Barton Springs Pool is a recreational outdoor swimming pool that is filled with water from nearby natural springs. It is located on the grounds of Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The pool exists within the channel of Barton Creek and utilizes water from Main Barton Spring, the fourth largest spring in Texas.
Within Zilker Park’s 358 acres lies one of the crown jewels of Austin – Barton Springs Pool. The pool itself measures three acres in size and is fed from underground springs with an average temperature of 68-70 degrees, ideal for year-round swimming. Over the years, Barton Springs Pool has drawn people from all walks of life, from legislators who have concocted state laws there to free-spirited, topless sunbathers who turned heads in the 1970s. Robert Redford learned to swim at the pool when he was five years old while visiting family in Austin. Today, Barton Springs still attracts a diverse crowd of people and has seen record-setting numbers of visitors nearing 800,000 in recent years.
The Springs serves as home to the endangered Barton Springs Salamander and is listed as a federally protected habitat. Depths of the pool range from 0’ to 18′ with surrounding grassy areas for patrons to lounge upon. Adjacent to the pool bathhouse is Splash!, an educational exhibit where patrons can learn about the history and biology of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer which feeds it. Bed Bug Exterminator Austin
Prohibited Items and Activities
- Coolers, ice chests, and thermal bags
- Food
- Pets
- Smoking
- Glass
- Alcohol
- Frisbees, footballs, soccer balls, or other hard balls
- Drinks are permitted but must be in a plastic re-sealable container with a twist-top lid
Pool Hours
The pool is usually open to the public from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday through Wednesday. During this time, the floodgates on the pool’s dam are closed, and Main Barton Spring fills the pool to a maximum depth of more than 18 feet. At the upper end of the pool, another dam prevents surface water from Barton Creek from entering the pool by diverting it through a tunnel under the sidewalks.
Lifeguards are usually present except before 8:00 am when swimmers are cautioned to “swim at your own risk”. The pool is surrounded by grassy slopes and beautiful trees with plenty of shade.
On Thursdays, the pool is closed for cleaning from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm. The floodgates are sometimes partially opened, lowering the water level in the pool by several feet. Employees then buff or blast pressured water against the limestone bottom of the pool’s shallow end.
Address: 2201 William Barton Dr, Austin, TX
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