Many now need reservations
Hamilton Pool and Blue Hole require advance reservations and book up in summer. Municipal pools like Barton Springs and Deep Eddy don't take reservations - you buy a ticket onsite or in an app - but arrive early.
Rivers / Swimming holes
Swimming holes & springs.
Texas swimming holes range from huge spring-fed pools to hidden Hill Country grottos. A few things are true of almost all of them - then a sampling. Details change constantly, so always confirm on each spot's own page before you go.
Before you go, know this
Spring-fed means cold
Many sit around 68-76 degrees year-round. Refreshing in August; bracing in May. Ease in.
Access can close
Spots close for water quality (after heavy rain) or drought (low spring flow). Jacob's Well has suspended swimming since 2022, and Balmorhea closed in 2026 for repairs. Always check the spot's website the day you go.
A sampling
Confirm details on each one's official page - reservations, fees, and conditions change.
Austin
Barton Springs Pool
Water temperature: 68-70 F Reservations: No reservations - ticket onsite
A 3-acre spring-fed municipal pool in Zilker Park, open year-round; home to the endangered Barton Springs salamander.
Official page ->Travis County
Hamilton Pool Preserve
Water temperature: Cool, spring-fed Reservations: Reservations required
A collapsed grotto with a 50-foot waterfall. Swimming is only allowed when bacteria levels are safe, so it's never guaranteed.
Official page ->Wimberley (Hays Co.)
Jacob's Well
Water temperature: 68 F Reservations: Swimming suspended
A deep artesian spring and submerged cave. Swimming has been canceled since 2022 due to low water - hiking and viewing may still be open. Check first.
Official page ->Wimberley
Blue Hole Regional Park
Water temperature: Cool, cypress-shaded Reservations: Reservations required
Clear, cypress-lined swimming on Cypress Creek; reserve a swim spot in season (it books far ahead).
Official page ->West Texas
Balmorhea State Park
Water temperature: 72-76 F Reservations: Day pass - check status
The world's largest spring-fed swimming pool, fed by San Solomon Springs - a desert oasis. (It closed in 2026 for water-system repairs, so check TPWD before you drive out.)
Official page ->Frio River
Garner State Park
Water temperature: Cool, river-fed Reservations: Day pass / reserve to camp
A beloved family spot to swim and tube the Frio, with a famous summer jukebox dance going since the 1940s.
Official page ->Spicewood
Krause Springs
Water temperature: Cool, spring-fed Reservations: Private - fee at the gate
A private spot with 32 springs, a spring-fed pool, and camping.
Official page ->Keep going
Official sources
Each swimming hole sets its own reservations, fees, and conditions - city, county, or TPWD. The cards above link to each one. Details change constantly, so confirm before you go.
- Data vintage:
- Swimming-hole details as reviewed June 2026
- Last reviewed:
- June 15, 2026
- TPWD State Parks - For park-run swimming spots
- Hamilton Pool Preserve (Travis County)
- Barton Springs Pool (City of Austin)
Caution: Reservations, fees, water temperature, and closures change with drought and water quality. The official page for the specific spot is the final word.
Spot something that needs a Texas check?
This first pass is built to be polished over time. Send the page name, county, parcel context if relevant, and the official source you are looking at.
Email Texas Porch.