Return to Barton Creek - Lower

beautiful trail even in january
User: jimmy peace - 1/17/2019  [View Log Page]
Rating: 5stars Difficulty: 3point5stars Solitude: 3point5stars
Distance: 5.60 Miles Duration: 3 hours

i can now say i have completed all of the greenbelt, a great area right in austin

Lovely views of the creek on a popular trail
User: plectrudis - 2/27/2017  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1point5stars
Distance: 2.64 Miles Duration: N/A

A good location for an after-work hike for those who work downtown. Some of the creek views are espcially lovely, as are some of the fern-covered seeping bluffs.

User: Jamie - 11/1/2016  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 2point5stars
Distance: 9.00 Miles Duration: N/A
First time at the far north end
User: texaskdog - 2/27/2011  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3point5stars Difficulty: 2point5stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: N/A

Decided to hit the north end before Barton Pool got popular.  Really enjoyed the north end.  So much to enjoy on every part of this hike, though it is more fun with water.  Bunch of kids climbed up to a cave up in the hill.

360 to airman's cave and back
User: barefoot mcgraw - 5/26/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 4stars Solitude: 4stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A

first time i have hiked this section when there is actually water here! scrambling to the cave entrance is trickier when you can't just stroll along the dry creekbed.

saw a snake swimming along quite happily in the beautifully clear water.

not many people around today, or is this section not as popular?

i did run across evidence of a campfire :(
but not no litter :)

spyglass to zilker park & back
User: barefoot mcgraw - 5/25/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A

i always enjoy hiking the greenbelt. saw a few lizards along the trail and a smattering of college boys in the water.

User: Crazydad - 3/18/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A

Took the kids on spring break. Of course it was busy, but not too bad. Nice to have water flowing this time. Kids enjoyed getting their feet wet and skipping rocks. My 4yr old didn't like the rocky parts of the trail though, kept stumbling and was on my shoulders on the way back. 

User: Ollie - 1/24/2010  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: N/A
lots of climbers out today
User: sandew - 5/3/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 7.50 Miles Duration: 5 hours

Started at the 360 trailhead walking towards Zilker Park.  Only water found was in the pool at Zilker Park.  climbing close to the area that had climbers practicing.on cliffs.  Saw a few houses on the top of the cliffs and some apartment builings.  Not many bikes early in the morning, just walkers with some dogs.  Stay on trail as when we got close to Zilker park, there were warnings of the poison ivy.  

User: supercobraz - 1/31/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 3stars
Distance: 6.75 Miles Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Creek was dry as a bone. No water crossings at all. More fun when off the trail and in the actual creek bed when possible.

User: lancescape - 12/29/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: 2 hours
Fun hike...lot's of people though
User: toobsox - 8/26/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 5.00 Miles Duration: 3 minutes
Share the trail
User: squidulum - 5/5/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2stars Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 1star
Distance: 7.00 Miles Duration: N/A

Normally, when I go hiking I'm looking for a place where I can lose the city.  There were so many people there that it felt like walking through a natural mall.  This wouldn't have been a problem if the folks on bike weren't so rude.  We all have to share the trails.

Caching along the dry creekbed
User: Austin Explorer - 2/25/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Found a few caches along the trail with Fall Girl 94, Madden Maniac, Coppertone and Thibault (which was his first cache outing). Lots of climbers scaling the cliffs and people on the trail. Got some solitude when going off trail for the caches though.
User: jennipalmerlee - 9/18/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: halfstar Solitude: halfstar
Distance: 1.88 Miles Duration: N/A
It's really good hike for those starting out. I started at the turnaround on 360 at Mopac. I hiked 15 minutes out and 15 minutes back. Looking at the map included on this website it looks like I did about half. I determined the length I walked by taking the total length of the hike (7.5) divided by 2. This gives the distance of a 1 way walk. Then I divided this (3.75) by 2 to get my distance of 1.875.
User: crocodile235 - 9/1/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 1star Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.50 Miles Duration: N/A
Keep Austin Wierd Hike
User: pixistixs - 8/2/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 2point5stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Homeless people, naked people, stoned people, drunk people, bike cops, panhandlers, large dogs off leash, jovial hairy people making leather belts, did I mention how much I love Austin?
User: timkimbrown - 6/10/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 1point5stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Private at right times of year
User: reynoldser - 4/10/2004  [View Log Page]
Rating: 4stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 7.00 Miles Duration: N/A

This is a very fun hike, which ends at one of Austins treasures, Zilker Park.

Wide, muddy trail
User: figment - 2/15/2004  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: 3stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
I hadn't hiked this section for a while, since they started building the drain pipe. It seems like the trail is much wider now, and it takes away from some of the in the woods feeling. Even though it has been raining for the past week, the creek was dry except for some muddy pools where runoff collected. Some very pretty parts, especially near the first swimming hole, and where the rock climbers are.
A South Austin Favorite!
User: oceanus - 11/13/2003  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: 1star Solitude: halfstar
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: N/A
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a refreshing retreat from the rush of the city. Though it is surrounded on all sides by major roadways, and development is constantly encroaching, the Greenbelt is always enjoyable. Something that is extra pleasing this time of year is the maple leaves changing color along the creek. It seems likely they have been brought down stream from another location, due to the fact that they are concentrated on the edge of the creekbed. Regardless, one should enjoy them while you can.
Great place
User: HikerGirl - 5/10/2003  [View Log Page]
Rating: N/A Difficulty: 4stars Solitude: 2stars
Distance: 3.00 Miles Duration: N/A
I went with a group of other hikers and found this place to be the best so far in Austin. We didn't finish the hike but I will definitely be going back to see more of this place. We walked the dry river bed on one section and happened across two White Nosed Coati's running along the cliff ledges...very interesting animals! We did see some people with tents set up along the base of the cliff along the riverbed and inside some of the shallow caves. I don't think I will hike this area alone but overall I did feel pretty safe. Saw some rock climbers who couldn't have been nicer. Everyone on the trail were very friendly. Watch out for the cyclists!
Construction and people
User: Austin Explorer - 2/24/2002  [View Log Page]
Rating: 3stars Difficulty: 2stars Solitude: 1star
Distance: 3.50 Miles Duration: N/A
The construction near the trailhead at Barton Springs Pool seemed to go on forever. Things will be much better on the first half of the trail when they finish burying the drainage line. On this beautiful day there were lots of people out on the trail. Still there were some great views and a quiet moment now and then. This is a pretty good hike for beginners.