Who this guide fits

1. It fits anyone heading onto the Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, Texas, on foot, on a mountain bike or with a dog, who wants to know which trailhead to use, where to park, what parking costs and where the restrooms are. Each trailhead's section ends with its address, mile range, parking, restrooms and the day it was checked.
2. Water a source names near a trailhead, when the creek runs: Gus Fruh, about a quarter mile to a swimming hole by the Austin Parks Foundation's 2023 account; Spyglass, "near" Campbell's Hole by the Hill Country Conservancy's account; and Gaines Park/MoPac, which the City lists for "Twin Falls access", with no distance given (sections 5, 3 and 7). Whether there's water: section 9.
3. A restroom nearby: the 360 trailhead (at the trailhead), Trail's End (about 260 feet away), Spyglass (about 370 feet) and Zilker (near the Zilker Hillside Theater). Barton Hills School Park, Gus Fruh and Gaines Park/MoPac have none.
4. A parking lot: Zilker, Barton Hills School Park and the 360 trailhead. The other four have street parking.
5. Parking the City lists as "free": Barton Hills School Park, Gus Fruh, the 360 trailhead and Gaines Park/MoPac, and Zilker on weekdays other than holidays.
6. The far stretch: Trail's End, the one trailhead the City lists between miles 4.5 and 7.5, and its way to the Hill of Life (section 8).
7. By bus: Zilker, the one trailhead the City names bus routes for (section 2).
8. Dogs, bikes and climbing: section 10. Staying safe: section 11. Beyond the Greenbelt: the Violet Crown Trail (section 12) and Austin's other trails (section 13).
9. It isn't the guide for swimming (see "Swimming Holes Near Austin"), Zilker Park, Barton Springs Pool or the Butler Trail at Lady Bird Lake (see "Things to Do in Austin"), or dog parks (the dog guide). Nor for wheelchairs or strollers: the City's Trail Directory marks the Greenbelt trail "No" for ADA access (the federal law on access for people with disabilities), and the Hill Country Conservancy calls its trail from Zilker to the 290 Trailhead, which takes in the Greenbelt's first 4.5 miles, "not advisable for strollers and road bikes". Section 13 names trails with paved or hard surfaces.

The seven trailheads at a glance

Seven trailheads in three stretches of trail: choose by the stretch you want, the parking and whether you need a restroom.

The City of Austin lists seven trailheads, the spots where you get onto the trail, along the Greenbelt's "main 7.5 mile trail", with "over 12 miles to explore" in all. It groups them by mile marker, the numbered points that count the miles along the trail: Zilker, Spyglass, Barton Hills School Park and Gus Fruh between miles 0 and 2; the 360 trailhead and Gaines Park/MoPac between miles 2 and 4.5; and Trail's End on Camp Craft Road, the one trailhead the City lists between miles 4.5 and 7.5.

Restrooms sort them fast. The 360 trailhead has composting restrooms, toilets with no water or sewer hookup, at the trailhead itself. Spyglass and Trail's End have composting restrooms about .07 and .05 mile away, roughly 370 and 260 feet, and the City lists a restroom near the Zilker Hillside Theater for the Zilker trailhead. Barton Hills School Park, Gus Fruh and Gaines Park/MoPac have none.

Three trailheads have lots (Zilker, Barton Hills School Park and the 360 trailhead), and the other four have street parking. Wherever you start, the City describes "rough, uneven terrain" and "limited to no lighting", trash cans are "only located at trailheads", and park facilities close after 10 p.m. For the City's own map, go to its Greenbelt page.

The addresses are the City's, and its mailing address for each of the seven says Austin. Three are given differently by other sources (sections 4 to 6). "NB" at the 360 trailhead is short for northbound. A service road, at Gaines Park/MoPac, is the frontage road that runs beside a highway.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The trail: "over 12 miles to explore", with "the main 7.5 mile trail" (the City). The City's Trail Directory lists the Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail as 12.68 miles, shared use, meaning walkers and cyclists share it. The City gives no difficulty rating, and neither does any named source checked; the City describes "rough, uneven terrain".
2. Mile ranges: as the City groups the trailheads. It gives no exact mile for each trailhead, and its page doesn't say whether mile markers are posted on the trail.
3. Hours: City parks are open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. "unless otherwise posted", and "All park facilities officially close after 10 p.m. per City Ordinance."
4. Trash: "Trash receptacles are only located at trailheads." The Hill Country Conservancy lists a trash can at Spyglass and the 360 trailhead, and only a dog waste station at Gus Fruh, so carry everything out.
5. Drinking water: the City's pages list none at any trailhead, so bring your own. The Hill Country Conservancy lists a "Water fountain nearby" at its Mile Zero trailhead, the Zilker trailhead's address.
6. Wheelchairs and strollers: the City's Trail Directory marks the Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail "No" for ADA access (ADA is the federal law on access for people with disabilities), and no City page checked says any trailhead suits them. The City's map gives 512-974-6700 for help using park facilities.
7. Other access points: the City lists none beyond these seven. The Barton Creek Wilderness Park, a separate City parkland listing, shares the Gaines Park/MoPac trailhead's address.
8. Named spots with no trailhead: the City's map also names Sculpture Falls, The Flats and six climbing walls. Apart from the Gus Fruh wall (section 5), no source checked ties them to a trailhead.
9. The City's map: a PDF linked from the City's Greenbelt page. Its legend marks "Shared Use", "Hike Only" and "Mountain Bike" trails, swimming areas, climbing walls, falls and scenic overlooks.
10. Residential permit parking: streets where parking at posted times is for residents with a City permit and their visitors. The pages checked name none near any trailhead; read the street signs.
11. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Zilker

At Zilker, parking costs nothing on weekdays other than holidays and is charged on weekends and holidays in the paid season, so read the pay station or the signs when you park.

