specifically seeking a classical Christian education, it’s another school worth exploring when considering West Austin.
Trinity Episcopal School of Austin
Located directly on Bee Caves Road in 78746, Trinity Episcopal School of Austin is another private-school option right in the Westlake area.
Its location is particularly convenient for many families living in West Lake Hills, Rollingwood and the surrounding Eanes communities.
What Is It Really Like Raising a Family in Westlake Austin?
This is the question I think matters most.
And rankings and real estate statistics don’t completely answer it.
I moved to Austin after living in New York, Los Angeles and Napa. I had two little girls when we made the leap. They’re teenagers now.
What surprised me most wasn’t simply the schools or the amount of space we could have.
It was the community.
People show up here.
You run into people on trails. Kids grow up around the lake. Parents know one another. There are school events, neighborhood traditions, sports, community gatherings and those spontaneous evenings when somebody texts, “We’re heading down to the lake—come meet us.”
That saying “it takes a village” feels much more tangible to me here than it did in some of the larger cities where I’ve lived.
And when you combine that sense of community with access to nature, water and Austin itself, you begin to understand why families searching for the best neighborhoods in Austin for families so often end up exploring Westlake and Eanes.
Westlake vs. Cuernavaca: Two Very Different Versions of the Same Lifestyle
One thing relocation buyers often don’t realize is that Westlake isn’t one homogeneous neighborhood.
That’s exactly why choosing the right micro-neighborhood matters.
Parts of 78746 can feel more polished, established and convenient to downtown.
Drive farther west into 78733 and Cuernavaca/Austin Lake Estates, and the feeling changes.
Cuernavaca is funkier, more eclectic and incredibly connected to the lake. You’ll find everything from original lake cottages to modern architectural homes and multimillion-dollar properties.
We sometimes call it the “Venice Beach of the Hill Country” because it has an independent, creative personality that feels very different from traditional suburban Austin.
Yet portions of 78733 are still within Eanes ISD.
For some buyers, that’s exactly the combination they’ve been searching for: Eanes schools without giving up personality, nature and a relaxed lake lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Westlake Austin
Is Westlake Austin good for families?
Many families consider Westlake because of its combination of Eanes ISD schools, established neighborhoods, access to outdoor recreation and proximity to central Austin. Whether it’s right for your family depends on your priorities, budget, commute and preferred lifestyle.
What are the best hikes near Westlake Austin?
Popular options include the Hill of Life and Barton Creek Greenbelt, Sculpture Falls and Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. West Austin also provides relatively easy access to trails including Turkey Creek.
Can you live near water in Westlake Austin?
Yes. Lake Austin borders portions of West Austin and 78733, and waterfront and water-access lifestyles are particularly prominent around areas including Cuernavaca/Austin Lake Estates and Commons Ford.
What school district serves Westlake Austin?
Many homes commonly described as being in Westlake are served by Eanes ISD, but school boundaries must be verified property by property. Never assume a home feeds to Eanes ISD based only on its address or marketing description.
Are there private schools near Westlake Austin?
Yes. Nearby options include St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Regents School of Austin and Trinity Episcopal School of Austin, among others.
Is Westlake close to downtown Austin?
Yes. One of Westlake’s defining advantages is the ability to combine a Hill Country residential environment with relatively close proximity to central Austin. Exact drive times vary substantially by neighborhood, traffic and construction.
Thinking About Moving to Westlake Austin?
If you’re relocating to Austin, my biggest advice is not to start by asking:
“What’s the best neighborhood?”
Start with:
“How do we want to live?”
Do you picture your kids growing up around the lake?
Do you want hiking trails minutes from home?
Is Eanes ISD important?
Would you prefer access to private schools?
Do you want a more polished Westlake neighborhood—or something eclectic and lake-oriented like Cuernavaca?
Do you need to be close to downtown?
Those answers will narrow your search much faster than scrolling through hundreds of listings.
I’m Natasha Antonioni, a Realtor, interior designer and founder/partner of The Council Real Estate Group at Compass. I’ve lived in Eanes since 2014, raised my own family here and spent the last decade helping people buy and sell homes throughout Westlake, Eanes and Cuernavaca.
Our team has sold 80+ homes in Eanes, and because we live here too, we help relocation buyers understand not only the houses—but the subtle differences between the neighborhoods and the lifestyles that come with them.
If you’re considering moving to Westlake Austin, Eanes ISD, 78746 or 78733, we’d love to help you figure out which part of West Austin actually fits the life you’re trying to create.
Explore The Council Real Estate Group
Albina Rippy, Natasha Antonioni & Holly McCormick
The Council Real Estate Group
Austin, Texas | Westlake | Cuernavaca | Eanes ISD
713-443-6466
thecouncilregroup.com