So take the right going south on 360 and then park somewhere along the road where the pavement turns into dirt as it starts to slope downward. Then you are left with decisions of if you want to cross the river to the other side or go along the Bull Creek trail (the option I chose). It's nothing but rocks, water, trees, plants, and sunlight. Quite the place to escape from the city life and be one with nature and it's personality. Recommend wearing hiking shoes and have some bug spray as the flies and mosquitoes can be out and about. One of Austin's beautiful secrets! Find out for yourself! read more

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Bull Creek is a beautiful trail just off the Capitol of Texas Highway and offers a nice variety of water and streams for you and any furry friend to cool off in. The trail is very photogenic and has cute moments but beware the trash on the ground which can cause sporadic realizations that you aren't in the wilderness, but Austin instead. There are a few entry points to the trail so choose wisely but there is one with a parking lot that may provide better selections. Altogether the trail is very fun and allows for great photo ops with pets and family alike, with some even deciding to get in the water (if you do choose to do that be careful cause the rocks are slippery). read more

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Not a good hiking trail what so ever. We got to a certain point and all we smelled was poop. The parking lot was full of trash.

No clue of the hike. We drove 40 min to get here. The whole parking lot had glass and this man just had his window smashed. Every spot that could have a car had glass from smashed windows. So we left. read more

Bull Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Lovely spot for playing and wading in the water. A beautiful spot in Austin. There are areas with lower water levels for the kiddos to access more easily. read more

If I had to describe this place with one word, it would be this: "picturesque" This review is for part of the trail in the Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt. I started at Old Spicewood Springs Road and hiked down to Bull Creek Park (it's not a loop, so be prepared for the hike back). It's one of Austin's finest trails. If you're a hiker and you find yourself in the good ol' ATX, you MUST check this one out. You'll go back and forth between hiking along the creek and hiking through the woods. In the wooded areas, you'll find a few side trails that take you down to the creek, but besides that, it's pretty much a straight trail and you won't get lost on this one. IMPORTANT NOTE: You'll be crossing the creek at several places, so bring your waterproof hiking boots if you have them or deal with wet and soggy shoes. It's an easy to moderate hike with *beautiful* scenery as you travel alongside the creek. Most of it's on level terrain, but there are a couple of spots where you might have to climb up a couple of rocks to get back on the trail. There's a couple of spots that have good swimming holes and a couple of decent waterfalls. Before you go, use Google Maps satellite view to find the gravel parking lot at the intersection of Old Spicewood Springs Road and Spicewood Springs Road (yes, I know it sounds confusing). After parking, walk down the road a bit and go underneath 360 (N Capitol of TX Hwy). As soon as you get to the other side of 360, look for the trail and the creek on your right-hand side - it's not marked, so you'll need to pay attention. There's a couple of other parking lots along Old Spicewood Springs Road too. Many thanks to my Yelp friend Cat for telling me about this place! #HikeOnY'all read more

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This was the first time I ever ventured to this spot. It is a bit hidden and lacking signage, to be sure, but that doesn't stop people from parking at will and popping in the creek off the roadside. Gotta love that about the Austin local pop! The trails from the "entrance" I found were either not well marked or just didn't lead anywhere. I was looking for the falls, but somehow ended up on a roadside by the entrance to what looked like a housing dev gate? I was following the map at the trailhead, but alas I guess it got the best of me. I did manage to find a little waterfall enclave by the parking lot on the way back to the car. There were also a lot of people w/unleashed dogs and children, so I decided to call it quits and head up the road and give St Edwards Park a try instead. I don't know that I'd be willing to come back to try and ferret out the trails to the falls. I think w/the amount of people, I might as well hit up the Barton Greenbelt. read more

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The Bull Creek Greenbelt trail is full of lush green, water activity, and mountainous terrain. It a great place to get your mind off things and just vibe with nature. read more

This is the perfect river spot for a day out with your kids or dog. Not packed at all and so much convenient parking spots in the shade. It's about 10 mins off of highway 35 coming from San Antonio. Water is about knee and waist deep and there's a few waterfalls to jump off of. There is no entrance fee. Such a chill place! There's 3 parts to it that you can walk to or drive to. read more

