| Austin is a beautiful city, alive with music, shops, | | | | great hike, but don’t think that’s all you can |
| people and entertainment. If you are looking for | | | | do. Bikes are allowed on the paths, too (although no |
| something fun and interesting to do with a decidedly | | | | motorized vehicles), and if you’re interested in |
| city feel, there is no better place, no better | | | | climbing, there are more than enough walls |
| metropolis. But if you are looking for something less | | | | throughout the park. In fact, it’s rare that day |
| urban and a little more . . . woodsy, is Austin still the | | | | doesn’t seem various Austinites grabbing their |
| location for you? It can be. You just have to know | | | | gear and journeying to Barton Creek for an |
| where to look. | | | | afternoon climb. Now, if you’re new to climbing, |
| The best place to start is the Barton Creek | | | | it’s important that you take all the correct gear |
| Greenbelt. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a 7.9-mile | | | | and choose wisely the wall you mount. Maggy’s |
| hiking trail on 809 acres located within the city limits | | | | Wall is the easiest with routes from 5.7 to 5.11, while |
| of Austin. Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, the park | | | | the New/Great Wall has routes from 5.9 to 5.13. Gus |
| offers visitors views of sheer cliff walls, lush | | | | Fruh essentially matches the New/Great Wall with |
| vegetation and small water reservoirs (where many | | | | routes ranging from 5.8 to 5.12. You must use your |
| will happily swim). During the spring, when the creek | | | | own gear on all walls, but don’t feel you need to |
| is running, the sound of rushing water joins the view | | | | get carried away with what you purchase. A |
| for a truly blissful experience. | | | | 40-meter rope should do the trick, but to be on the |
| For hikers, the most convenient access point is the | | | | safe side, a 50 would be ideal. |
| Loop 360 access, which will take you right onto the | | | | If you’re looking to camp, look elsewhere. The |
| trail in about the middle of the walk, so whichever | | | | park is not open to campers, nor does it allow dogs |
| way you turn you’ll have a decent hike ahead of | | | | off-leash. This ensures that the park stays as |
| you. However, there are other accesses: Zilker | | | | garbage free as possible (thanks to no overnight |
| Access is at Town Lake, and just a few steps away | | | | visitors) and as peaceful as possible (thanks to no |
| from the Barton Creek swimming pool, a natural pool | | | | free-wheeling puppies). Other rules and regulations |
| that is over 1,000 feet long; Twin Falls is on the | | | | apply, but are the standard for all natural parks within |
| other side of the Loop 360 Access, and as its name | | | | the country - don’t litter, don’t destroy the |
| implies usually has a little more running water than | | | | wildlife and don’t take away from the |
| Zilker or the Loop; Spy Glass Access and Gus Fruh | | | | experience for others. Barton Creek Greenbelt is a |
| Access are other convenient points and are situated | | | | rarity in cities - it is a natural oasis amidst an urban |
| between Zilker and the Loop. | | | | setting. |
| Wherever you enter, you’re sure to have a | | | | |