Barton springs is a must visit for any local or visitor to Austin!…read more $5 for residents & $9 for non residents. Parking on weekdays is easy, weekends I recommend carpooling or ubering. Only thing to note is : "Prohibited items include all food, glass, alcohol, and snacks to reduce litter and pests." Water is cool all year, refreshing in the spring & summer and it's overall just a great spot to be!

Super fun place to hang out, especially on a hot Austin day. Once you get to the pool (which is a…read morebit of a walk from the parking lot in the midday heat), you can cool off in the spring water and spend a very leisurely few hours poking around, swimming laps, jumping off the board, whatever. It's great to see everyone peacefully enjoying themselves and there are lots of life guards. All ages, from young families with kids, to teenagers, bikinis, and older folks, too. I thought the water was a great temp, at least on that hot 90-something degree day. This was a Tuesday later in the afternoon and there were a lot of bathers but it didn't feel crowded. There was a lot of construction and temporary fencing, I hope it looks great when they're done. $5 for Austinites, $9 for out-of-towners. I'm not sure but there looked like another way to access the pool from the other side to the main entrance, not sure if there's a pay gate on that side, too.

Deep Eddy Pool is an Austin institution! I spent many years at deep Eddie pool with family, friends…read moreand colleagues. It's nothing like swimming on a hot summer day. Your first impression of the pool will probably be wow it's large with so many lanes and many areas where you can just swim or float to your hearts content. Another impression might be and it was especially for me the bright blue water of the pool. It looks refreshing, cool, and inviting. Deep Eddiy pool has a oblong shape typical of large pools of its size. The pool has architecturally clean lines with precise corners. When you stand on the pool platform the vastness of the pool rushes to the forefront. Everytime I stick my foot in the water of the Deep Eddy pool, that cool refreshing feeling envelopes my body. Entry fees are very reasonable and can beas low as $2 per day. Paid parking is available in front of the pool and on the street. Nice relaxing self-care day...

Ok if you're desperate for some water…read more The water was crisp and cool even on a 99° day in August Half the pool is designated for swimming laps. There are no lounge chairs so bring a blanket for the ground and expect it to get dirty because people have to sit in the grass/dirt. There are a few trees for shade. No alcohol or food/drink allowed. I brought in my water bottle and no one said anything so I guess water is ok There is a parking lot but you must pay to park and it gets filled quickly Bike trails lead up to it Locker rooms are half indoor/half outdoor and rather dingy. Several lifeguards on duty. periodically they make everyone get out of the pool for 5 min (one an hour?) There needs to be someone skimming the pool throughout the day..there's a ton of bugs/leaves that get in the water. Also, since people lounge on the dirt lawn, everyone's feet are dirty when getting in the pool. The pool ropes had some sort of black sludge caked into them. It was pretty gross. $5 for an adult. Free for veterans.

I love that the trail now goes full circle. This trek to east austin is magical. I've seen turtles,…read morecranes, sailboats, tight rope walkers, fisher people, artistic graffiti and so much more. They now have bathrooms and entrances with coffee shops in case you need to make a stop. Also the trails are wide on this side so you won't get mown over by drunk people on electric scooters or tech bro mountain bikers.

This is easily the best section of the Ann and Roy Butler Trail off Lady Bird Lake. The view of…read moredowntown Austin over the river is beautiful, the trail is well supported and wide, there is plenty of break off points to sit and enjoy the view, and plenty of entrances to get on and off the trail. RIYL: Good vibes and good walks

This place is huge! There's a playground, bathrooms, a pool (drained at the time of this review),…read moreand plenty of areas to sit and enjoy nature. I didn't utilize the rec center, just strolled around outside. Great place for families and wheelchair accessible. Great place to hang out and not feel like there are too many people since the spot is so big.

This is our neighborhood park and pool. It's a quick walk from our apartment and on the same street…read morewhich makes it super convenient. The park is well maintained. The pool is large and clean with lots of room for playful swim and wading. There are designated lanes for lap swimmers as well.

Back in the day (and by that, I mean about a few months ago), I found this randomly and stopped to…read morewalk/hike around on a sunny sunday morning. I wasn't aware there were multiple starting points for this trail as there's a connection in the Townlake area; but I found this location! It's roughly 3 miles and covers the South Austin area with the trail that crosses underneath route 360 and goes alongside Barton Creek. There is plenty of uphill climb here that will give you quite the workout but it's well worth it! I saw a decent amount of hikers/walkers here with a couple bikers. Some trail areas are narrow so you may find yourself either stepping aside or influencing someone to step aside. I'll be back!

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

Multiple intricacies within the parks known as Town Lake Metropolitan. Waller Beach, the various…read moretrails and paths, the boardwalk, Ladybird Lake, etc. Such a peaceful and beautiful area to get in exercise (walking/running/leisurely strolling), enjoying the outdoors, year-round. Great to explore alone or with friends and family, or your furry friend. Different spots to sit and relax. Simply a beautiful piece of Austin for locals abs tourists alike.

