Exploring the Barton Creek Greenbelt
Exploring the Barton Creek Greenbelt
I’ve been in Austin for a little over a week now, but the majority of that time has been spent getting settled in, decorating my place, and running errands. After a dreary weekend, I woke up this morning to sunshine and the need to get outside and do some exploring. In the comments on my recent posts, and in conversations with people who live here, the Greenbelt has popped up many times as a great place to hike, swim in the warmer months, and lose yourself in nature – and it’s right here in the city.
Beginning at Zilker Park, the Barton Creek Greenbelt winds like a snake through the southwestern portion of the city for a little over seven miles. As you make your way down the trail along the limestone cliffs and rocky riverbed, the sounds of the nearby highways are gradually muffled by whispering trees, wildlife, and the crunch of your feet on the trail. You can lose yourself for hours exploring the web of trails that break off of the main ones, every so often leading you to the creek bed. When I was there, it was completely dry – but at other times, shallow swimming holes offer a welcome escape from the sizzling Texas heat. It was somewhat eerie to see rope swings dangling over a rocky, dried up riverbed, but at the same time they offer a promise of what’s to come, of hot summer days spent barefoot and wild.
There’s something to be said for getting in touch with nature in a new city… thanking the earth for letting you tread on it for a while. It really helps you feel more connected and more rooted in a new place.
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