girl sitting on rock at bull creek district park creek

Tips for Visiting Bull Creek District Park With Kids in Austin Texas

Austin’s plethora of watering holes is no doubt one of the best aspects of living here. One of our favorites is Bull Creek District Park.

How to get to Bull Creek District Park

Bull Creek District Park Address: 6701 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78731

This park has a few different entrances you can use to access the water, but I find it easiest to park at the public parking spot.

Sometimes that little parking lot can get full during busy days or seasons and you may have to search for additional parking.

Is Bull Creek Kid Friendly? What Parents Should Know

What ages enjoy Bull Creek?

It’s great for toddlers and kids of all ages because there are many areas where it’s relatively shallow and great for splashing around. This particular location has some large rocks that were fun for the kids to climb on as well and they give mermaid vibes. There are also some smaller waterfalls that are

Safety Considerations Around the Water

The water is moving and in some spots faster than other so it may be destabilizing. It might not be related, but this was our first time swimming since my son was born and he developed a fever that evening. I am not sure if he got water in his ear or what, but there was no other reason since he wasn’t around anyone with different germs that evening.

Are Dogs Allowed at Bull Creek?

Yes, dogs are allowed so plan appropriately if you’re bringing your pup. If you have small children it’s always best to be aware of nearby dogs because well you just never know how an animal may act in a certain situation.

What to Bring for a Fun and Easy Day at Bull Creek

Water Shoes or Not?

You definitely want water shoes. It’s a rock bed creek which can be slippery on it’s own, but then if the water is moving it can make it difficult to keep your shoes on if you wear things like crocs or flip flops. It’s also very uneven as you can see in the photo above.

Is Bull Creek Stroller Friendly?

It’s definitely not stroller friendly past the parking lot area. You could maybe bring a wagon, but it really depends on how full the creek is because some parts are hard to walk through without getting in the water so pulling a wagon could definitely make it harder. The trails don’t really help you navigate easily once you’re down there in my opinion, but we will be going back and I’ll be checking this out with fresh eyes.

Other Stuff to Bring

  • A change of clothes and towels. You can just leave this stuff in the car to have less to carry though.
  • Easy to carry or pack snacks
  • Bug Spray and Sunscreen (We went closer to sunset so it was shady)
  • There is a bathroom, but I didn’t have the need to use it. I always suggest having a roll of toilet paper in your car if you have kids with you in case there isn’t any stocked in the bathroom.

Tips for Visiting Bull Creek During Summer

Best Times of Day to Go

Of course this is a personal opinion, but I think it’s better to go early or later in the day to avoid the possibility of sunburns. A kid with a sunburn is not a happy child and just trust me, you don’t want that experience. If there’s no way around it then pack and use the sunscreen!

When to Avoid Crowds

Weekends are always busier so if you’re wanting to avoid crowds I would not go on a Saturday. Sunday night can sometimes be pretty calm and of course weekdays aren’t going to be as busy.

Is Bull Creek Worth Visiting with Kids? My Honest Review

Absolutely worth checking out! I would say it’s easier with older kids, but just about everything feels easier when you don’t have to carry a baby on your hip lol.

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