6 Must See Swimming Holes in Texas
I love spending the Summers near the water, whether it’s hanging out on a beach, floating a river, or exploring a spring, there’s no where I’d rather be. So as the weather starts to warm up finally, I thought I’d put together a few of the best natural watering holes in Texas.
Hamilton Pool Preserve. Hamilton Pool is probably one of the more famous swimming holes in Texas. I visited twice during my three years in San Antonio, and it was definitely cool to check out, however, both times there was no swimming allowed due to high bacteria levels in the water.
Another thing worth noting, they’ve continued to increase entrance fees in recent years. So a visit to the pool will now require an online reservation for $12 (for 3.5 hours) AND $8 per person upon arrival (in cash).
Krause Springs. Another breathtaking spring located near Austin, this one empties into Lake Travis and has a steady flow year round, so you don’t need to worry about them closing due to bacteria. Admission is $9 per person, and they also allow overnight camping.
*Photo is from @atasteofkoko on Instagram
Pedernales Falls State Park. A short but scenic hike leads you to a beautiful waterfall area and a swimming hole. The water is usually very calm, however, if the weather gets bad you’ll need to leave as this area is prone to flash floods.
*Photo is from @miriamlopez_s on Instagram
Jacob’s Well. Another famous swimming hole located near Austin in Wimberley is Jacob’s Well. Jacob’s Well is a small deep swimming hole (140 feet) that leads down into an intricate cave system. There’s an area for people to take turns diving off a small cliff into the well, and some more shallow ledges around it to relax in the water while others dive in. The cave system is only available for researchers, as several scuba divers have drowned in the past.
*Photo is from @pingzer on Instagram
Twin Falls. One of the coolest spots we found near the Austin greenbelt, it’s an easy short hike through the woods, and it opens up to several areas to swim. For the best spots, you’ll keep hiking upstream until you come to an area with a giant rock ledge, creating a few small waterfalls. You can hangout around the wooded side, jump off the ledge on the opposite side, or even soak in the different levels of the waterfalls. This is the only location on this list that is currently free to visit.
*Photo is from @tamaraso on Instagram
The Narrows. One of the coolest spots that I unfortunately never got to see in Texas. It’s pretty difficult to get to, as it’s surrounded by private property. You can park at the Blanco River State Park and then hike to it (the river and riverbed are public land). You can find directions on All Trails, but be warned this is an all day hike, that also includes hiking 2 miles through water as well to get to it.
*Photo is from @brittanyjayx on Instagram
*Bonus:
Hippie Hollow. I personally haven’t gone, but thought I’d share; if you’ve ever been interested in going to a nude beach, this beach located in Austin is the only clothing optional beach in Texas.
xoxo
