Barton Creek,

3) Loop 360 to Zilker Park (Austin) (4 miles)

Campbell's Hole

Campbell's Hole
Photo by Earl The Squirrel taken fall 04 @ 700-1000cfs

Gauge Information

River Description

There are two places to put-in for this section of the run. The preferred spot is just before the Mopac Bridge; where Mopac and 360 meet. Vehicles can drive under the bridge where there is typically plenty of parking. This will add about ¼ mile to the run through some small rapids and a boulder garden.

* Lately there is a lot of broken glass (car windows) under the Mopac bridge so use caution when parking in this area. It may be advisable to park at the 360 put-in instead.

There is ample parking if you select to park at the Greenbelt trail-head just after the 360 bridge. There are always mountain bikers and runners on the trails in the area so the office building is very accommodating to people using their parking lot. Just follow the trail down to the water about .2 miles.

Triple Falls is the first rapid on the section of the run after the 360 Bridge; Triple Falls is composed of three drops spaced about 20 yards apart. The first drop is typically run center-left but at high flows (above 3000 CFS) it turns into a very retentive hole which many choose to portage. A great play wave emerges at the bottom second drop. Kayakers tend to stop and surf here for long periods of time, eddy service is best on river left but can be a bit tricky due to low hanging branches. At higher levels the 3rd drop completely washes out.

The next set of rapids are Swirl which is typically run river left and pinball which as its name implies can bounce boaters around due to rocks just below the surface. Next up is Campbell's Hole which is often run river left, large rocks just below the surface often flip kayakers and send them river right into a large hole, which at flows around 1250 CFS can be easily boofed by an experienced boater. After Campbells the creek tightens and many entanglements and potential strainers challenge boaters.

A couple more wave trains and boulder gardens finish out the run. Be cautious at the takeout, after a heavy rain it is likely the fence erected around Barton Springs Pool has been taken out by water and debris, most avoid paddling into the pool and prefer taking out just before the drop because of the unknown hazards and the nasty hydraulic created at higher water.

The take-out for this run is at Zilker Park which during some months of the year requires a nominal per vehicle parking fee.

Here is a video of kayakers surfing Triple Falls: