Campbell's Hole is one of Austin's best-loved swimming holes, a deep, cold, spring-fed pool on Barton Creek in the heart of the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Sitting about half a mile up the creek from the famous Barton Springs, it offers much of the same clear, cool water and green canyon scenery with a fraction of the crowds, which is exactly why locals treasure it. Rock formations, sandbars and a little pebble beach frame the pool, making it a genuine urban oasis just minutes from downtown.

The appeal is the water and the quiet. Fed by cold springs, Campbell's Hole holds a deep swimmable pool when the creek is flowing, and because it sits on the lowest stretch of the Greenbelt, where runoff from the whole watershed collects, it tends to hold swimmable water a little longer than the upper Greenbelt spots after the rains taper off. The result is a shaded, spring-cooled pool that feels like a secret even though it's inside the city.

Access is easy and free. Two entry points reach this section of the Greenbelt in South Austin: the Spyglass entrance at 1500 Spyglass Drive from the west, and 2010 Homedale Drive from the east. From the Spyglass trailhead, head down to the creek and turn left to reach Campbell's Hole. The Greenbelt's main trail runs alongside, so a swim pairs naturally with a hike or trail run, and dogs are welcome at Campbell's Hole, which adds to its easygoing, local feel.

The one thing to understand before you go is that this is a rain-dependent creek. Barton Creek's flow rises and falls with recent rainfall, and in a dry spell the pool can shrink or the creek can nearly stop, so it's worth checking current water levels before making the trip; conversely, the creek can run high and fast right after heavy storms. The rocks are slick, and there are no lifeguards on this natural creek.

Late spring through early fall is prime swimming season, best after a wet stretch has topped up the creek; summer draws the most swimmers, though Campbell's Hole stays calmer than Barton Springs even then. Weekends are busier, so a weekday or an early start buys the quietest water.

Come with water shoes for the rocky creek bed, sun protection for the open sandbars, and a trash bag, since keeping the Greenbelt clean is what keeps it open and beautiful. For a cold, clear, spring-fed swimming hole with a pebble beach, tucked into a green canyon inside Austin and blessedly less crowded than its famous neighbor, Campbell's Hole is hard to beat.