At Zilker, the lot costs nothing on weekdays other than holidays and charges on weekends and holidays in the paid season, and the City's own pages disagree on the amount and the season. The trailhead is at 2212 William Barton Dr., inside Zilker Metropolitan Park, between miles 0 and 2.

All four of the City's pages on Zilker parking charge only on weekends and holidays; a holiday that falls on a weekday, such as Memorial Day or Labor Day, is charged in the paid season. On weekends and holidays in the paid season, its Zilker Park page and its Barton Springs Pool page give $3 an hour per vehicle; the Zilker Park page adds that you pay at the pay stations or in Park ATX, the City's parking app, and that "All parking is first-come first-served." When the paid season starts depends on the page: the first Saturday of spring break, 1 March or Memorial Day, each running to Labor Day. The City's Greenbelt page shows a flat fee instead, from March through September, which the Zilker Park and pool pages don't use, and no page names the lot that serves the trailhead. With the City's pages split, read the pay station or the signs before you walk away from the car. The Hill Country Conservancy, whose Mile Zero shares the trailhead's address, notes "Metered parking available nearby and around the Zilker Park/Barton Springs area" and asks people to "pay attention to meter times and any posted signs." It lists a restroom and a water fountain nearby. Mile Zero is the start of its Violet Crown Trail (section 12).

The City lists a restroom near the Zilker Hillside Theater for this trailhead, without saying what kind.

Zilker is the trailhead for a trip by bus: the City "first and foremost suggests public transit and biking options." Bus 30 travels through Zilker Park, and buses 3 and 803 stop on South Lamar Boulevard. For Barton Springs Pool, the City says to get off route 30 at the Barton Springs (Zilker Park) stop and walk five minutes down William Barton Drive, the trailhead's street. CapMetro, Austin's transit agency, has a trip planner online and a GO Line for questions, 512-474-1200.

Zilker suits a start by bus or bike, or by car on a weekday that isn't a holiday. Anyone who wants weekend or holiday parking at no charge in the paid season should pick one of the four trailheads the City lists as "free" (section 1).

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and stretch: 2212 William Barton Dr., Austin 78746, in Zilker Metropolitan Park (2100 Barton Springs Rd.); miles 0 to 2.
2. Parking: a lot. Weekdays other than holidays: no charge (four City pages). The nearest lot a City page names is Barton Springs Pool's north entrance lot, 2201 William Barton Dr.; no page says it serves the trailhead. Weekends and holidays in the paid season:
   1. Zilker Park page: $3 an hour per vehicle, at pay stations or in the Park ATX app, from the first Saturday of spring break to Labor Day.
   2. Pool visitor page: $3 an hour, 1 March to Labor Day.
   3. Pool fee page: Memorial Day to Labor Day, no amount.
   4. Greenbelt page: a flat fee, March through September.
3. Restroom: "near Zilker Hillside Theater"; its kind isn't stated.
4. Bus: route 30 through the park; routes 3 and 803 on South Lamar Boulevard; for the pool, the Barton Springs (Zilker Park) stop and a five-minute walk down William Barton Drive. CapMetro's trip planner, or its GO Line, 512-474-1200.
5. Summer shuttle: the City's Zilker Loop has run on summer weekends and holidays, with a stop at the Hillside Theater and the Violet Crown Trail Head; no pets or coolers on board. Its dates are on the City's Zilker Park page.
6. Events: big events in Zilker Park can close its lots and nearby streets; the City posts them on its Parks and Recreation closures page.
7. Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless posted.
8. Residential permit parking (section 1): none named near this trailhead on the pages checked; read the street signs.
9. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Spyglass

Spyglass is street parking, and the City doesn't say whether it costs anything, so read the signs on the block where you park.

At Spyglass you park on the street, and the City doesn't say whether that costs anything. The trailhead is at 1601 Spyglass Dr., between miles 0 and 2. The City's entry says just "Street Parking": unlike its entries for Gus Fruh and Gaines Park/MoPac, it doesn't add "free", and it gives no rate or hours. So check the signs before you leave the car. The Hill Country Conservancy asks people to "pay attention to posted signs, and do not park at area businesses or apartments." It lists a trash can, bike parking and benches at the trailhead.

There's one composting restroom about .07 mile from the trailhead, roughly 370 feet. The Hill Country Conservancy, which runs the Violet Crown Trail, says "Near the Spyglass trailhead you'll find Cambell's hole, a popular swimming spot on Barton Creek." It spells the name "Cambell's"; the City's map has Campbell's Hole. Whether there's water depends on the creek (section 9), and the swim guide, "Swimming Holes Near Austin", covers swimming.

