Barton Creek Greenbelt - Climbing and Hiking

Barton Creek Greenbelt is a very popular area in Austin which is 7.9 miles long with 809 acres and begins at Zilker Park. With sheer limestone cliff walls, dense lush vegetation, and popular swimming areas. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is truly a treasure for biking, hiking (Barton Creek Greenbelt is considered the 7th best hiking trail in Texas), swiming, climbing, and more. When the water in the creek is running (usually in spring) this is a fantastic place to spend some time. The easiest access point is the Loop 360 access with gently sloping cutback trails so that everyone can enjoy the trail.

The Barton Creek Greenbelt consists of three areas: the Lower Greenbelt, the Upper Greenbelt and the Barton Creek Wilderness Park - see the map below. If you are interested in climbing in the Barton Creek Greenbelt, click here.

Click on any of the icons on the map for pictures and more information.

Climbing in Barton Creek Greenbelt
Enclave (#1)	Tucked away in a little pocket enroute to New Wall. Great diversion for an afternoon
New Wall/Great Wall (#2)	Next to Terrace - Access for New Wall Take exit for Barton Skyway, turn left over Mopac and head down hill. Locate parking near the "T" intersection. Get yer gear and cross over the gaurd rail. Turn right at the creek. Go for about one half mile. This takes you to New wall, the Great Wall and the Random Walls
Gus Fruh (#3)	Gus Fruh Trail is an access trail from Barton Hills Drive down to the main Barton Creek Greenbelt Trail. It boasts easy access to several climbing walls and a deep swimming hole when the water is flowing.
Urban Assault (#4)	Urban Assault is the big white buttress on the west side of the creek. Steep face, big roof
Kirk\Alvin's Wall & Airman's Cave (#5)	Park at 360 access and walk downstream (north) down barton creek, pass airmans cave and look for this wall on the righthand bank (east)
Five Eight Sanctuary (#6)	1/4 mile upstream of Seismic Wall. Same side of the creek.
Seismic Wall (#7)	Find the Barton Creek Greenbelt sign and enter there. Walk down to the creek, the wall is directly across the (usually dry) creek
Bee Hive Wall (#8)	Walk upstream under 360 about half a mile. Look for a huge beehive near the wall

Zilker Access - (see map above) From I-35 exit on Riverside and head west.  Drive 1.5 miles to Barton Creek Rd and turn left (west).  Drive one mile past the Lamar intersection and the Zilker Park entrance will be on your left.  The Zilker trail access will be west of the Zilker Pool. Use this entrance if you are planning on riding a bike or if you need to lose a few more pounds.
Spyglass Access - (see map above) From Mopac/Loop 1 exit on Barton Skyway and head east.  Barton Skyway will dead end in less than half a mile.  The trail begins where the road ends.  Use this access to reach the New Wall/Great Wall.  This access can be used to access Gus Fruh 
Gus Fruh Access - (see map above) From I-35 exit on Riverside and head west.  Drive 1.5 miles to Barton Creek Rd and turn left (west).  Drive about one mile past the Lamar intersection and turn left on Robert E Lee Rd.  Take the first right on Barton Hills Dr.  Continue down Barton Hills for exactly 2 miles.  The access is in the middle of  residential neighborhood on the right near the intersection of Barton Hills Dr. and Horseshoe Bend Cove.  Use this access to climb at Gus Fruh and Urban Assault
Loop 360 Access - (see map above) From I-35 head west on Ben White Blvd.  Ben White Blvd will become 360 (a.k.a. Capitol of Texas Highway).  After Ben White Blvd becomes 360 the road will head down a steep hill.  This will be approximately 1/4 mile from Mopac/Loop 1.  Turn right at the light on the steep hill and turn into the bank parking lot.  The trail access will be located at west side of the bank parking lot.  Use this access to climb at Seismic Wall and Bee Hive Wall.

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