Barton Creek Greenbelt

In so many cities across the U.S., tapping into well-preserved wilderness requires a trip outside of town. Not in Austin. That’s largely thanks to multiple green space preserves, but largely due to one: the Barton Creek Greenbelt (lovingly referred to by locals as the Greenbelt), which spans 7.25 miles of dense forest, limestone cliffs, shallow swimming holes (mostly connected by the creek’s flow) and hike-and-bike trails. The public property is populated year-round by mountain bikers, hikers, and rock climbers. And in the summer months—pending enough rainfall—it is the uncontestably the most magnificent place to swim within city limits. Whether you hit up the super-popular Campbell’s Hole, the gloriously gushing Sculpture Falls or the relatively secret Lost Creek site, the mind is always put at ease by way of immersion in what sometimes feels like an impossibly secluded oasis adjacent to some of the city’s busiest sections (many of entry points require a bit of Google research to locate). If Austin’s contemporary urban utopia didn’t already have you hooked, this slice of natural paradise embedded within ought to do the trick.