Spyglass suits a start in the first stretch with a restroom close by. It doesn't suit anyone who needs a parking lot: the City lists lots at three other trailheads, Zilker, Barton Hills School Park and the 360 trailhead.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and stretch: 1601 Spyglass Dr., Austin 78746; the City's name is "Spyglass/Barton Skwy Trailhead". Miles 0 to 2.
2. Parking: street parking; its cost, hours and limits aren't stated by the City.
3. Restroom: one composting restroom, about .07 mile (about 370 feet) from the trailhead.
4. Nearby: Campbell's Hole, a swimming spot (the Hill Country Conservancy). The City names no feature for this trailhead.
5. Violet Crown Trail: Spyglass is one of its trailheads in the stretch it shares with the Greenbelt (section 12).
6. Bus: none named on the pages checked.
7. Residential permit parking (section 1): none named near this trailhead on the pages checked; read the street signs.
8. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Barton Hills School Park and Homedale Drive

Barton Hills School Park has a lot at no charge, by the City's word, and no restrooms: plan for that before you set out.

Barton Hills School Park has a lot at no charge, by the City's word, and no restrooms. The trailhead is at 2009 Homedale Dr., between miles 0 and 2. Its parking is the school park's lot, which the City lists as "Parking Lot at Barton Hills School Park, free". That makes it one of three trailheads with a lot, along with Zilker and the 360 trailhead.

The City doesn't say whether the lot has limits on school days, so read the lot's signs.

It suits a driver who wants a lot at no charge in the first stretch. Anyone who needs a restroom should start at Spyglass or Zilker instead (sections 3 and 2).

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and stretch: 2009 Homedale Dr., Austin 78704 (the City's Greenbelt page, map and park directory); the Austin Parks Foundation gives 2010 Homedale Dr. for its Homedale entrance. Miles 0 to 2.
2. The park: Barton Hills School Park, 4.76 acres (the City's park directory).
3. Parking: the Barton Hills School Park lot, at no charge (the City); any school-day limits aren't stated.
4. Restrooms: none.
5. Nearby: the City names no feature for this trailhead.
6. Bus: none named.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Gus Fruh

Gus Fruh is a short walk to a swimming hole, by one 2023 account, with limited street parking and no restrooms.

Gus Fruh is about a quarter mile from a swimming hole, by the Austin Parks Foundation's 2023 account, with limited street parking and no restrooms. The trailhead is at 2632 Barton Hills Dr., between miles 0 and 2. The Austin Parks Foundation, the City's nonprofit park partner, wrote in 2023 that the Gus Fruh trail "is just a ¼ mi walk to a picturesque swimming hole". No source checked describes the path itself, how steep it is or whether it has steps, and the City's page doesn't call the spot a swimming hole. Whether there's water: section 9.

Parking is on the street and limited: the City's words are "Limited Street Parking, free". The Hill Country Conservancy asks people to pay attention to posted signs "and avoid blocking driveways."

The name is on a climbing wall too. The Hill Country Conservancy points climbers to "the Gus Fruh climbing wall near the Gus Fruh trail access point", and the City's map labels a Gus Fruh Wall. The climbing rules are in section 10.

The Austin Parks Foundation and the Conservancy both give the address as 2642 Barton Hills Dr.; the City's page and map say 2632. If a map app can't find one, try the other.

It suits a short walk to the creek, and climbers. It doesn't suit anyone who needs a restroom or a parking lot.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and stretch: 2632 Barton Hills Dr., Austin 78704 (the City's page and map); 2642 Barton Hills Dr. (the Austin Parks Foundation, 2023, and the Hill Country Conservancy). Miles 0 to 2.
2. Parking: limited street parking, at no charge (the City).
3. Restrooms: none.
4. Nearby: a swimming hole about a quarter mile from the trailhead (the Austin Parks Foundation, 2023); the Gus Fruh climbing wall near the trailhead (the Hill Country Conservancy; "Gus Fruh Wall" on the City's map).
5. The path down: not described by any source checked.
6. Violet Crown Trail: Gus Fruh is one of its trailheads in the stretch it shares with the Greenbelt (section 12).
7. Bus: none named.
8. Residential permit parking (section 1): none named near this trailhead on the pages checked; read the street signs.
9. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

The 360 trailhead

The 360 trailhead is the one to pick if you want a lot built for the trail and a restroom where you start.

The 360 trailhead has a lot built for the trail and restrooms where you start, and you reach the lot through an office complex off northbound Loop 360. The trailhead is at 3753 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., between miles 2 and 4.5. The Hill Country Conservancy, which runs the Violet Crown Trail, gives the way in: "From loop 360, enter the office complex parking lot and head to the north side (left)." The trail lot is "through a single gate, onto a dirt road", with a Parks and Recreation sign for the Barton Creek Greenbelt. The City lists the lot as "free" and doesn't say how many spaces it has. On weekends, the Conservancy says, "Some overflow parking may be available" in the paved office complex lot; read the posted signs and parking hours there. It's the one trailhead of the seven where the City puts restrooms at the trailhead itself: composting restrooms.

The Conservancy lists it among the Violet Crown Trail's trailheads, with "a dedicated trail parking lot", at 3755B S. Capital of Texas Hwy. The City's pages give 3753, with ZIP code 78704 on the Greenbelt page and 78746 in the park directory's entry for the whole Greenbelt. If a map app can't find one, try the other.

