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    Barton Creek Greenbelt

    4.6 (284 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    Amber L.

    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.

    Nancy G.

    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!

    Dry as a bone
    Lisa S.

    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.

    Sculpture falls
    Alexis W.

    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.

    Nikki V.

    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.

    Alan F.

    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.

    the water in Jan
    Chris T.

    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 :)

    Joey W.

    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.

    Christina H.

    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).

    Twin falls in December
    Rachel S.

    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.

    Trail #2
    Jeff B.

    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.

    Going down the Hill of Life - it's a lot harder coming up even though it doesn't look like it.
    Brent L.

    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.

    Sophia G.

    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.

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

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Barton Creek Greenbelt

    Is it safe for dogs to swim here?

    There are areas with lots of moving water like twin falls where anyone can swim, including your fur babies. Avoid standing pools that have algae.

    How much does it cost?

    No cost!

    Is this a stroller friendly park?

    This is not a stroller friendly park. Please see more information here https://austinot.com/austin-greenbelt-guide

    Do they close the trails when they are muddy, or do they keep them open?

    They will close the Greenbelt if water is dangerous. Like during heavy rains with flash floods and fast flowing waters. But for just being muddy I wouldn't think so but I'm not 100 % . Try searching for the parks info and get a number to call for… Read more

    View All 8 Questions

    Review Highlights - Barton Creek Greenbelt

    My personal favorite spots are Sculpture Falls for swimming and the insane canyon-side trail at Trail's End (a.

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

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    Treehouse view from below, the walk way to upper level is on the left side.
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    Zilker Metropolitan Park

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    Our wonderful Rhodesian Ridgeback passed on to the rainbow bridge three months ago at the age of 14…read moreand we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to rehome a five-year-old Ridgeback -- see photos. Her name is Tails, previously Wrigley. Have been to Zilker with her five times in the three weeks that we have had her, most recently this morning. This continues to be a great place to take a friendly animal and allow them to run wild off leash. She loves mixing it up with the other dogs and, being a Ridgeback, she is the fastest dog out there other than some of the Vizslas. Loves the sand where volleyball is played! Lots of parking! Easy access!

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    McKinney Falls State Park

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    Austin, Tx. Actually the park is pretty nice, except…read moreconditions on a hot summer day were not ideal. The lower falls had little water and there was a huge slew of trash and litter in it and it looked disgusting. The upper falls were better but very little water flowing. We were leaving soon but my wire told me to pull over so she could photograph some wildflowers. I did because there was nobody there that day, but a Ranger had to come scold me anyway. Well I did leave behind my $12. I hope it goes for trash removal.

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    Newly engaged couple portraits by the falls
    Newly engaged couple portraits by the falls
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    Historical sign in front of the park's pool.
    Historical sign in front of the park's pool.
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    Barton Creek Greenbelt - parks - Updated July 2026

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