Oh how I love walking the Greenbelt! It feels like you can go for miles and miles. Well, you can as it's for nearly 12 miles of trails. Our little furry guy loves a jaunt on the trail in his stroller, especially if that means stopping off for a swim along the way. Can't beat cooling off in natural watering holes during a hot summer in Austin. The Barton Hills entrance gets you to Campbell's Hole while 360 gets you to Sculpture Falls and Twin Falls. I say do it all. Maybe not in one day...save something for the next time. Definitely a precious piece of Austin that we're so lucky to have. read more

Loved hiking here for the first time! We first parked at the 360 trailhead and were freaked out by all the broken glass and signs saying that it's a common smash and grab area. There were broken windows literally everywhere. The car was completely empty and we parked and started to enter, then decided to turn around because it just didn't feel right. We drove down to the other entrance on Spyglass near TacoDeli and felt much better. Residential area with street parking - perfect. We got on the trail and turned left which brought us to the new Violet Crown trailhead. We figured out how it connected to Barton Springs Pool. This was only 3 miles round trip. Next time we will go right past the falls. I am not sure there are even falls right now since it hasn't rained in a long time. The trail is easily marked and there were lots of people out. Can't wait to do more exploring soon! read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Barton Creek Greenbelt is a true Austin staple with a straightforward trail that offers a few beautiful landscapes every so often. The trail doesn't feature much elevation and the paths are well carved out so this is definitely on the beginner side of things when it comes to activity although that isn't to say the trail won't offer a good workout. Depending on what time of year or weather you go during you can catch beautiful ponds or even different animals wandering the area. We've been many times and it's always been a fun experience, especially seeing people enjoy the water when it hasn't dried up. One very important thing to note though is that the trail is EXTREMELY busy. With that said, it is quite annoying to have to stop over and over for families or large groups, but I understand that's due to the trails popularity. The trail is also dog friendly so if you would like to socialize your pup, this is a great way to do so. The biggest issue by far though is the safety of the parking lots. Car break-ins are rampant and you can see the shattered glass littering the area. While we haven't experienced anything like this, we HIGHLY recommend you leave valuables at home as the risk of leaving them in your car is too high to chance. Other than business and parking lot safety, Barton Creek Greenbelt is beautiful and a come one come all kind of trail that every city needs to have. read more

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The greenbelt is a beautiful Austin staple. There are different ways you can get to this location. I've been here many times, water levels can be higher for sure, sadly it hasn't rained as much, BUT hopefully with rain these past week, the levels have risen. It's such a nice spot to hangout and bring your furry friend, my dog absolutely loves the water. Many people bring their dog and have them off the leash so if your dog isn't accustomed to being around other dogs just keep an eye out for other dogs on the loose, they're usually friendly. It is a rocky area and if you decide to cross the water, careful because the rocks can be very slippery! read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Plenty of parking. No paved areas. As expected, terrain can be a little uneven, slippery and muddy after rain. Overall pretty flat and shaded in most parts. We headed toward twin falls, sculpture falls and back and was less than 4 miles (without wrong turns). Unfortunately, the trail posts have graffiti and are illegible, so would suggest taking photo of map beforehand or using phone's gps. We saw people in the water near the little falls. Dogs are allowed, but saw many off leash. read more

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It's a true hiking trail in Austin, in the heart of the city. It's beautiful. This place can get crowded, especially in the weekends. The entrance from Mopac is a popular one, however a pro tip - DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN YOUR CAR. You car will definitely be broken into. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Nice trails. There was no water when I visited. Wrong time of the year for that. Referring to no creek, and no waterfalls. I was confused at first when I drove up because the parking lot was for residents in the neighboring apartment complex. Then I saw a car come from an unknown area. I drove to that location and saw a small dirt parking lot. Parking is free. There are not too many parking spaces, but enough. The trails are very nice, with a lot of trees giving off plenty of shade. There's an old wooden restroom at the entrance. It's a little scary because it's leaning. I made it out, so that's good. Definitely a nice place to visit. read more

