Nothing beats a walk alongside a river on a hot day, and Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail is one of the best places to do it. The park is popular with mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers, and boasts two beautiful waterfalls – Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls.
The main entry point is located along the Capital of Texas Highway (Loop 360). Here you will find plenty of parking. Read this first!
Loop 360 Access Point
If you’ve lived in Austin for more than six months and haven’t been to the Greenbelt, you’re missing a big part of the city. This outdoor adventure playground offers limestone cliff walls, rocky trails, and gorgeous shade trees in the heart of the city. It’s a popular destination for mountain bikers, rock climbers, and hikers. When the creek runs, there are several swimming holes.
This is the main entrance to the Greenbelt, and you’ll find plenty of parking at this trailhead. It’s also referred to as the Loop 360 Access Point, and it’s often busy on weekends.
From here, you can hike to Gus Fruh and Campbell’s Hole. It’s also possible to continue on the trail and reach Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls, though the water levels at these spots can be low during droughts. If you want to swim here, we recommend checking the water levels beforehand. This entry point is also close to a Taco Deli, so you’ll have easy access to food and drink on your hike.
Gus Fruh Access Point
The Gus Fruh Access Point is a great spot to hike or mountain bike, and it’s also the best swimming spot when the water levels are high. The area has a few rope swings that are perfect for jumping off, but the pool can be quite shallow after a dry spell. It’s still a good place to cool off though.
It’s also a popular spot to climb, and the main trail runs right across the creek from the neighborhood entry trail. It’s a short walk upstream from here to the New Wall area and the Seismic Wall.
This is one of the most popular spots on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and it’s well worth the short hike from the neighborhood entry trail. It’s an incredible place to hike, run, rock-climb, and swim, or just lazily pass a day perched in a hammock or sunbathing on a boulder. The dirt trail is also popular with mountain bikers and it’s flanked by rock walls throughout. Visit another area in town here.
Campbell’s Hole Access Point
The Campbell’s Hole Access Point of the Barton Creek Greenbelt is a popular place for mountain climbers, swimmers, and hikers. This area features limestone bluffs, waterfalls, and swimming holes. You can also find plenty of hiking trails here. This is one of the best entry points for newbies who want to enjoy all that the Greenbelt has to offer without being too challenging.
This access point is located within a residential neighborhood, so you should be respectful of local homeowners. It is also a good idea to avoid parking on private driveways. You can enter the trail from the parking lot across from The Marquis at Treetops apartments.
The Campbell’s Hole Access Point is a good place to start for those who want to get away from the noise of the city. It is also a good way to reach the popular Sculpture Falls and Seismic Wall. It is a great spot for joggers and bikers as well.
Sculpture Falls Access Point
This is the main trailhead along the Greenbelt, so it tends to be pretty busy on a good day. Hikers, mountain bikers, and rock climbers use this area. You can hike to Campbell’s Hole, Gus Fruh, and Sculpture Falls from this point.
Swimming at these spots depends on the water levels. If it’s been a long time since the last rainfall, Twin Falls might dry up, but Sculpture Falls always has solid water levels. This is also the home of the Hill of Life, a steep section of the trail that’s popular among mountain bikers.
A beautiful place to spend a relaxing afternoon with your significant other, friends, or just yourself, the Barton Creek Greenbelt offers something for everyone. With a variety of hiking and swimming spots, this outdoor adventure playground is an oasis in the heart of downtown Austin. The 7.5-mile trail is full of shady, rocky trails and majestic limestone climbing walls. It’s also dotted with some of the city’s top swimming holes. Next article.
Driving directions from Wise Coatings Austin to Barton Creek Greenbelt
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