There are many beautiful places to cool off and enjoy a great day in the water with family and friends in the Austin area. Spring fed swimming holes can be found from right in the city of Austin to the outlying rural areas. This part of Texas Hill Country offers majestic scenery, plenty of shade and a variety of cool and natural swimming holes.
Barton Springs Pool is located in Zilker Park at 2201 Barton Springs Road in Austin. from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily during the months from May to September. It is closed on Thursdays for maintenance. Admission cost varies depending on age and residency visitors.
Often referred to as the soul of Austin, Barton Springs was believed to have spiritual healing powers by the Native Americans. This 3-acre pool was formed by underground springs and stays about 70 degrees. In the surrounding park, there are exhibits about the history and biology of Barton Springs and it also features bathhouses. For more information visit the Barton Springs Pool webpage.
Krause Springs was established in 1955 and is approximately 30 miles west of Austin in Spicewood Texas. It is listed on the National Registry of historical sites and has been privately owned by the Krause Family for over 50 years. There are 32 springs on the property and several of these feed the man-made pool and the natural pool that flow into Lake Travis. Not only is it a wonderful place to go swimming, people often come to relax and take a beautiful walk through the butterfly gardens listening to the background music of fountains and wind chimes. Krause Springs also offers tent sites and RV sites with water and electricity. This location can also hold weddings and other events for more information about this beautiful Texas swimming hole and surrounding Park area contact them at their website.
Hamilton Pool is a natural pool created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to erosion. This swimming hole is located 23 miles west of Austin off of Highway 71. It has been popular since the 1960s as a summer swimming spot in the Austin area because of its stunning beauty and cool refreshing water. Hamilton Pool Preserve is a 232 acre protected natural habitat that has a 50 foot waterfall that flow into a pool surrounded by large slabs of limestone. The preserve is home to the endangered bird the golden-cheeked warbler. In its early days the ecology of Hamilton Pool fell victim to overuse and lack of restriction. Too many people and too much grazing nearly destroyed the area. In 1985 Travis County purchased Hamilton Pool and implemented aggressive management to restore this natural gem. this preserve has a visitor capacity limit and requires a reservation for entrance between May 30th and September 30th. Reservations can be made online and are not refundable. Go to the Hamilton Pool Website to make reservations and get more information.
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The Austin area is surrounded why wonderful places to enjoy swimming and other recreational water activities. These are just a few of the natural parks in the area that have dedicated swimming holes. Be sure to check the websites for these parks for current pricing and hours and also park conditions. Sometimes a natural habitat has to be closed to the public due to natural occurrences that create safety issues. Be prepared to swim responsibly and keep an eye on children and those who are not strong swimmers as there are no lifeguards available for these natural swimming holes. There is no end to the fun ways visitors and residents to the Austin area can enjoy a hot summer afternoon! Be Safe and have a great summer!
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