Barton Creek Greenbelt

Super fun! But be very wary of the trail. My roommate and I got lost for not following the trail. It is possible that some trails connect with other.

Regardless stay in the trail.

Barton Creek Greenbelt is a very good destination to head for if you're wanting to go hiking and/or biking on a trail inside the Austin city limits.

The trail starts off near the Barton Springs Swimming Pool; the terrain at the beginning is flat and fairly easy, but the going gets tougher as you proceed along the trail.  The terrain gets muddy, steep, and rocky as you move South.  The trail is closed during heavy rains due to flooding.

Tip: Both bike riders and hikers use this trail at will, so be aware, be courteous, and yield the right-of-way as appropriate.

Given the diverse terrain, I suggest that when you visit here on foot you wear hiking boots/shoes to maximize traction.  Be aware that there are no restrooms or water fountains.  There is probably cell service, as there are signs that say "call 911 for emergencies" at every quarter mile marker.

Tip: There are quite a number of dogs that visit here.  Unfortunately, some of them are off-leash, and some of those are way too aggressive to be trusted near humans, so exercise caution.

Clocked ~3 miles with Strava back and forth, generally a flat walk with rocks here and there. Reach to the end and there is clear water with people and dogs having fun in the water. It would not hurt to have a tracking going so you know how to get back, I walked the wrong way to under the bridge so had to backtrack.

Tons of dog litter everywhere.

Fun with kids that have the energy to walk that far or a group of friends!

Does one really need to post about Barton Creek Greenbelt?? We as Austinites knows of the beauty and tranquility that this pla e has to offer. You can find a waterhole and claim it for a day or you can escape into the forestry and get lost in a labyrinth of trails..I love it.

Fantastic Spot To Rest & Rejuvenate With Nature
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barton-creek-greenbelt-austin-3?select=u8FzPYAeIIcP9xAZJXJdSQ&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

SITREP

Right in the middle of Austin, TX is this beautiful oasis of nature away from the hurly burly of traffic and other mechanized & electronic 21st Century Madness. This is one of those gorgeous natural resources to take advantage of and enjoy that "communion with nature!"
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barton-creek-greenbelt-austin-3?select=qY7kMFYzLzkE_2qmMZ__bQ&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

THE SETUP

Our wonderful friend Melissa A. took us and the pups for much need "mental refreshment" time on the eve of getting ready for a crazy weekend of activities - so this was a well-considered meditation. From...

* Babbling Brooks & Standing Pools of Cool Water To Wade Into
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barton-creek-greenbelt-austin-3?select=P84r2BgHQ_h6OYMj4IE3eQ&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

* Rope-swings
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barton-creek-greenbelt-austin-3?select=MN_eFcF4DQIPlSI0jVLJOg&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

* Happy Pups;
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barton-creek-greenbelt-austin-3?select_video=WC7BGx3tGHcfz0VgK3Jl7g&userid=3mNz5nQFTIBQm0oU5mBR0w

and,

* Lovely mermaids resting at the water's edge
https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/barton-creek-greenbelt-austin-3?select=raQUNAnJNGIj04XbOu0HKQ

...there really wasn't much more that I wanted to immerse myself in at this point.

THE LOWDOWN

Barton Creek is a welcome "getaway" that is close by your Austin hood.

Such a beautiful walk that blends right into the trail around lady bird lake. We walked 4.5 miles and really enjoyed the beauty all around. Heads up that bug spray is a good idea if you are sweet like me. I got several gnarly bites. Now I know and will prepare better from now on.

If you did not already love Austin before, you will definitely be head over heels after visiting Gus Fruh Pool. I haven't explored the greenbelt extensively, but it will difficult for me to venture out after discovering this gem.

Unlike many of the swimming holes around Austin, Gus Fruh Pool doesn't require a long hike. The trail entrance starts in a residential area and takes about 5 minutes tops. Considerably shorter than Hamilton Pool, Jacob's Well and many of the other popular spots.

We arrived around noon on Saturday and there were only a few people out. By 4pm it was close to 50 people out, so I would recommend arriving early for a good spot. We brought a hammock, but chairs may have been a better option. There were people drinking (and smoking) liberally, but I chose to play it safe after reading reviews about citations. Dogs outnumbered people, so if you are not keen on puppies, this isn't the place for you.

I cannot WAIT to visit Gus Fruh Pool again. It became my new favorite place in Texas, hands down.

I dont know what to rate this...... we went through the neighborhood entrance that yelp has address and after a very short and kinda bumpy hike (was not bad at all i am not a nature person and it was not bad!) we finally found the....... used to be river.....

for everybody planning to go swimming and enjoy the river don't go!!!! it's completely dried out! No sign of water anywhere!

we hiked for about a whole hour looking for the lightest sight of water and nope! we asked a local who seemed to know what they were doing and they said that there is only a river when it rains a lot and there has been no sight of water!

i'd hate to leave a 1 star review but i just hope to warn people before they drive out here! I hope i can return and find a beautiful river and leave a 5 star review.

What a terrific find on our trip to Austin. We seek out fun hiking spots wherever we go & this was definitely a beautiful area to hike that backs to several Austin neighborhoods and spans a very large area. So many little swimming holes along the trails or fun places to explore along the giant limestone rocks & shallow pools. Everyone's dogs were having the best time lapping water & taking dips in the creek. There are also a few rock climbing walls in this Greenbelt.

The hiking through the woods had some easy trails mixed with some very rocky tougher to navigate trails. It's obviously well traveled and many small trails are scattered all over the area to the point it's often difficult to figure out which path you should take. There are trail maps at the entry points but nothing is marked as you're hiking. A little trail marking of the main trails with bright paint would really be helpful.

Took a solo trip to Austin this weekend. Wanted to hike and check out some water holes. I parked here and walked to The Flats and Campbell's Hole. The hike was easy and nice. The beginning wasn't labeled very well. I used my phone to find the correct trail. But once past Gus Frah Wall I found the trail on the other side of the creek. Along the trail I went down some side trails to the water. Let my dog off leash and have some fun without many people around.
When I got to the Flats I had a blanket down and hung out and it was relaxing and beautiful. My dog was off leash and all others were friendly. We got to the water hole and by noon people we packing in. We started at 9:30 and took it slow. Only about a mile to Campbell's hole from this started spot.
I'll def be back!