It suits drivers who want a lot and a restroom, starting partway along the trail. It doesn't suit a trip by bus: no source checked names a route here.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and stretch: 3753 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. NB (northbound), Austin 78704 (the City's Greenbelt page; the park directory's entry for the whole Greenbelt gives 78746); 3755B S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin 78704 (the Hill Country Conservancy). Miles 2 to 4.5.
2. Parking: a dedicated lot, at no charge (the City), reached through the office complex lot off northbound Loop 360 and a gate onto a dirt road; some weekend overflow parking may be available in the paved office complex lot (the Hill Country Conservancy). Its size isn't stated.
3. Restrooms: composting restrooms at the trailhead.
4. Nearby: the City names no feature for this trailhead.
5. Violet Crown Trail: one of its trailheads in the stretch it shares with the Greenbelt (section 12).
6. Bus: none named.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Gaines Park and MoPac, with Twin Falls

To find Twin Falls, look for the Gaines Park/Mopac trailhead: that's the City's name for its way in, with limited street parking and no restrooms.

People search for Twin Falls; the City lists it as "Twin Falls access" under the Gaines Park/Mopac Trailhead, 3918 S. MoPac Expy., on the southbound service road, the frontage road beside the highway. It's in the City's middle stretch, between miles 2 and 4.5, and it's one of two trailheads the City ties to a named spot; the other is Trail's End, for the Hill of Life (section 8).

Parking is limited street parking, which the City lists as "free", without saying which street. There are no restrooms. Whether Twin Falls has water depends on the creek (section 9).

The address is shared by two City parks: Gaines Park at Barton Creek Greenbelt, 6.01 acres, and the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, 1,127.7 acres. The Gaines Greenbelt, a separate City listing at 4800 S. MoPac Expy., has a different address from this trailhead. The Hill Country Conservancy says the Violet Crown Trail leaves the Barton Creek Greenbelt at Gaines Creek and "continues south into the Gaines Creek Greenbelt" (section 12); no source checked says whether that is the City's Gaines Greenbelt.

It suits anyone headed for Twin Falls. It doesn't suit anyone who needs a restroom or a parking lot.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and stretch: 3918 S. MoPac Expy., southbound service road ("SVRD SB" in the City's address), Austin 78746. Miles 2 to 4.5.
2. Parking: limited street parking, at no charge (the City); which street isn't stated.
3. Restrooms: none.
4. Nearby: "Twin Falls access" (the City); Twin Falls is also on the City's map.
5. The parks at this address: Gaines Park at Barton Creek Greenbelt (6.01 acres) and the Barton Creek Wilderness Park (1,127.7 acres), both City parkland (the City's park directory).
6. Different address: the Gaines Greenbelt, 4800 S. MoPac Expy., a separate City listing of 95.1 acres.
7. Bus: none named.
8. Residential permit parking (section 1): none named near this trailhead on the pages checked; read the street signs.
9. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Trail's End and Camp Craft Road, with the Hill of Life

For the Hill of Life and the far stretch of trail, start at Trail's End, and expect to pay for street parking from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For the Hill of Life, start at Trail's End on Camp Craft Road, where street parking is paid every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The trailhead, 1712 Camp Craft Rd., is the one the City lists for the last stretch, miles 4.5 to 7.5. The City lists it with "Hill of Life access". No official source checked says how long or steep the Hill of Life is. The Hill Country Conservancy, which runs the Violet Crown Trail, says that where its trail splits off at Gaines Creek, the Greenbelt "curves north toward the Hill of Life" (section 12).

The City's words are "paid daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m."; it gives no rate and doesn't say who collects it or how to pay, so read the signs where you park for the rate and how to pay. Two composting restrooms sit about .05 mile from the trailhead, roughly 260 feet.

It suits a long hike or the Hill of Life, with a restroom at the start. For daytime parking at no charge, see section 1.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Address and stretch: 1712 Camp Craft Rd., Austin 78746 (the City's mailing address). Miles 4.5 to 7.5, the one trailhead the City lists for that stretch.
2. Parking: street parking, "paid daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m." (the City). The rate, who runs it and how to pay aren't stated, and no page says whether parking outside those hours costs anything.
3. Restrooms: two composting restrooms, about .05 mile (about 260 feet) from the trailhead.
4. Nearby: "Hill of Life access" (the City). No official source checked gives the Hill of Life's length, height or grade.
5. Bus: none named.
6. Residential permit parking (section 1) or no-parking zones: none named on the City of Austin pages checked; read the street signs.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Is there water in the creek?

Check a U.S. Geological Survey gauge on the day you go: the City's parks department doesn't track the creek, and it can stop flowing or rise fast.

Barton Creek runs on rain, and the City says its Parks and Recreation Department "does not monitor water levels". Levels on the Greenbelt are "variable and dependent on recent rainfall" and "can change quickly and without warning", the City says, even "when conditions appear dry". In a dry spell the creek can stop flowing: the City's algae page describes the water below Sculpture Falls "drying the creek into an isolated pool of water" in summer.

The City points to two agencies that measure the creek: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the federal science agency that runs stream gauges, automatic measuring stations on creeks and rivers; and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), whose Hydromet site posts river and rain data. Two USGS gauges on Barton Creek near the Greenbelt are "Barton Ck at Loop 360" and "Barton Ck at Lost Ck Blvd", and each gauge's page shows two numbers:

1. Discharge: how much water is flowing past the gauge, measured in cubic feet per second. Zero means nothing was moving past it at that moment, though pools can remain.
2. Gage height: how high the water's surface sits, in feet, above a fixed zero point near the creek bed at that gauge. It isn't the depth of a swimming hole, and it can read above zero when the creek isn't flowing.