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Even though there was no water flowing at Twin Falls during our visit, the beautiful weather and peaceful surroundings made it worth the trip. What truly made it special were the memories I made with my daughters--laughing, exploring, and enjoying the moment together. They turned it into a five-star experience. read more

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I'm a sucker for any place that maintains a nice park within city limits. Then there's Austin who takes it to a whole 'nother level with Barton Creek Greenbelt. It has miles of trails less than 15 min from downtown. If you're visiting, I highly recommend you take a couple hours for self-care and walk outside here. We visited in Feb, a pretty cold but sunny day. After exploring a lot of the city we were looking for some outdoor time and it did not disappoint. The water was emerald clear, tons of friendly dogs and a very level-easy trail good for any experience level. We chose the out-n-back segment from the southern trailhead to sculpture falls and we got to see a lot in a short span of time :) read more

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We hiked to sculpture falls and it was so worth it! We didn't swim but it was just nice sitting by the water. I'd recommend bringing bug spray as we got a few mosquito bites. It's very popular so it can get crowded. There were a lot of broken glass in parking area so definitely do not leave anything valuable in the car. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Here's your complete guide to the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Ambitious nature-trail enthusiasts, beware, the greenbelt can be tiring (~13 miles), as this does not create a loop. If you park your vehicle at one trail head, you WILL have to hike back to reach your vehicle. There are multiple access points, with entirely different terrains to hike on. Here are a few of my favorite access points: Campbole's Hole West (1601 Spyglass Dr; street parking only), Trail's Head (2201 Barton Springs Rd, lot) & Gaines/Twin Falls (3918 S Mopac Expwy, lot). Here's why (respectively): Tacodeli, access to multiple Zilker amenities and access to "the falls". If you aren't a native Texan, don't expect much from "the falls" (Twin or Sculpture Falls). Unfortunately, these are not the waterfalls you see in the Pacific Northwest. Think instead, a bed of rocks and a stream of water (if it's rained). A few notes: expect lots of trees (yay shade) with some parts of sunshine, easy paths to follow, dog friendly trails (poop bags at most access points, leash required, fees may incur if caught without leash; $500 fine). read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Don't expect a "creek" in December. Not even a trickle; just nice trails and rocks. When my sister and I visited, we only had the time to see twin falls which was only a quick nonstrenuous 10 minute walk or so from the parking lot. There were lots of cool rocks and shapes at twin falls but otherwise not much else to see or do besides walk around, so it only took us about 45 minutes for the round trip. There were many other groups and visitors at 11:30am when we went, so there were always conversations. Very little wildlife except some cardinals. read more

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I hiked on this trail today. I thought it was excellent since there is plenty of trail to get a good hike. The trail itself is not too difficult to walk. Too bad there isn't a lot of water at the moment. It would have made the hike a little more enjoyable since the river beds were dry. There was many people out and the park even offers maps of the trails on the internet. There were bicyclists and on one part people were rick climbing. I thought that was pretty cool. So if you are looking for a new place to exercise or go for a leisure walk, stop by here and give it a try. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Trail #2 - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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One of my fave places to hike! It has a beautiful trail and when the water is flowing it's really nice to sit by it and just enjoy the nature. Going in and leaving is the harder portion of the trail. For some it can be a bit of a climb. I'm not athletic and I can manage just fine. There are areas to have picnics as well. They also have trails for bikers so cautious and aware of your surroundings. read more

The creek has water only if there is lot of rain. The trail is hard to find although good for regular trail walkers.