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Nice casual location to take a small hike, walk the dog, or get away from the busy city. This park has a small stream of water that runs though and turns into a small water fall near the parking lot. I've seen a few people get into the water and play under the fall (it looks fun but also can be dangerous if you slip or dive in shallow water). There is a trail that leads you to the top of the "mountain". It's not too high up, but it can give you a good healthy walk. There are sections of the trail that may require climbing on elevated stones so be careful and use three points of contact at all times. As you go deeper into the trail, it gets super quiet and peaceful. No more road noise and plenty of shade to walk under. Unfortunately, there are sections with freeway noise. It's kind of an unavoidable thing for this park, but like I said earlier, there are parts inside the trail that are quiet. I still had a good time here. Tips: -Use three points of contact when climbing rocks. -Be careful when crossing the shallow stream of water as it may be slippery. -Carry some water with you and stay hydrated. Do not litter the park so others can enjoy it the same way you are. read more

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This is a fun place to swim but not so much going on the trail. It is a little confusing to find the entrance but once you do it's easy. Someone wrote a review on here and we followed those directions. you'll know you're at the right place because you'll see volleyball net and this tennis ball sculpture and picnic tables I think. Where we went is not near a housing development! If the map tells you to go to housing development you are probably at the wrong place. The trail was narrow and muddy after all this rain, however when we went it was so nice out that we just walked in the water most of the time. Kids were playing in the smaller waterfalls and it was a lot of fun. There is a magical gardeny cave area just around the bend of the trail head on the water bank. read more

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I have been discovering new hiking locations and visiting them with my wife. This is a great hiking location. It is easy and lots of good spots to see small waterfalls. I would recommend to all for few hours to meditate and energize. read more

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The trail and scenery is absolutely beautiful. The water is clear. BUT BEWARE OF CRIME! The day I went there were multiple car windows smashed and looted including mine. It is obviously a big problem with the signs everywhere but not big enough to install cameras or put a park security something. Please be careful coming here! read more

Bull Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've driven through this part of Bull Creek via Spicewood Springs a million times, but I'd only ever stopped at Bull Creek Greenbelt once before, and that was to sit by the creek and write. Today, I decided to go hiking. I don't live very far from the greenbelt. In fact, if I had the mind to do so, I bet I could walk there. It would take a while, but I know I could do it. Today, though, I drove. When I got about halfway there, I realized I'd left my MP3 player at home, but I was too focused [read: lazy] to go back and get it. I took Spicewood Springs over there, to underneath the 360 bridge. Parked and eyed a trail leading up the hill that I wanted to travel. But it's across the creek. Hmmm... I guess I'm going in! The water was amazingly cool, so I stood there moaning in sheer pleasure for at least five minutes. My eyes were closed and I was concentrating on other things, when suddenly I heard, "Are you okay?!" from behind me. Scared the cream cheese outta me! The guy behind me thought I was in pain, apparently. (You don't get laid much, do ya, guy?) I assured him I wasn't in pain and then I sneaked off in embarrassment. Made it to the trail -- Inga's Trail -- and followed it up. You'll see the occasional bench for your sitting pleasure. I didn't walk the entirety of Inga's Trail because I didn't have time, but the part I did tour was beautiful. I took more than a dozen pictures. I eventually ended up at a different part of the creek that was GORGEOUS! I camped out there for a while before I decided to get in the water again. This time I looked all around and made sure I was alone before I closed my eyes and moaned away with a big smile on my face. It's the simple pleasures that please me the most. On my way back, it occurred to me that this hiking trail really is a butterfly den. They were everywhere! That unfortunately brings me to the only bad point about Bull Creek Greenbelt: other bugs. I saw several HUGE wasps that succeeded in making me nervous, and at one point when I stopped to take a picture, I felt something chomping on my knee. I didn't really see what it was because, by the time I looked down to see it, I'd slapped the black 1" circumference fucker off my knee. Bastard actually made me bleed a little. So, word to the wise: Wear bug spray when you go hiking here. Once I got back to the car, I realized just how filthy the water must be because my shoes royally stunk. They're in the washing machine at this very moment. Enough about the bad stuff... If I was a photographer, I'd be here every day taking pictures. Beauty really abounds at Bull Creek Greenbelt. Beneath the 360 bridge that spans Spicewood Springs lies a treasure trove of nature at its most glorious. Well, except for the bugs. read more

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The trail itself is actually quite short, it comes to a point where you can't actually walk much further than 15 minutes without going into the water or doing some rock climbing. I enjoyed the waterfall and views but this is more of a trail to stroll around, sit and relax rather than doing heavy hiking. read more