So look at discharge, and at the date and time beside it: the reading should be from that day. USGS is retiring its older pages, and an older page can keep showing a reading from weeks before, so use each gauge's newer page (in the details). LCRA says its Hydromet page "automatically retrieves new data every 10 minutes", and warns that its data "may be unreliable due to damage to gauge or other issues." No official source gives a flow that means there's enough water to swim. Check the forecast too, and stay off the trail in storms (section 11).

Dogs need one more check. The City has seen a harmful bloom of blue-green algae, tiny organisms that grow in water and can make toxins, in Barton Creek below Sculpture Falls, in summer, when the creek had dried to an isolated pool. It ties dog deaths in Austin to algae toxins. Keep dogs out of water that is warm, stagnant or scummy, and rinse them before they lick their fur. For swimming, see "Swimming Holes Near Austin".

It matters to anyone heading for the water or bringing a dog, and to hikers too: on the first 4.5 miles, hikers "will have to cross Barton Creek shortly after mile marker 3", the Hill Country Conservancy says, and it warns that the creek crossings are "periodically flooded". Check the gauge and the forecast before any hike that crosses the creek, and don't walk through high water (section 11).

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The City's word: Parks and Recreation "does not monitor water levels"; USGS and LCRA post their data "under Colorado River Basin/Barton Ck."
2. USGS gauges, newer pages: Barton Ck at Loop 360 (site 08155300), waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-08155300 ; Barton Ck at Lost Ck Blvd (site 08155240), waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/USGS-08155240 . Each reports discharge in cubic feet per second and gage height in feet. USGS marks recent readings "PROVISIONAL DATA SUBJECT TO REVISION": early numbers it may correct later.
3. LCRA Hydromet: hydromet.lcra.org ; data on streamflow, river stage and rainfall; the page "automatically retrieves new data every 10 minutes".
4. A flow for swimming: no official source gives one.
5. Algae: a harmful bloom seen "in Barton Creek below Sculpture Falls", in summer. The City's advice: don't enter water that "is warm or stagnant" or where you "see scum, film, or algae", or if "There has been rain in the past three days"; rinse dogs before they lick their fur; and if a pet seems sick after being in or near water, contact a veterinarian right away.
6. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

The rules on the trail

Know six rules before you go: a leash 6 feet or shorter, carry your trash out, no glass, Styrofoam or smoking, no alcohol, off the trail by 10 p.m., and bikes yield to walkers.

The City puts it plainly: "Trash receptacles are only located at trailheads on the Barton Creek Greenbelt." So bags, bottles and dog waste go with you until you're back at a trailhead.

1. Dogs: on a leash "6 feet or shorter", kept close, and cleaned up after. City Code requires a dog's owner or handler to "promptly remove and sanitarily dispose of" its waste, and the City asks people never to leave the bag on the ground. No page checked names any part of the Greenbelt as an off-leash area, a place where dogs may go without a leash.
2. Glass, Styrofoam and smoking: "prohibited in all parks", the City says.
3. Alcohol: the City says alcohol consumption is "ONLY permitted at rental sites with a paid reservation", and no page checked lists one on the Greenbelt. The Violet Crown Trail, which shares the first 4.5 miles, says "No alcohol, camping, or fires".
4. Hours and light: "All park facilities officially close after 10 p.m.", and City parks generally open at 5 a.m. The Greenbelt has "limited to no lighting", so the City says to bring "flashlights, headlamps, or safety lights when hiking close to sunset."
5. Sharing the trail: keep right and pass on the left, no more than two side by side, and call out "passing on left". Stay on established trails, and don't approach or feed wildlife.
6. Bikes: riders yield to walkers and runners, ride single file, signal before passing by voice or bell, and keep to the posted speed limits (the City's page gives no number). Road, cruiser and commuter bikes, built for pavement, "are not recommended" on the Greenbelt's "rough, uneven terrain". The City heads its bike rules "For People on Bicycles and Permitted Vehicles" without saying which vehicles are permitted, and no City page checked says whether e-bikes, bikes with an electric motor, are allowed. The Violet Crown Trail allows no horses; the City's page doesn't mention them.
7. Climbing: the City's Greenbelt page doesn't mention climbing, and no City rule on climbing or bolting (drilling permanent metal anchors into the rock) was found. City park rangers offer rock climbing on the Greenbelt "a few times a year", and their "main role is to educate people about park rules", so they're the ones to ask.
8. Leave it as you find it: the City's Leave No Trace page asks visitors to "Leave rocks, plants, flowers, and other natural objects as you find them." The City says endangered species live along the creek, among them the golden-cheeked warbler, the Austin blind salamander, the Barton Springs salamander and the bracted twistflower.