This review is for the section of the greenbelt that starts at the Hill of Life at 1710 Camp Craft Rd, Austin, TX 78746 and ends at South Mopac. It's a beautiful hiking trail that follows Barton Creek. Lots of side trails to meander and get lost on. It's not a loop, you walk in, then turn around and walk out when you get to the end. Most of the trail is easy, except for the last half mile on the return trip when you are going back up the Hill of Life. It's not grueling, or extremely rough, but you will get a little cardio in during this section. There isn't a parking lot, you park on the street in the neighborhood near the address I posted above. The trail dead ends at Mopac if you're on the east side of the creek. But if you can find one of the trails that crosses over to the west side of the creek, you can walk a lot further. Check Google Maps to find the trails that cross over. The water was flowing pretty good when I was there due to recent rains, so I couldn't cross over. There's very little signage on the trails, but it's easy to find your way. Very clean trails with hardly any trash at all. I only saw one plastic bottle and one bag of dog poop on the trail. I saw lots of dogs but not even one was on a leash. read more

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I love this place!!! It's so expansive. And there's a lot of different trails. We went here with my puppy and took a lot of great pictures. I'll admit we got very lost while inside on our hunt for Twin Falls. Because it started to get hot my husky was getting very tired and we went back. But we still got a great hike in and even better photos. It was a great walk. We did about an hour and thirty minutes in there. It's very dog friendly. I was amazed to see my puppy climb and jump down from things that I, myself thought was pretty scary. Very scenic and it's all free. Parking is also free. What's not to love about this place? A lot of other people walk their dogs here too so it was nice to see we weren't the only ones today. I would suggest to stay on the main trails. I ventured off into an open space and stepped right into the hugest web I ever saw! Never again. Still had a lot of fun as a family. Definitely loved my visit and might make this a monthly thing. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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A hiking trail that feels like you're in the middle of the wilderness, yet just 10 minutes from the heart of Austin? We hit the jackpot when we found the Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls Trail, a mostly flat 3.3 mile out and back trail within the Barton Creek Greenbelt stretch. Dogs are even allowed on this trail if kept leashed. Though we decided to keep the dog at home since he has 2 speeds (molasses slow or stop).  The trailhead is easily accessible, located right off of Loop 1, or the Mopac Expressway. There was also plenty of parking. The trail follows along the Barton Creek and is popularly known for the two major waterfalls along the route: Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls, which are very popular swimming destinations. In the dryer months, you likely won't see falls. We didn't on this hike. However, it still makes a lovely stroll. This was the perfect trail to do with the twin babies since it was pretty easy, mostly shaded and virtually impossible to get lost. Though we did take a slight wrong turn and found ourselves in the middle of the forest. But it didn't take long to figure out we were off path as we were climbing through bushes. The trail is very well-maintained and packed with families. Our twin babies were having a blast and lulled to sleep within a few minutes. No wonder we loved this hike so much. No screaming babies! Clearly, it's the small things in life. read more

DO NOT COME HERE! It's been dry since 2013. And the place you park to get to the trail has glass everywhere from cars being broken into. Our car got broken into today and got a purse and wallet stolen. If I were you I would go somewhere else if you want to swim in Austin. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Broken window - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

One of my favorite things from my trip to Austin was hiking Barton Creek Greenbelt! We took a lyft out to one of the trailheads because it's not close enough to the city center to walk, but not super far either. It was a beautiful day so hiking seemed like the perfect afternoon activity. We caught the trail somewhere near the MoPac Expressway. It was easily accessible, and easy to walk. I was in sandals and it wasn't an issue as long as you look out for the occasional jutting rock on the path. It's not really a loop, more like an out-and-back type of hike along one side of the creek. We walked for about 2 hours along the scenic greenbelt until we reached Sculpture Falls, passing Twin Falls on the way. It was gorgeous, with lots of shade and the peaceful sounds of the creek the whole way. Once we got to Sculpture Falls, we stopped to relax. The water was a pretty cold but crystal clear. I just put my feet in, but Jordan went for a swim. There were quite a few people but it wasn't too crowded (Twin Falls was worse because it's closer to the trailhead). It's a great place to bring your dog for a walk or swim or just to relax with a book or picnic. It would probably also make a great outdoorsy date if that's the kind of thing you're into. After we hung out there for an hour, we headed back down the same trail. We first unsuccessfully tried to walk back along the other side of the creek until we realized there isn't really a full trail there. Overall, it was a day well spent. It is so amazing that Austin has such a beautiful piece of greenery right in the city's backyard, and I would definitely visit again! read more

