Lower Greenbelt, approaching Barton Springs
Right now · Jul 14, 1:53 AM CT
🟡 Campbell's Hole is rated Low for swimming — an estimated 0.3 cfs is flowing through this reach, with a modeled mean depth of about 0.0 ft and a current of 0.2 ft/s. Reliable swimming at 15–50 cfs.
Estimated from live USGS readings at Barton Creek at MoPac Bridge (0.0 cfs) and Barton Creek Above Barton Springs (0.4 cfs), the two gauges bracketing this spot. Refreshes every few minutes — see the full Greenbelt dashboard.
A long, broad pool that’s a local favorite for dogs and families, just upstream of the Barton Springs spillway. It trades the drama of the upstream falls for easy entry, room to spread out, and shallow edges that suit kids and swimming dogs.
Campbell's Hole sits on the lowest stretch of the creek, where flow accumulates from the whole watershed, so it usually holds swimmable water a little longer than the upper Greenbelt. When the creek drops under about 5 cfs it becomes a calm wading pool rather than a swim.
Reached from the lower Greenbelt trailheads on the Barton Hills side — the Spyglass access near Barton Hills Drive is the classic entry — with a gentle walk along the creek. It’s one of the least strenuous swims to reach on the Greenbelt.
| Condition | Discharge (cfs) | What it means here |
|---|---|---|
| 🟤 Dry | 0 | No measurable flow — expect stagnant pools at best. |
| 🟡 Low | 0–5 | Only the deeper pools hold water; falls are quiet. |
| 🟢 Fair | 5–15 | Swimmable pools, gentle current; falls just starting to run. |
| 🟢 Good | 15–50 | The sweet spot — fresh, flowing water at the swimming holes. |
| 🟠 Strong | 50–120 | Strong current; confident swimmers only, watch children closely. |
| 🔴 Dangerous | 120+ | Swift-water conditions — stay out of the creek. |
This page shows a live estimate for Campbell's Hole, interpolated from the two USGS Barton Creek gauges that bracket it (Barton Creek at MoPac Bridge and Barton Creek Above Barton Springs) and refreshed every few minutes. As a rule of thumb: below about 5 cfs only the deeper pools hold water, 15–50 cfs is ideal flowing water, and above roughly 120 cfs the creek is dangerous.
Reliable swimming at 15–50 cfs. Campbell's Hole sits on the lowest stretch of the creek, where flow accumulates from the whole watershed, so it usually holds swimmable water a little longer than the upper Greenbelt. When the creek drops under about 5 cfs it becomes a calm wading pool rather than a swim.
Reached from the lower Greenbelt trailheads on the Barton Hills side — the Spyglass access near Barton Hills Drive is the classic entry — with a gentle walk along the creek. It’s one of the least strenuous swims to reach on the Greenbelt.
Be careful. Barton Creek is a flash-flood-prone watershed and discharge can spike from a few cfs to several hundred within hours of heavy rain upstream. Fast, turbid water also carries bacteria and debris. Wait for levels to drop back into the 15–50 cfs range and for the water to clear, and heed National Weather Service flash-flood warnings and City of Austin Watershed Protection advisories.
Planning a Greenbelt day? Check the live Barton Creek dashboard for every gauge and swimming hole at once, read our local playbook for Twin and Sculpture Falls, or see what changed with Barton Springs Pool's 2026 reopening.
