​Wildflower Season, The Best Places for Iconic Bluebonnet Photos in and around Austin

If you’re new to Austin, you may be wondering what these spurts of blue are that you keep seeing along the sides of highways.  Well, these are bluebonnets, the state flower.  However, they won’t be here for long, so if you want to get an epic bluebonnet picture you should act now.  Luckily, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite locations to get that perfect shot.

Muleshoe Bend
Ok Muleshoe Bend is a little outside of Austin in Spicewood, Texas.  However, it has some of the most beautiful, sprawling displays of bluebonnets I have ever seen. Muleshoe Bend is a 654 acre park on the banks of Lake Travis.  It has copious trails for walking and biking, beautiful campsites with water views, and of course, epic bluebonnets.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center located near Circle C in southwest Austin is a great place to visit any time of year.  However, now it is one of the best places to see the state flower in full bloom.  In fact, Lady Bird Johnson played a large role in creating all of the bluebonnets we see along highways today through her beautification efforts.  She incentivized folks to grow wildflowers by personally writing checks for winners of her Texas Highway Beautification Awards.  
 
360 Bridge
Along the edges of 360 near the loop 360 bridge, aka Pennybacker bridge there are often tons of bluebonnets.  You will also find a scattering of Indian Paintbrushes and other wildflowers here.  If you park underneath the bridge near the boat ramp, you can easily walk to a number of good photoshoot locations.  

Willow City Loop
Just northwest of Fredericksburg off Hwy 16 is the historic 13-mile Willow City Loop.  It offers one of the most picturesque displays of Texas wildflowers.  In addition to the colorful fields or wildflowers, there are rolling hills and a beautiful canyons speckled with live oaks, pecan and mesquite trees.