This technically was my 3rd time here. But 1st time to have the opportunity to park and get out of the car. We tried on 2 times before but there was no parking available along the street or given parking areas. Both times we tried were on weekends between 11 am and 3 pm. Today my cousin and I got here about 11 am there were some cars here already. But no where as packed as it is on the weekend. There is 4 separate parking areas along the bull creek in this area and we were able to have choice parking in all 4 parking lots. 1st stop was immediately right off the 360. Let me tell you this parking lot is not recommended for smaller cars because it is uneven parking. You better have great shocks. or be prepared for some off road terrain We got out and started our search for the way for the water. Which by the way the water is clear and see through. Tennis shoes or hiking shoes are a must for the 1st part of being able to get to the water. At least a 3 foot drop to the next level of rocks. If you have knee problems, feet problems or ankle problems I do not advise trying this area. if you walk a little further down the river toward the 360 you will find a easier wading in section that is more shallow looks to be easy walk across. Now this is the time to change to water shoes or water socks. Upon stepping in the water is a nice cold. NO freezing or hurt your feet cold. Problem is when you start to walk across its the rocks are slippery and if your a big person like my self its not recommended in less you want to be feet over head and flat on your back. SO if your bringing little ones be ready to see them fall. and the same might be true for elderly. While we where here we seen 1 adults and 1 child fall hard. We moved on to the parking area with restroom and this by far is the easiest parking most easiest for the bathrooms and easiest to get in to the water. But immediately there are tons of lots of un even rocks here so make sure you have the water shoes on. this area is easier for family of all ages. Great picnic area with volley ball net. The next parking lot is a small parking lot maybe 6 - 8 cars only. Entering in to the bull creek here will require water shoes and socks un even rocks on floor. Great area for lawn picnics. There is 1 picnic table area on a stage area. There are stairs here that lead to a trail area to check out its pretty and great shaded areas. Over here we were able to see turtles and fish in the water clearly swimming. This entire area is great for pictures, picnics, bring your dogs for walk and water play as well as Hiking and bird watching we seen Hawks, road runners and various other birds. read more

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I like being outside. I have an entire list devoted to being outside! Is there anything worse than succumbing to four walls on a beautiful day that deserves your attention? Having never been to this part of the greenbelt, the location to park was a bit tricky. Once we found where to park, we were left with the decision of where to begin! We decided to take the road less traveled and went under the 360 bridge. Parts of the "path" were overgrown to the due recent rain, which produced a good amount of slippery mud! Who's afraid of a little mud? Not me. The views were beautiful, and it's easy to forget you're in northwest Austin. Lots and lots of water made Bull Creek quite a sight! The falls were beautifully surrounded by greenery and had very few people. Now that's what I call a weekend well spent. read more

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tranquil place. set up a camp two separate occasions here and enjoyed waking up to the symphonies of waterfalls and mockingbirds. will always return here when i need a getaway. read more

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It's a great place for hiking, especially during the summer. Lots of shade, and even though the path can get a bit rocky, it's definitely manageable for most people. There used to be a place where you could swim; unfortunately, years of drought have really brought down the water level. Most you can do at this point is sit waist-deep in the water. Note that there are river snakes (harmless as long as you keep to yourself). Overall, nice place to get some fresh air. read more

Amazing trails to hike and explore. Beautiful scenery along Bull Creek to relax and enjoy around.

Bull Creek is one of the best places to hike and walk in north Austin. It's hidden along 360 loop, and is a solace and respite from city life. Parking can sometimes be tough at peak hours, and certain lots are less paved than others. Once you're there, it's 100% worth it! There's water and trees and wildlife. Much better than a basic city park. Plenty of runners, swimmers, picnickers, and rock climbers. read more

Great hike! It was a little confusing to start with but I just followed the creek up and it was beautiful. Tons of people which I didn't love but I can't blame everyone for wanting to enjoy a place like this! My dog loved it. The water was clear and the entire place was very pretty. Would love to go back on a week day when it isn't as busy. read more

Bull Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My boyfriend and I came here for a hike, but it was a bit difficult to find the start of the trail. We didn't really do much research into where the entrance would be because we just assumed there would be a sign leading us to the right spot. That was our mistake. So if you plan on going here, turn onto Old Spicewood Springs road from highway 360. You'll pass a small parking lot on the left with a bathroom. You can park here or you can continue down the road for another second and there will be another dirt lot on your left. Park in either and make your way to the entrance of the trail which is across the road from the 2nd lot. The trail itself is supposed to be 3.5 miles, heads along Bull Creek, and ends up at Bull Creek District Park which is a great picnic area. We didn't get too far on the trail because it started to rain, but what we saw was very tranquil. The trail will split off a couple times throughout your trek (it'll always meet back up), but choose to take whatever trail at the fork that sounds like it's closer to the creek. Otherwise you'll miss out on some pretty, small waterfalls and beautiful scenery. Once I get the chance to actually walk the whole trail and see the park, I'll come back with a review update. Happy trekking, guys! read more

