Mount Bonnell's Historic Overlook

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Climb the stone steps of Austin's oldest scenic overlook to see the city just as nineteenth-century travelers did. Long before it was a bustling metropolis, visitors were drawn to this very peak. Documented use of Mount Bonnell goes back to at least 1838, when journalist George Bonnell described an excursion here in his diary.

Rising approximately 775 feet above sea level at 3800 Mount Bonnell Road, this spot is recognized as one of Austin’s oldest tourist attractions. As you look out, you can take in dramatic views of the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River and the sweeping Colorado River Valley below. The land was donated to Travis County in 1939 by the family of Frank Covert, Senior, transforming it into the parkland known as Covert Park.

This breathtaking overlook was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1969, and later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. Take a deep breath and let your eyes sweep across the water, standing in the exact spot where generations of travelers have paused to marvel at Texas.

Updated June 2026