The Green Belt is a really cool place to hike or take the family for an afternoon hike. We started at the 360 entrance and hiked away from the Zilker end. There is a wide range of activities that you can do including swimming, hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. The area we hiked was nice and shady. There are tons of trees and two nice spots to swim or wade along the way. I was surprised by all of the dogs off leash, but we didn't have any issues. The dogs were well trained and minded their own business. Their owners did leave their "presents" behind. We saw a lot of bagged dog poop and some trash, but didn't find any trash cans. So it's not a surprise that garbage was left behind. There was one lady with a trash bag who picked up garbage along her walk. She needed to win an award. read more

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Currently CLOSED. People were still going in but we decided to be good citizens and a good role model to our teen. #maskupTexas UPDATE: I've heard it has reopened. Double check before heading out. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt is located in south-central Austin. The Greenbelt contains 12.68 miles of beautiful, scenic trails for hiking, limestone bluffs for rock climbing & swimming. A creek, aptly named Barton Creek, passes through Barton Creek Greenbelt and some of the more scenic areas in Greater Austin. Last weekend, a group of us went to Barton Creek to spend some time out of the lab and in nature. At around 2 pm, we drove over to find a good place to rent out kayaks. The four of us rented two doubles, each spending about $7, which covered an hour of kayaking. The sun was out, but the water definitely cooled us down. About twenty minutes out from the rental dock was a gorgeous place to see the skyline of greater Austin from the water, so we spent some time relaxing out there (okay, kayaking was so tiring on my already non-existent arm muscles LOL.) read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

When the creek is empty, it's a great place to practice climbing or watch climbers do their thing. A great social distancing activity. read more

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I would love to say that I had a great experience on this hike but unfortunately I went at a time in August where all of the water was completely dried up. We hiked for over 2 hours and several miles. It was a pretty scenic route with all of the surrounding cliffs but it would have been awesome to see waterfalls and be able to enjoy the refreshing springs on such a hot day. Definitely killed the hike not being able to see this considering the fact that we literally hiked miles just to see the falls.. haha. Won't ever go back in August. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Super fan place to come with family, friends and pets to hike, swim and enjoy nature. It tends to be pretty crowded, as it's a popular place but it's well worth braving the crowd. read more

Pretty interesting hike. I was bummed that the creekbed was dry (was it dammed off?). It would've been cool to see the different waterfalls. Even without, this was still some interesting terrain. I went at about 830am on a Friday and barely ran into anyone read more

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The greenbelt is probably my favorite place to hang out in all of Austin. I never go here and have a bad time. The scenery is great and when there is water the swimming is excellent. So I would love to give the Greenbelt five stars but I cant for one reason. Dog owners have convinced themselves this is an off leash dog park. When you walk into the park it clearly states that dogs should remain on leashes. I usually go here to have a picnic and relax.. last weekend I was here and a dog got into my messenger bag and took my beef jerky. I also had several dogs hop out of the water and shake themselves off all over me and my friend. Everything is so great here especially when there is water, its sad that a few dog owners are so irresponsible that they cant keep there pets on a leash because this really does take away from the greenbelt experience. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Barton Creek is remarkable. It flows some 40 miles through Texas Hill Country until it empties into the Colorado River. In Greater Austin, the area around the creek is protected by a greenbelt with multi-use (pedestrian and cyclist) trail access. The greenbelt stretches 7.25 miles and is relatively flat. From an aerial view, it can be thought of as being divided into two halves, one west and the other east of Mopac Expressway (aka Loop 1). At the end of the eastern half, where the greenbelt meets the Colorado River, is Zilker Park. The western half contains Barton Creek Wilderness Park. The wife and I walked the length of the Wilderness Park. We found parking at the end of the Frontage Road on the north side of Mopac Expressway. On the trail, I found the ground to be mostly rocky and uneven - not great for running, though I still saw some people doing so. There were waterfalls at a couple points, and though the flow of water was low at the time we visited, it was still neat to check those out. The trail was mostly shaded and almost entirely flat, except for the end section at the Hill of Life where there's some modest elevation gain. It was nice to spend part of our trip here on our walk through nature. The greenbelt and its trail are a terrific asset to a city that's otherwise becoming more developed with time. read more