The bike rules fit mountain bikes; the City doesn't recommend the trail for bikes built for pavement.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Leash: "leash must be 6 feet or shorter"; "Clean up after your pet and dispose of waste properly." The City quotes City Code section 3-4-6 on removing a dog's waste on its Scoop the Poop page.
2. Off-leash areas: no part of the Greenbelt is named as one on any page checked.
3. Trash: cans at the trailheads (the City), not along the trail.
4. Glass, Styrofoam and smoking: "prohibited in all parks" (the City's special events page); "Glass containers are prohibited in the entire park system" (the City's Emma Long page).
5. Alcohol: at rental sites with a paid reservation (the City's Zilker Park page); none listed on the Greenbelt; none on the Violet Crown Trail.
6. Camping and fires: not allowed on the Violet Crown Trail, which shares the first 4.5 miles; for the rest of the Greenbelt, ask Austin 3-1-1.
7. Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless posted; park facilities close after 10 p.m.
8. Bikes: the City's list above; no posted speed number on its page; e-bikes not addressed.
9. Horses: none allowed on the Violet Crown Trail (the Hill Country Conservancy).
10. Climbing: ranger-led outings "a few times a year"; no City climbing or bolting rule found.
11. Wildlife and plants: "do not approach or feed wildlife"; leave natural objects as you find them; the endangered species the City names along the creek are the golden-cheeked warbler, the Austin blind salamander, the Barton Springs salamander and the bracted twistflower.
12. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Staying safe

Know where you are, not just where you parked: on the first 4.5 miles, the nearest Violet Crown Trail marker tells 911 exactly where you are.

Austin-Travis County EMS (emergency medical services, the area's ambulance service) tells people near open water to "Know your location". On the Greenbelt, the trailhead where you parked may be miles behind you. On the first 4.5 miles, which the Violet Crown Trail shares, the Hill Country Conservancy's advice is to go to the nearest trail marker (they stand "at least every quarter mile") and call 911. The markers "have unique identifying locations which will tell the operator exactly where you are": read the marker to the operator and, unless told otherwise, stay there so crews can find you. Past the split at Gaines Creek, no source names posted markers, so give the operator the trailhead you started from and how far you've walked from it. The City's Leave No Trace page adds: "Bring basic first aid." and "Tell someone where you're going."

1. Floods. The City's rule is "Turn Around, Don't Drown!" In storms, it says to "stay away from creeks, trails, culverts, ponds, and drainage infrastructure", and not to walk, bike or drive through high water. "A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult," the National Weather Service says. On the stretch it shares with the Greenbelt, the Conservancy warns of "numerous creek crossings along the route which are periodically flooded". Check the forecast before you go, keep emergency alerts on in your phone's settings, and sign up for regional alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org. No City page checked says the City closes the Greenbelt or its trailheads in high water, so don't wait for a sign.
2. Heat. The City's advice for time outdoors: "Drink water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty", take shade breaks, wear light, loose clothing, and avoid outdoor activity in the hottest part of the day. Heat exhaustion comes first, with heavy sweating, weakness and cool, clammy skin. Heat stroke is the emergency, with confusion, hot skin and a body temperature above 103 degrees: "Move them. Cool them. Call 911." Dogs overheat too; the City says to bring fresh water and a bowl for them.
3. Wildlife. Don't approach or feed it, and stay on established trails. For snakes, Texas Parks and Wildlife says "Never step over a log without first seeing what is on the other side," and when a snake is near, freeze until you know where it is and let it move away. If you're bitten, it says to "seek immediate medical attention."
4. Poison ivy. A climbing or trailing plant with leaves in threes that turn red in fall, it grows in dry to moist places from woodland to streambed, and it's poisonous in "All parts, in all seasons if plant sap contacted," the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center says. Its rash can follow "direct or indirect contact".
5. Who to call. 911 for anyone hurt, overheated, lost or caught by rising water. Austin 3-1-1, or 512-974-2000, is the City's line for "City services and information", and its app and web portal take requests "anytime".

It applies to everyone on the trail, dogs included: the City says "Pets can experience heat-related illness, too."

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Emergencies: 911. On the first 4.5 miles, go to the nearest Violet Crown Trail marker, read it to the operator and stay there unless told otherwise (the Hill Country Conservancy). Austin-Travis County EMS: "Know your location", and near open water, "Know how many people are in your group" and count heads from time to time.
2. City services: Austin 3-1-1, or 512-974-2000; its phone hours are on its page.
3. Floods: "Turn Around, Don't Drown!"; regional alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org; road closures and low water crossings (spots where a road dips through a creek bed, so they flood first) at ATXfloods.com, a flood-monitoring site the City points to.
4. Heat: heat stroke means calling 911 at once. For heat exhaustion, the City's heat page says to call 911 "If symptoms last longer than one hour or worsen." For suspected heat stroke, "Do not give fluids or anything by mouth."
5. Phone: "Keep your cell phone charged", the City's heat page says.
6. Feet: near open water, Austin-Travis County EMS says to protect your feet "from jagged rocks, broken glass, or other sharp objects by wearing water shoes."
7. Endangered species along the creek: section 10.
8. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

The Violet Crown Trail

The Violet Crown Trail shares the Greenbelt's first 4.5 miles, then heads south at Gaines Creek: past the split, follow its logo on the trail markers.

The Violet Crown Trail, led by the Hill Country Conservancy, which builds and looks after it with the City's Parks and Recreation Department, starts at "Mile Zero" in Zilker Park, at the same street address as the Zilker trailhead. "For the first 4.5 miles, the trail route overlaps the Barton Creek Greenbelt," the Conservancy says, and it lists four of its trailheads in that stretch: Zilker, Spyglass, Gus Fruh and 360.

At Gaines Creek the routes split. The Greenbelt "curves north toward the Hill of Life", and the Violet Crown Trail "continues south into the Gaines Creek Greenbelt", then into the city of Sunset Valley. From there, the Conservancy says, "Look for the Violet Crown Trail logo on trail markers to ensure you stay on the correct path."

