The Texas Congress was in recess and a group of ladies and gentlemen ventured to Mount Bonnell to enjoy nature and the pure air of the country as was reported in the Austin Bulletin December 13, 1841.
Almost 200 years later, we also ventured to Mount Bonnell on a gorgeous Spring day with a brilliant blue sky, warm temperatures and slight winds. Over the years the city of Austin has grown to include Mount Bonnell.
In 1938 Frank M. Covert, Sr. donated a tract of land to Travis County. At the time the tract was just beyond the western edge of Austin and on the tract was Mount Bonnell. In the 1970s the city of Austin acquired the land and it became Covert Park which includes Mount Bonnell. Most Austinites, including Mike, our friend and tour guide, forget that Mount Bonnell is in Covert Park because Covert Park is Mount Bonnell. It is named for George Bonnell, who served as Commissioner of Indian Affairs for the Texas Republic and moved to Austin in 1839.
To reach the peak of Mount Bonnell one has the option of stairs or trail; we opted for the stairs of stone. At the top, the summit is paved with the same stone as the stairs and also has picnic tables and lookout spots. Mount Bonnell sits above Lake Austin, formerly the Colorado River. The views are spectacular, being able to see downtown Austin to the southeast and the Hill Country to the west. Also visible are the Penneybacker Bridge and the dam for Lady Bird Lake. The Texas Tower and the State Capitol could also be seen on our visit.
The day of our visit was so beautiful, we wished we had brought a picnic lunch to linger a little longer and enjoy the views.
View from Mount Bonnell
Downtown Austin
Cat of Mount Bonnell
Dam for Lady Bird Lake
Pennybacker Bridge