I came here with two of my friends around 11:30am on a Saturday. Parking was $3. After checking out the "pool" area http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/htg3YbExMUWF9kcqNbVFMQ?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ and http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/htg3YbExMUWF9kcqNbVFMQ?select=QWPqh9K8yRq62FbuJLuDpQ, we decided to walk down the length of the river and loop around the park (probably at least 1-2 miles in length). It was ridiculously hot, and the trail is somewhat dusty. Halfway through, we saw some guys swinging off a trapeze that was hanging off a tree, right into the river. I've always wanted to do it, so I hurried back, changed into my trunks, and went back. Totally worth it. Unfortunately, two cops showed up right after and told the guys to take it down and that they were going to give them a ticket next time, so I made the jump just in time. The rest of the walk paled in comparison, but there were some nice views of the river and the city. Afterwards, we drove over to the botanical garden down the road and headed out. Tips: -bring your dog (lots of doggies in the downstream pool area) -wear lots of sunscreen -plan to arrive here before 1pm to avoid the huge traffic jam\ -bring tubes if you want to go tubing -kayaking looked pretty awesome read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Barton Creek Greenbelt is the perfect destination for a daytime hiking adventure! The trail has endless instances of nature in harmony. The trails are perfect for a smooth walk or a jog. I even saw people riding bikes around the trail. In addition, there is very beautiful scenery throughout the trail. I fell in love with the small little waterfall that is a few minutes into the trail. It is absolutely breathtaking to see the work of nature. In addition, there is many hills nearby that you can actually climb if you are feeling particularly adventurous. However, you have to be very careful to make sure you don't slip on a rock. Overall, the trail can be as long as you need it to be. There are plenty of activities to do on the trail from hiking to climbing. I think we spent about two hours just walking around, and exploring the wilderness. It is a great place to relax, and relieve some stress. read more

This was a fun, technical trail. Unfortunately, on the day I went, half the trail was washed out so I couldn't do the entire 15 miles. I did about 10 - about 4-7 on the main trail & then getting lost on some of the side trails. For the most part, when you're on the main trail, it's well-marked. If you take a left turn in Albuquerque you'll not see any signage (or at least I didn't). Either way, the trails are well-developed & maintained, even in January. I'm definitely going to come back when the water levels go down and I can complete the entire thing. Lots of people were there rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking. I can only imagine what it would look like in the summer months. The trail itself is super rocky & technical. My heart rate was spiking early and often. Overall, a very fun trail. read more

I stumbled upon this place after needing a nice long walk to cure my slight hangover from the night before and burn some of my greasy food indulgence off. The park was easy to find via google maps. There is plenty of parking and right by the entrance there is a nasty outhouse. I don't recommend using unless you absolutely have too. Hold your breath upon entering and get out as soon as possible. There are multiple paths you can take and there are smaller paths that lead into the water for a dip with you or your doggie. I would recommend bringing at least water with you and decide how long you hike for. The path isn't a loop. read more

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Love this trail. You can go and spend the day hiking, biking, hanging in a hammock, rock climbing, swimming or just getting lost in nature. Cost is free to explore and decompress. So get off your ass and get out there. read more

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The Barton Creek Greenbelt is an Austin GEM. One of the things that makes Austin so unique is the city's dedication to maintaining greenspace for its residents! Hikes along the Greenbelt are beautiful and free! And it looks different everytime you go - especially after this crazy rain season we've had lately! Want to hike, swim, bike, run? The Greenbelt is a great spot for all! read more

