Outdoor Austin: Best Parks, Trails, and Swimming Spots for Spring

Spring in Austin has a short shelf life. By mid-June the heat shuts most outdoor stuff down before noon, so the next six weeks are the window. The creeks are still running, the trails are dry, and the wildflowers are hanging on. Here's an honest take on the austin outdoor activities worth your time, from the obvious staples to a few spots most people forget about.

Barton Springs Is Still the Anchor

Yes, you already know about barton springs. Yes, you should still go. The water sits at 68 to 70 degrees year-round, which feels brutal in March and exactly right by mid-May. The pool reopened March 21 after its annual cleaning, and admission now runs $5 for Austin adult residents and $9 for non-residents, with kids 1 to 11 at $2 to $4 and ages 12 to 17 at $3 to $5. Hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. There's a free swim window before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. when no lifeguard is on duty, and that's when locals actually go. Park at Zilker if you can find a spot, or bike in along the Lady Bird Lake trail. The grass on the south side of the pool gets shade by mid-afternoon and is the best place to set up.

Hike and Swim the Barton Creek Greenbelt

The Barton Creek Greenbelt is the best free thing in Austin if the creek is flowing, and right now it is. Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls are the two main swimming holes, and Gus Fruh has the cleanest pool plus a famous limestone climbing wall. The main trailheads are at Spyglass off Barton Skyway, the MoPac access, and the 360 entrance. Sculpture Falls is about a 45 minute walk in from MoPac, so wear shoes that can get wet and bring more water than you think you need. After a dry stretch the creek turns into shallow puddles, so check water levels before you commit.

McKinney Falls State Park

Twenty minutes southeast of downtown, McKinney Falls has both an Upper Falls and a Lower Falls plus close to nine miles of trails through cedar and cypress. Entry is $6 for ages 13 and up and free for kids under 13. Open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Onion Creek Hike-and-Bike Trail is paved and stroller-friendly. The dirt loops on the back side of the park feel further from the city than they actually are. Reserve a day pass online before you go. The park caps entries on busy weekends and they will turn you away at the gate.

Three Spots Most Lists Skip

Bull Creek District Park up in northwest Austin has a wide shallow pool under a small waterfall, free parking, and dogs are welcome. It gets crowded on Saturdays, much quieter on weekday mornings. Hamilton Pool Preserve out in Dripping Springs reopens for swimming May 8 after its winter restriction. It's $8 per person plus a reservation fee, and you have to book a morning slot (9 to 12:30) or afternoon (2 to 5:30) in advance. Plan two weeks out for a weekend. Krause Springs in Spicewood is about 45 minutes west, family owned, $9 entry, with a cliff jump, a cypress-shaded swimming hole, and a butterfly garden. Bring cash and a cooler, no card readers.

A Few Things That Will Save Your Day

Most austin swimming holes fill up by 10 a.m. on weekends. If you want a parking spot at Barton Springs or the Sculpture Falls trailhead, get there before 9. Water shoes will save your feet on the limestone, and sunscreen matters even when it's overcast. The wildflowers along 290 East and out toward Marble Falls peak in mid to late April, but you'll still catch bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush in the first half of May. Last thing: do the outdoor part of your day in the morning. By 2 p.m. in late May the sun is doing real damage, and the patio bar you were going to hit afterward is the better call.

💡 ATX Weekly Tip: Open the ATX Weekly app and filter by Outdoors to see this week's free park events, ranger walks, and pop-ups happening across the city. Save the swimming holes and trails you want to hit so the list is right there when you're already in the car trying to remember which trailhead off MoPac you actually wanted.