You haven't explored Austin until you take a stroll through the series of parks through the Town…read moreLake areas. Covering multiple miles, you'll see parts of downtown alongside the colorado river. Along this pathway, you'll be lead to the Barton Springs municipal pool and the Zilker Park & Garden as you go west. Going east, you'll eventually find your way along the Boardwalk near the Town Lake apartments and then at some point, the peace point at lady bird lake, one of the chillest spots in Austin to zone out. Obviously you bike, jog, run, walk, dogwalk, skip, however you prefer to galivant along the way of this beautiful section of the capital of Texas. It's one of many reasons people love living here!

We love this park! There's a huge play area with swings, slides, climbing rails and a few more fun…read moreactivities for kids. There's also a soccer playing field, a hiking trail that leads to secret beach with views so downtown and a shaded picnic area. The picnic area can be reserved for a day through Austin Parks&Rec and can be used for group gatherings or birthday parties.

Wow... the secret beach.. how beautiful. I came from Houston on a day trip. I won't tell everyone…read morespecifics to try and keep this secret as much as possible, but if you're coming here the first time.. it isnt easy to find. I can see how most times people just drive off.. me being the curious person I am just started walking by myself in the woods on a trail. I fortunately just so happen to see one woman walking her dogs and followed her in that direction but i swear to you she was walking fast as to not give this place away hahah! She actually disappeared onto another trail and couldnt find her.. (like Alice and Wonderland and the white rabbit style).. finally I heard splashing! I looked to my right and saw a weird trail that went down a steep side hill. So I followed the noise.. its pretty steep so be careful! After the brush and trees cleared THERE IT WAS! CLEAR, COOL WATER!! It was shallow when I got there and only about 8 people were there at 1pm during a Saturday. As time goes on it gets deeper and the water rises! Also more people start coming too. It feels sooooo amazing! You can grab a chair and just sit in the middle drinking and cooling off. Dog friendly! I spent a few hours with my boy before heading back. I live for finding places like this!

Super welcoming staff! It was helpful that they let us know about a two for one deal before 12pm…read morewhich made for an easy and affordable family group activity. Easy to sign waiver via QR code and lockers were a bit pricy at $5. I would recommend leaving most of your belongings in the trunk if possible. Lovely way to get some fresh air on a spring day.

Weekdays are great time to come to get a great deal. Currently they had a rent one boat and get 2nd…read moreboat free promotion during the weekdays (check website). You can rent a variety of items here. They give you life jackets. I went with my elderly parents and the staff was incredibly accommodating getting them in and out of the canoes.

We did an hour of paddle boarding on the lake, it's tricky to get your balance but easy to master…read more The boards are a bit imposing but the staff were helpful and friendly helping you launch and return. The price was right, and any more than an hour surely would've led to heat stroke, bring lots of water / electrolytes for after and prepare to get in the yucky water if you don't have great balance.

Buyer beware. Booked this because it said "good weather…read morerequired." It was raining steadily and they still ran the tour. When I asked about it, they said they only cancel for lightning... which is not what the listing says. That's misleading, plain and simple. Even worse, they wouldn't work with us at all after the fact. No flexibility, no effort to make it right. Plenty of other kayak options in Austin... I'd go with one that's actually upfront about their policies.

Are you the adventurous type? I am...within limits. If you want to test your limits, go on a…read morekayak run. The Rowing Dock is a kayaking rental business located along Lady Bird Lake. If you are like me, you probably have this record playing in your head, "What it the kayak cap side, what it flips over and I swallow moss or something else?" Probably just me...the over thinker! Just face your fear and do it! The worst thing that could happen is that you get wet. No big deal! Of course, you should not do any water sports unless you know how to swim. Once you are in the kayak, you can enjoy the beauty and majesty of Lady Bird lake, Austin's skyline and the nearby green space. You can kayak towards downtown or go in the direction of the multi-million homes on Lake Austin. Pro tips: Ensure all valuables in your car have been removed from plain sight. City of Austin highlights an increase in thefts. Also, take a Ziploc bag for keys and other things you do not want to get wet. Renting the equipment was easy and straightforward. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, providing clear instructions and a welcoming atmosphere. The Rowing Dock focuses on all experience levels and offers a range of offerings, from solo kayaks to two-person boats and group activities. The process was smooth and everything went according to plan. The operation was well organized, prices are reasonable, and the experience amazing!

Such a great spot for paddleboard and kayak rentals on Lady Bird Lake! We visited on a Thursday…read morearound noon and had no trouble finding a parking spot in the lot. Super convenient. A few people in our group rented paddleboards and kayaks, and the process was quick, smooth, and easy. Staff were friendly and helpful, and everything felt very organized. If you have your own gear, there's also a small public dock walkable just around the corner for self-launching. The location is perfect for a relaxed paddle with great views of the Austin skyline. Highly recommend for locals or visitors looking to get out on the water!