Great hiking option around Austin! Not too hard to get to, just off 360 with several parking lot access points. Really lovely in nice weather with water you can wade in or even swim in. May be a little busy in really good weather. Some of the trail can be a tad wet and precarious if it's rained recently, but it's fine if your at least a little nimble. Beautiful views for photography lovers! read more

Bull Creek Greenbelt - Waterfall on a sunny day! - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is probably my favorite greenbelt. There are dozens of hike and bike trails that go on for miles and miles. One can really get away from society here. There is a lot of beauty to take in that makes this greenbelt a popular favorite. If you want to enjoy this greenbelt come early, bring water and energy bars, and, plan for at least half of a days adventure. Excellent place to get away and concentrate. I like to go here and write. I find that my creative side really comes alive when I'm out here. In the summer the water can get stagnate so be leery Also you will occasionally run into a homeless person or two or three. I've never had a problem, but, if you want to be safe pack some mace. read more

The Bull Creek Greenbelt and Bull Creek Park area would be fine or excellent for kids, dogs, picnics, etc. There are plenty of shallow areas to splash around in. Regarding hiking, this is an very poor trail. The hiking trail shadows Hwy 360 for about two miles in length, so you are constantly crossing under the roadway and being subjected to the sounds of traffic. The area is not especially scenic - it mostly sticks to the shallow creek area and we noticed a large volume of people's trash and cascarón confetti strewn about the ground. The water was flowing, but contained a fair amount of algae and didn't look like something I'd like to dip my toes into. As is common with many City of Austin parks, the hiking trail is very poorly maintained. There are numerous side trails that head off in various directions and we found it somewhat confusing to follow the main path. Eventually after walking a mile or two, the trail sort of peters out into nothing. Are we supposed to keep walking when it no longer looks like a trail? Or has the trail ended abruptly? Some markers or signs would help, thanks. If your purpose in coming here is to hike, you may want to try elsewhere. This place is a bust. read more

This is my closest greenbelt and it's a really fun place to take a picnic as long as the weather's nice and it hasn't rained recently. There are three different river crossings and if you're balance-impaired as I am you might get a teensey bit wet, so I would recommend investing in some sturdy water shoes if you come out here regularly. The best part, in my honest opinion, is the area closer to 183 where there's a swimming hole (I wouldn't necessarily go swimming in there, but it looks fun for dogs) and a small cliff overhang that is perfect for picknicking. My favorite part is rolling up my pants and walking along the forty feet or so of solid rock under the river water - refreshing on a summer day, but perhaps a bit much for the dead of winter. Also, be warned that people tend to keep their dogs off-leash in this park which can get a bit scary if you're freaked out like large dogs as I tend to be. Don't be surprised if a large dog or five come bounding your way long before the owner surfaces. There are a number of trails, but thank goodness it's pretty hard to get lost - the majority of trails go North-South. They get very, very muddy (seeing as they traverse a river) when it rains, so don't bother going after a storm. read more

Bull Creek is one of the best greenbelts in Austin. There is a beautiful waterfall and swimming hole with cliffs you can jump off right by the parking lot just SW of Spicewood Springs Rd on 360. The turn off 360 to this parking lot is an unmarked right, but it's the first right after Spicewood Springs Rd as you travel SW on Highway 360. It's a beautiful spot, and then if you hike the trail from there, you'll come across lots of additional smaller waterfalls, swimming holes, ancient limestone formations, and a wide array of wildlife. read more

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FANTASTIC. the greenbelt is definitely one of the things I most love about Austin. Came here the other day to get my much-needed dose of nature and I had a wonderful day. My boyfriend and I hiked all around the river and even spent some time in the water in a little private area of our own. He has several years of PhD work in studying sunfish, so we were lucky enough to come across several nests and I got to hear all about them! :o) There were tons of areas to hang out in the river and even set up a picnic or bbq by the river as some people were doing. I saw young couples, singles, groups of friends and families out here... and lots and lots of dogs! The trails are extremely well maintained and obvious. I saw signs about making sure to pick up after your dog and I've heard from others that this can be a problem, but I luckily, didn't have any issues. Just watch out for poison ivy, I did see a lot of that in certain places. Leaves of three, let it be! I will *definitely* come back out here on a Sunday with a cooler in hand. read more