The Conservancy gives the trail as 13 miles long, from Zilker Park to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and plans a 30-mile trail that will end "in a loop south of FM 967 in Buda", in Hays County (FM stands for farm-to-market, a kind of Texas state road). Its first section, Mile Zero to the 290 Trailhead, is "just over 5 miles of natural surface trail", with "an uneven, rocky surface" that "at times has steep slopes and sharp curves". Farther along, from the Whirlpool Trailhead to La Crosse Avenue, crushed granite and concrete sidewalks give "smoother, more even terrain better suited to wheelchairs, road bikes, and trail users of all ages."

Dogs are allowed "between the Mile Zero Trailhead and the La Crosse Trailhead", and they "must remain on-leash at all times." There's "No alcohol, camping, or fires", no horses, and cyclists "yield to pedestrians and pass slowly on the left." Parking at its trailheads outside the Greenbelt varies, and the Conservancy says the 290 and Slaughter trailheads have no dedicated trail parking, so check its Plan Your Trip page before you go.

It suits hikers who want to go past the Greenbelt. For wheelchairs and road bikes, the Conservancy points to the stretch from Whirlpool to La Crosse, not the first one.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. Who runs it: the Hill Country Conservancy, which "partners with Austin Parks and Recreation" on the trail (the City).
2. Mile Zero: in Zilker Park; the Conservancy's address for it is 2212 William Barton Dr.
3. Shared with the Greenbelt: the first 4.5 miles; its trailheads in that stretch are Zilker (Mile Zero), Spyglass, Gus Fruh and 360. Hikers "will have to cross Barton Creek shortly after mile marker 3".
4. The split: at Gaines Creek; the Violet Crown Trail goes south into the Gaines Creek Greenbelt and Sunset Valley.
5. Length: 13 miles, Zilker Park to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center; 30 miles planned, through Hays County to Buda.
6. Surfaces: Mile Zero to the 290 Trailhead, natural surface, "not advisable for strollers and road bikes"; Whirlpool to La Crosse, crushed granite and concrete sidewalks.
7. Rules: dogs on a leash from Mile Zero to La Crosse; no alcohol, camping or fires; no horses; cyclists yield to people on foot.
8. Parking outside the Greenbelt: no dedicated trail parking at the 290 Trailhead (trail users may park in the Spec's lot, away from the store) or the Slaughter Trailhead (trail users may park at the back of the Walgreens lot); a lot under the MoPac overpass at Whirlpool; a dedicated lot at the 45SW MoPac Trailhead, reached from Archeleta Boulevard; and at La Crosse, street parking along La Crosse Avenue, and "Please do not park in the Wildflower Center or Veloway parking lots." (The Veloway is the City's loop for skating and biking.)
9. Markers and emergencies: markers "at least every quarter mile", each with a location a 911 operator can use (section 11).
10. Report a problem: the trail's site has a "Report an Issue" page.
11. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Austin's other greenbelts, and trails nearby

Each of Austin's other greenbelts and trails sets its own terms: find the trail in the City's Trail Directory, then check the park's own page for fees, dogs and closures.

The City of Austin keeps a list of its trails, the Trail Directory, with each trail's address, use and length in miles. A greenbelt is a strip of public land kept natural along a creek. Two things differ from the Barton Creek Greenbelt: the City's nature preserves don't allow "Bikes and dogs (either on leash or off)", and Emma Long Metropolitan Park charges an entry fee, as does McKinney Falls, a state park. Nearby towns run their own trails, with their own rules.

