Real-time water levels for swimming spots along Barton Creek
Current conditions along the creek
Flow data over the past 12 months
Flow is measured as discharge in cubic feet per second (cfs) at three USGS gauges. For most greenbelt swimming holes, 15–50 cfs is ideal flowing water. Below 5 cfs the creek runs low and only the deeper spring-fed pools hold water; above ~120 cfs (or a modeled current faster than 4 ft/s) currents become swift and conditions can be dangerous. Discharge at ungauged holes is interpolated from the bracketing gauges, and the current shown is a Manning's-equation estimate from discharge, not a direct measurement.
Barton Creek is a flashy, rain-fed Hill Country stream — it can run swift and brown after a storm and slow to clear pools weeks later. The dashboard above reads live discharge in cubic feet per second (cfs) from three U.S. Geological Survey gauges every five minutes, so you can check conditions before driving to the Greenbelt. As a rule of thumb, 15–50 cfs is ideal flowing water at the swimming holes; below 5 cfs only the deeper, spring-fed pools hold water; and above roughly 120 cfs the current turns dangerous.
Upstream, between the Lost Creek and MoPac gauges
A series of limestone ledges with a wide pool below the falls. One of the most popular Greenbelt destinations, reached via the Hill of Life trail from Camp Craft Road. The falls need real flow to run — in a dry summer the pool persists but the cascade slows to a trickle.
Best at 15–50 cfs, when the ledges run and the pool is fresh.
Upstream, near the MoPac (Loop 1) bridge
Easy access from the Gaines/Twin Falls trailhead off MoPac makes this the busiest spot on summer weekends. Shallow, sunny ledges and a shaded pool. Because it sits close to the MoPac gauge, the live discharge reading here is among the most reliable on the creek.
Comfortable at 10–40 cfs; crowded when flowing well.
Lower Greenbelt, below the MoPac gauge
A deep, cliff-lined pool prized for its shade and its rope-swing reputation. Accessed from the Barton Hills / Gus Fruh trailhead. The depth here holds up better than the upstream falls during low flow, but the swim quality still tracks the creek’s discharge.
Swimmable across a wide range; deepest and cleanest at 20–60 cfs.
Lower Greenbelt, approaching Barton Springs
A long, broad pool that’s a local favorite for dogs and families, just upstream of the Spillway. Sits between the MoPac and Above Barton Springs gauges, so conditions here are interpolated from both.
Reliable swimming at 15–50 cfs.
The USGS measures two things at each station: discharge (how much water is moving, in cfs) and gage height (the water-surface elevation above that gauge’s own reference point). Discharge is the meaningful, comparable signal — it grows downstream as the watershed drains — so we lead with it. Gage height is not swimming depth and isn’t comparable between stations, so we don’t present it as “depth.”
The four named swimming holes sit between gauges and aren’t measured directly. We estimate their discharge by interpolating along the channel between the bracketing upstream and downstream stations. From that discharge we model an estimated mean current velocity using Manning’s equation for open-channel flow, with channel width, slope, and roughness typical of the rocky Greenbelt reaches. Velocity — not raw flow — is what actually governs whether a current is safe to swim in, which is why we surface it on every spot. These are transparent model estimates, not direct measurements, and gauge readings always take precedence at the stations themselves.
Barton Creek floods fast. Discharge can jump from single digits to several hundred cfs within hours of heavy rain upstream, and the National Weather Service flash-flood warnings for the watershed should always override anything on this page. Fast, turbid water also carries bacteria and debris — wait for levels to fall back into the 15–50 cfs range and for the water to clear. Never dive into unknown depths, and check the official City of Austin Watershed Protection advisories.
For most Greenbelt swimming holes, 15–50 cfs is the sweet spot — enough water to swim and for the falls to run, without a dangerous current. From 50–120 cfs the current is strong; above ~120 cfs Barton Creek can be swift and dangerous.
Readings come directly from the USGS National Water Information System at three Barton Creek stations: Lost Creek (08155240), MoPac Bridge (08155300), and Above Barton Springs (08155400), refreshed about every five minutes.
Sculpture Falls, Twin Falls, Gus Fruh, and Campbell’s Hole are between gauges and not measured directly. Their discharge is interpolated from the bracketing gauges, and their current speed is modeled with Manning’s equation.
Be cautious. The watershed is flash-flood-prone and discharge can spike within hours of upstream rain. Wait for levels to drop into the 15–50 cfs range and for the water to clear, and heed any flash-flood warnings.
