A hike along the first quarter mile of the Barton Creek Greenbelt with City of Austin Park Ranger Ellyssa Saldivar.

How you can help

• Stay on established, durable trails made of rock, gravel, or cement.
• Take trash & leftover food with you.
• Use poop bags and dispose of in trash bins, do not leave on the trail
• Leave rocks, plants, flowers, and other natural objects as you find them.
• Preserve the past. Examine, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
• Observe wildlife from a distance.
• Keep your dog on a leash.
• Let nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.
• More principles of Leave No Trace can be found here.

The Barton Creek Greenbelt Trailhead is also the starting point for the Violet Crown Trail.

“In 2006, planning of the Violet Crown Trail began. Its purpose is to create the first regional trail system in Central Texas. After years of strategic land acquisition and planning, the trail is now 13 miles long running from Zilker Park to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. With continued construction, the VCT is on its way to becoming the longest trail of its kind in Central Texas. Once complete, the 30-mile trail will provide a unique recreational experience as it passes through the urban wildlands of the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, the City of Sunset Valley, City of Austin Water Quality Protection Lands, and eventually into Hays County."