1. Bull Creek Greenbelt and Bull Creek District Park: three City trails, each shared by walkers and cyclists: the Bull Creek District Trail (0.9 mile, from 6713 Lakewood Dr.), the Lower Bull Creek Greenbelt Trail (4.05 miles, from 5307 Old Spicewood Springs Rd.) and the Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt Trail (2.44 miles, from 7301 Spicewood Springs Rd.). The City's list marks none of the three as accessible.
2. Shoal Creek Trail: 6.82 miles of trail and sidewalk, shared by walkers and cyclists, listed from 2610 Shoal Creek Blvd., with a section marked accessible. Parts have been closed for long stretches, after landslides and for repairs, with detours on the North Lamar Boulevard sidewalks, so check the Shoal Creek Conservancy's closures page before you go.
3. St. Edwards Greenbelt (the City's spelling; its park directory has no "St. Edward's Park"): a 3.59-mile trail shared by walkers and cyclists, from 7301 Spicewood Springs Rd., the address the City also gives for the Upper Bull Creek trail.
4. Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park, 12138 N. Lamar Blvd.: two trails shared by walkers and cyclists, 5.32 and 10 miles. The City's Trail Directory links a sheet on when the trails close: check it before you go.
5. The Turkey Creek Trail at Emma Long Metropolitan Park, 2100 City Park Rd.: 1.92 miles. The City's Trail Directory lists it for hiking and off-leash dogs, but the park's own page says "Pets must remain on leash and under the control of the owner at all times." The park charges an entry fee by the vehicle, higher from Friday to Sunday and on holidays, and a smaller one to walk or bike in. For Fridays to Sundays and holidays it sells day passes online ahead and says "No entry without a day pass reservation", though "Walk-ins are welcome until sold-out". Whether trail users pay isn't stated. The park is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
6. Blunn Creek Nature Preserve, 1200 St. Edwards Dr.: a 1.02-mile trail the City lists as "Hike (Hiking Only)". As a City nature preserve, it bars bikes and dogs, on a leash or not. The separate Blunn Creek Greenbelt Trail (0.88 mile, from 1501 East Side Dr.) is shared by walkers and cyclists.
7. Southern Walnut Creek Trail: "more than 7.3 miles" of "10-foot wide concrete paths", with trailheads "at Johnny Morris Road and Govalle Park", open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
8. Circle C Ranch Metro Park Trail, 6301 W. Slaughter Ln.: 2.93 miles, shared by walkers and cyclists. The Veloway, 4900 La Crosse Ave., is the City's 3.11-mile loop for skating and biking.
9. McKinney Falls State Park, 5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy., run by Texas Parks and Wildlife: "nearly nine miles of trails", including the 2.8-mile Onion Creek Hike and Bike Trail, which "has a hard surface, good for strollers and road bikes." Day use is $6 an adult, and children 12 and under get in at no charge. The park says "We often reach capacity, and highly recommend reservations for both camping and day use", and warns "Onion Creek can flood after rainfall."
10. The Brushy Creek Regional Trail, Williamson County: Round Rock's trails page lists the county's section as 6.75 miles, from Great Oaks Drive to US 183, and Round Rock's own section as 3.06 miles. For trailheads, parking and rules, check Williamson County's parks pages before you go.
11. Georgetown's Randy Morrow Trail and the Goodwater Loop: the City of Georgetown's main river trail, the Randy Morrow Trail, runs 5.35 miles from San Gabriel Park, 445 E. Morrow St., which has restrooms, and its stretch from San Gabriel Park through Rivery Park to Chandler Park is lighted. Georgetown's visitor bureau describes the Goodwater Loop, which it also calls the San Gabriel River Trail, as "a 26.9 mile trail along the San Gabriel River and Lake Georgetown", with dogs on a leash. The City of Georgetown uses the name San Gabriel River Trail for a different, 0.45-mile concrete trail.
12. Lakeway's Hamilton Greenbelt: "several miles of both developed and primitive trails" along Hurst and Yaupon creeks, run by the City of Lakeway. The first section's entrance is "off of Lohmans Crossing at Cross Creek (across from the Lakeway Justice Center)", and the second is reached from Palos Verdes Drive; "The two main trailheads provide parking."
13. Bee Cave's Central Park: a paved perimeter trail "just over 1 mile" long, just west of the Bee Cave Parkway and 620 intersection, in a park with "restrooms, water fountains, a dog park and shaded play structures". The 1.5-mile Bee Cave Hike and Bike Trail runs from Falconhead Boulevard along 620 to Central Park.
14. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, the City's "10-mile loop trail": see "Things to Do in Austin".

For a hard surface, these sources name the Southern Walnut Creek Trail's concrete paths, McKinney Falls' Onion Creek trail, Bee Cave's paved Central Park trail and Georgetown's concrete San Gabriel River Trail. With a dog, skip the nature preserves.

The details (checked on 13 Oct 2026):

1. The City's Trail Directory: austintexas.gov/parks/locations/trail-directory ; each trail's address, use, accessibility and length, with surface types in its downloadable PDF. "A Yes for ADA Accessible indicates a section of the trail that meets ADA at the time it was constructed" (ADA is the Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal law on access for people with disabilities), and the City recommends a trail "be reviewed and compared to user capabilities prior to use".
2. Nature preserves: "Bikes and dogs (either on leash or off) are not allowed in preserves."
3. Citywide: parks open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. unless posted; dogs on a leash in public areas "unless designated otherwise by City Code".
4. Emma Long fees: $5 a vehicle Monday to Thursday; $10 Friday to Sunday and on holidays; $1 to walk or bike in. Day passes online for Fridays to Sundays and holidays, up to 14 days ahead, two per household a day.
5. McKinney Falls: $6 an adult a day; 12 and under, no charge; gate open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 512-243-1643. It posts alerts on its page.
6. Contacts: Round Rock Parks and Recreation, 512-218-5540; Georgetown's trail questions line, 512-930-3595; Lakeway Parks and Recreation, 512-314-7530; Bee Cave Parks and Public Works, 512-767-6618; Williamson County's Parks Pass line, 512-943-1920.
7. Checked on 13 Oct 2026.

Before you go

Check four things before you leave home: the trailhead, the parking, the creek and the forecast.

Before you go

• Pick the trailhead by stretch, parking and restrooms (the table).
• Check the creek on a U.S. Geological Survey gauge page, "Barton Ck at Loop 360" or "Barton Ck at Lost Ck Blvd": look at discharge, the flow, and make sure its time stamp is from that day.
• Check the forecast, and stay off the trail in storms: "Turn Around, Don't Drown!"
• Read the parking signs where you stop.
• Bring water (the City says not to drink from creeks), a light if you'll be out near sunset, basic first aid, a charged phone, a bag for trash and dog waste, and a leash 6 feet or shorter.
• Leave behind glass, Styrofoam, cigarettes and alcohol.
• Tell someone where you're going, and which trailhead you'll start from.
• With a dog, keep it out of warm, stagnant or scummy water, and rinse it before it licks its fur.
• Be off the trail by 10 p.m. Park facilities close after 10.
• In an emergency, call 911 and say where you are. On the first 4.5 miles, go to the nearest Violet Crown Trail marker, read it to the operator and stay there. For City services: 3-1-1, or 512-974-2000.