Swimming in Barton Springs Pool

Being new to Austin, I didn't know what to expect.  I needed a place to swim near downtown in the morning so I tried Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs is a spring fed "pool" located in Zilker Park.  Its not really a pool though, its more of blocked off section of Barton Creek.

Here's a map with it location.

-Yes, the water is cold.  But in the summer once you swim about a lap, it feels great.  Just jump in and get going.  You are warm in about 5 minutes

-The water is very clean, you can see to the bottom of the "pool" pretty much the whole way

-Opens at 5 am, its free in the morning until 9 am

-The limestone bottom is slippery

-There is every range of swimming ability there. From very fast to people in swim trunks and no googles cruising around.  How fast or slow you are won't be noticed.

-Many people wear wetsuits, you don't need it in the summer but its great practice if you want to wear one.  I do so half the time.

-Between 5:30 and 7:00 am when I swim, there are about 30 - 40 people there.  Plenty of room.

-Most people start on the south (right) side by the steps and swim to the other end.  There's a marker near the steps that shows one length being 1/8th of a mile.