Campbell’s Hole (Austin, Texas)

Howdy adventurers! Today I met up with some close friends, and together we fled from the shores of sanity to dive into Austin traffic at 3 in the afternoon. Why? Because it’s almost mid-July, and what better way to split from the harsh Texas heatwaves than swimming? This time of year, flocks of college students, families, and tourists tend to overwhelm areas such as Jacob’s Well, and Barton Springs (not to mention that you have to pay to get into both of these places). So today our goal was to visit a lesser-known, and free, swimming spot, Campbell’s Hole. Campbell’s Hole is a part of the Barton Creek Greenbelt, and you can get more information about this natural area on their website: austinparks.org.

Cars clog the highway as far as the eye can see. — A lovely picture of Austin traffic as far as the eye can see. Photo by Libby Kissling.

If you’re like me, you’ll type “Campbell’s Hole” into your Apple Maps or Google Maps and go. DO NOT DO THIS! These apps will lead you close to the swimming hole, but leave you stranded in (a very nice) neighborhood about 10 minutes from one of the many entrances. Yes, there are multiple entrances. The entrance closest to Campbell’s Hole is located at 1601 Spyglass Drive. The parking was not too complicated for us and we found a parallel spot nearby with ease.

Map detailing the trail and spots of interest. — This map is right next to the entrance and will lead you on a scenic trail that runs right next to Campbell’s Hole. Photo by Libby Kissling.

From here, all you have to do is follow the signs!

Marker details the trail. — This marker keeps you on track to Campbell’s Hole. Photo by Libby Kissling.

After dealing with technological difficulties and making a ten minute trek from the entrance, we finally made it to Campbell’s Hole. It was still the heat of the day so there were a fair amount of people, but it was by no means packed. The water level was low end because there haven’t been any recent downpours in the area. The water none-the-less was rushing in between large, mossy rocks, and gurgled from springs underneath the scads of smooth river stones. I appreciated that the water was not as frigid as other spring-fed swimming holes in the region. Although the water was cloudier from hoards of young people that had been reveling in it all day, it was quiet and refreshing. Most importantly it was clean and not stagnant.

Here are some tips and other things to keep in mind if you’re interested in visiting Campbell’s Hole:

Travel light. Due to the steep and rocky nature of this area, attempting to carry a massive cooler will require a lot of effort.
Wear water shoes. The rocks are slippery.
Protect yourself! The sunshine is abundant as well as the mosquito population.
This spot is dog friendly! There were lots of four-legged friends.
This spot is not the most kid-friendly, be prepared to find yourself among alcohol and all kinds of smoke *wink wink*.

I am going to rate Campbell’s Hole 3.5 out of 5 stars. I was not blown away, but I will most likely return in the future due to the secluded vibe and the absence of an entrance fee.

I’ve attached a gallery below of my trip.