Gorgeous. Hiked a good portion of the hike along the creek barefoot. That says a lot about a place. read more

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Bullcreek is yet another cool Austin greenbelt. Went the for a trail run with some friends who showed me some great & technical trails. Gorgeous. Too bad for me that when we hit a relatively flat portion I started focusing on the runner ahead of me and missed see a rock. Heard something snap loud in my ankle and now i've got a nasty sprain. The runner behind me heard it snap. He later crashed and rolled on a steep part but got away with just some bruises and scrapes. For non-runners there's a great dog park where you can let Fido play in the stream. For rockers there's a couple nice walls to practice your free climbing on. Definitely nice for a picnic too. It's still a great greenbelt!! read more

I was very impressed by the beauty of this park. The waterfalls are hypnotic! I took the pup here and he thoroughly enjoyed taking a dip in the water. I came on an early weekday morning and found the place to be so serene. After an hour a group of people, apparently a photography class, came to shoot pictures of the waterfalls. Simply gorgeous, definitely check this out if you haven't. read more

Bull Creek Greenbelt - My sweet pup. - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Bull Creek Greenbelt water levels vary a lot between times of drought and when there's a flash flood. When the water levels are normal, it's a good little swimming hole not far from Austin's center that is pet friendly. Quite a few runners can be seen scurrying around the trails along the water if you take a hike/stroll along the paths. read more

Lots of walking and not enough time. I am not in this area often, but recently decided to stop in with my daughter for a walk and wet frolic; naturally we had a great time. I appreciated the fact that we went when there were not many people or that it was a hot summer day (which increases the crowds). I think we saw about 25 people total walking their dogs, taking pictures, and having a good walk along the paths. There is not much to say other than: it's FREE, it gets you outside, it has nice small waterfalls with views, you get to meet other like minded outdoor folks, and it gives your kids a chance to explore nature like a kid should. Take the time, be ready to get wet, and be ready for a nice family time. read more

This is a pretty neat natural area with water within Austin. The parking is past an area where you must ford water, so if your car is a lowrider, you might consider riding with a friend. I didn't have any problem in a Charger though. It's picturesque and quite primitive. I didn't see any water or facilities, but there were people swimming in the water. We did see small fish too. There's some steep natural rock steps to get to the bottom of the ravine and you can step across rocks to venture out and see a lot more. It was sooo hot in July that we didn't spend a lot of time here, but in the fall or spring it would be fantastic in the morning or evenings, so I'd be glad to go back and see more of it. read more

Ingas trail area is our favorite part of Bull Creek. Seems to be fairly understood to be an off leash trail and the dogs we meet are all wonderfully behaved - leaps and bounds better than what we find at the dog parks. We love being able to make a morning of it and the pups love all the space and of course the water. It's very clean as well. read more

Bull Creek Greenbelt - Parks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I love this place! Great place to hike, picnic and swim. Beautiful waterfall with rope swing, cliffs to jump from and cool water to splash in. The trail is an easy hike. There are a few places that you may need to climb up or down but its not hard. A few water crossings so wear shoes you don't mind getting wet or muddy. Lots of friendly Austin people on the weekends having fun with their families or walking their dogs. read more

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A great place for a hike! Although, there is a sign that says no dogs allowed, I saw plenty of people breaking the rules. City of Austin should come here if they want to give out tickets....mo money for the city, ha ha. I didn't mind the occasional curious pooch. There's definitely a lot to explore. I only hiked one trail. At some points along the creek, you may attempt to cross. There are a few picture, selfie moments along the hike. I wouldn't recommend biking. Too many ups and downs. However, if you're a pro mtn biker, go for it! Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone looking to escape the city life. read more

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I have not figured out exactly how many trails are located at this greenbelt. It is pretty and a great place to take my dog on walks. I like the close proximity to my house and enjoy the fact that Austin has a multitude of trails available. While I don't think this is the coolest trail in Austin it is my personal favorite so far as it is relatively close to my house and not ever overly crowded or rampant with dog squashing cyclists. read more

What a diverse landscape! The trees, water, hills, and rocks will have you hiking like a goat. Great place to go and get away from the crowds. Pretty heavy on the poison ivy in places...beware. read more