Great Outdoors

Austin is a beautiful city, alive with music, shops, people and entertainment. If you are looking for something fun and interesting to do with a decidedly city feel, there is no better place, no better metropolis. But if you are looking for something less urban and a little more . . . woodsy, is Austin still the location for you? It can be. You just have to know where to look.

The best place to start is the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a 7.9-mile hiking trail on 809 acres located within the city limits of Austin. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the park offers visitors views of sheer cliff walls, lush vegetation and small water reservoirs (where many will happily swim). During the spring, when the creek is running, the sound of rushing water joins the view for a truly blissful experience.

For hikers, the most convenient access point is the Loop 360 access, which will take you right onto the trail in about the middle of the walk, so whichever way you turn you’ll have a decent hike ahead of you. However, there are other accesses: Zilker Access is at Town Lake, and just a few steps away from the Barton Creek swimming pool, a natural pool that is over 1,000 feet long; Twin Falls is on the other side of the Loop 360 Access, and as its name implies usually has a little more running water than Zilker or the Loop; Spy Glass Access and Gus Fruh Access are other convenient points and are situated between Zilker and the Loop.

Wherever you enter, you’re sure to have a great hike, but don’t think that’s all you can do. Bikes are allowed on the paths, too (although no motorized vehicles), and if you’re interested in climbing, there are more than enough walls throughout the park. In fact, it’s rare that day doesn’t seem various Austinites grabbing their gear and journeying to Barton Creek for an afternoon climb. Now, if you’re new to climbing, it’s important that you take all the correct gear and choose wisely the wall you mount. Maggy’s Wall is the easiest with routes from 5.7 to 5.11, while the New/Great Wall has routes from 5.9 to 5.13. Gus Fruh essentially matches the New/Great Wall with routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.12. You must use your own gear on all walls, but don’t feel you need to get carried away with what you purchase. A 40-meter rope should do the trick, but to be on the safe side, a 50 would be ideal.

If you’re looking to camp, look elsewhere. The park is not open to campers, nor does it allow dogs off-leash. This ensures that the park stays as garbage free as possible (thanks to no overnight visitors) and as peaceful as possible (thanks to no free-wheeling puppies). Other rules and regulations apply, but are the standard for all natural parks within the country - don’t litter, don’t destroy the wildlife and don’t take away from the experience for others. Barton Creek Greenbelt is a rarity in cities - it is a natural oasis amidst an urban setting.

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