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. The pool is closed to the public from 9a-7p every Thursday to allow for the vigorous and methodical cleaning methods required to help maintain the pool area for wildlife and guests alike. 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.
For information and recent news check out the Barton Springs Master Plan.
Phone: (512) 974-6300
Effective Tuesday, June 30, Austin Public Health has recommended the closure of Barton Springs Pool and Deep Eddy Pool until further notice. Existing pool reservations will be cancelled. Austin Public Health will evaluate both facilities. Chlorinated pool facilities will continue to operate according to their posted schedules.
Beginning on June 30, PARD ceased operations at Deep Eddy and Barton Springs Pools pending an evaluation by Austin Public Health. Additionally, all PARD parks and recreational facilities are closed from Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5.
Due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and the projected trajectory of COVID related hospitalizations, beginning on Monday, July 6, all facilities and park amenities will remain closed. This includes facilities previously reopened such as cultural facilities, pools, golf courses, tennis facilities, park concessions, and other amenities.
All in-person programming for the month of July will be suspended including sports and fitness programming, summer camps, and cultural programming. In addition, the Barton Creek and Bull Creek greenbelts will remain closed. Parks will remain open; however, all amenities (e.g. volleyball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, disc golf courses, etc) will be closed except for restrooms and water fountains. A full listing of closed facilities will be available at austintexas.gov/parkclosures.
City of Austin parks and trails (except for those listed above) will remain open; however, rules regarding mask use and social distancing continue to apply. PARD Rangers will continue to patrol parks and help educate park uses for voluntary compliance. The Parks and Recreation Department will continue to provide park access for COVID-19 related City of Austin initiatives such as drive through testing and meal distribution. Additionally, any PARD sites identified as polling locations will open as scheduled for voting.
Season Swim Passes
If you purchased a season swim pass for Summer 2020 and would like a refund, please send an email with your current address and where and how you paid for your pass to aquaticsoffice@austintexas.gov.
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
Group Visits: Unfortunately, group visits cannot be accommodated at this time.