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I arrived from NYC and decided to hike the entire Greenbelt my first morning here. Ambitious. I started out at the end (the Hill of Life) and worked my way down to Barton Springs; if you're trying for the whole thing I would suggest doing this. Park at the Springs if possible and then Uber to Camp Craft Rd. & Scottish Woods. The Hill has a ton of stairs that will just kill you if you save them for last, and this way you can end with a dip in the Springs (though there's no need to pay the entry fee at the very end - you'll have access to the creek most of the way anyway). The trail is long to begin with, not accounting for the fluidity of the route due to the changing landscape. I had come after a storm, so the creek was full and had actually washed away part of the trail. I ran into numerous locals along the way who would explain this to me and guide me through the sections they knew. At one point the trail disappears and you have to cross the water, which depending on the water levels isn't always an issue but it was on this day. Afterwards someone suggested checking the water levels before you head out- I think this is a good idea. The trail disappeared earlier than usual because of the flooding and the water was neck deep and moving rapidly. I had been hiking a long time and going back would mean not finishing the whole thing since locals told me the usual path had washed away, and I was determined to finish so...I went up. I was alone on the trail trying to figure out how to basically scale a mountain post shoulder surgery when a handsome bearded mountain man came out of no where to give me some words of encouragement. There was a trail, of sorts, up there, but it was a big drop down if I made any missteps. I spider walked up that thing in a bikini and hiking boots (it was freakin hot!) and made it safely to the top by grabbing onto jagged rocks and fallen trees. I still ended up having to ford the damn creek later with another group of people I met but it was at an easier point (chest high instead of neck) and we all helped each other. Bring waterproof gear for your electronics and maybe water shoes so your hiking boots don't get saturated. In the end I made it and felt like a super hero :) At a leisurely pace, with plenty of swimming breaks, it took me 7 hours (I'm not an experienced hiker, I have no idea if this is good or not). The Greenbelt is gorgeous. Some of the falls are crowded with teenagers. Other areas are so secluded that you can go 20 minutes without seeing another person. There are multiple ways to enter all along the route, so people enter and use the sections of the trail they live closest to. The water is a gorgeous, there are plenty of picturesque areas to lay out on the rocks in the sun and take a dip to cool off. There are some caves; rock shoots up high around you. Some parts are well shaded by trees, others more open. There some seriously rocky parts, some narrow and steep. Others are flat, easy for anyone to traverse. The main trail is well marked but it's easy to get lost on one of many offshoots created by man or nature in certain parts. There are lots of dogs off the leash, all well behaved, and I didn't think there was much dog poop but then I'm from a filthy place so take that for what you will. I thought the trail was pristine. This is Austin's backyard, a gorgeous gift. If I lived in the city I'd be here every day :) read more

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Austin is the best on so many different levels and this fabulous place is among the many reasons why. I can grab the dog, the kids, the tubes, pack a cooler with juice, snacks and beer and head out for a day of never hearing "I'm bored" from anyone. It's peaceful, gorgeous and takes me away like Calgon never could. If you haven't been, you gotta go. read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Really interesting hike that is very flat and rocky if you take the main trail. Plenty of opportunities to access the creek, which is clean and clear and looks great for dogs and kids. It's definitely doable for hikers of all levels and you can take a dip in the water when it gets hot! The only thing I didn't like was that there were bikers on the trails frequently and it was somewhat cumbersome at times to have to share an already narrow path with both pedestrians and riders. Otherwise I think this is a hike that's definitely worth doing at least once! read more

Barton Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We spent a couple of hours visiting the area. Parked by the road and hiked to Twin Falls. No fees and dogs are allowed. Busy for sure. Not for people that are looking for a calm spot in the nature. Kids and dogs running around and people playing music. We hiked a little further to sculpture falls. Nice place with some shade. read more

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Far from the madding crowd! A perfect place to take a skinny dip, abode ur hammock under the nest of nature and that too in the heart of this Bustling megapolis.. read more