{"id":909603,"date":"2026-07-03T10:29:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T10:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/909603\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:29:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T10:29:18","slug":"rivers-lakes-and-swimming-holes-where-texans-can-cool-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/909603\/","title":{"rendered":"Rivers, lakes and swimming holes where Texans can cool off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Uncover hidden gems for swimming in Texas<\/p>\n<p>Tubing in the San Marcos River. (Courtesy, City of San Marcos)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\"><strong>SAN ANTONIO<\/strong> \u2013 People who need to take a chill pill in this Texas heat have plenty of rivers, lakes and other swimming holes to choose from.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Luckily, San Antonio is surrounded by places to take a dip when the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/weather\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">weather<\/a> is hot. Below, we\u2019ve listed some well-known and under-the-radar spots for swimming in this area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\"><b>&gt;&gt; <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2026\/07\/02\/with-3-boat-ramps-and-a-mid-lake-fireworks-show-canyon-lake-prepares-for-busy-july-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2026\/07\/02\/with-3-boat-ramps-and-a-mid-lake-fireworks-show-canyon-lake-prepares-for-busy-july-4\/\"><b>With 3 boat ramps, mid-lake fireworks show, Canyon Lake prepares for busy Fourth of July<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">The places on this list are definitely not all-encompassing for the state of Texas, but they\u2019re worth checking out for tubing, paddling and chilling.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 etvbxt font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/austintexas.gov\/department\/barton-springs-pool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Barton Springs <\/b><\/a>&#8211; One of Austin\u2019s most popular destinations, Barton Springs, is located within Zilker Park\u2019s 358 acres. The three-acre pool is fed from underground springs and water temperature typically ranges between 68-70 degrees. The pool is open year-round, and entry fees only apply between spring break and Halloween. Note that guests cannot take their coolers, food or pets. Tickets can be purchased online, and prices range between $4 and $9 each for non-Austin residents. Barton Springs is located at 2131 William Barton Drive.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/state-parks\/blanco\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Blanco State Park<\/b> <\/a>&#8211; Located about 50 miles north of downtown San Antonio, this state park is located just off Highway 281. People can swim anywhere along the river, and children can use the wading pool near the Blanco River dam. The park is open daily. Kids 12 and younger can get in for free, and adults are $5 each.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityofwimberley.com\/202\/Blue-Hole-Regional-Park\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Blue Hole in Wimberley<\/b><\/a> &#8211; The popular Hill Country spot is open for the 2026 season. Daily passes range between $10-$15 per person for non-Wimberley residents. Reservations can be made <a href=\"https:\/\/wimberleyparksandrec.com\/blue-hole-swimming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">online<\/a>. The swimming spot is located at 333 Blue Hole Lane.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Blue Hole Regional Park in Wimberley. Photo taken in the spring of 2024. (City of Wimberley)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 etvbxt font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canyonlakeguide.com\/helpful_info\/parks.htm\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Canyon Lake<\/b><\/a> &#8211; There are three designated swim beaches at Canyon Lake. Comal and Canyon Parks have beaches for the general public and Potters Creek Park has a beach that only allows access to registered camping guests. Canyon Lake is located about an hour north of downtown San Antonio. Last year, the lake was only slightly above the historic low it had hit in April, about 32 feet below the full level. As of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/waterdatafortexas.org\/reservoirs\/individual\/canyon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/waterdatafortexas.org\/reservoirs\/individual\/canyon\">Thursday<\/a>, July 2, it was down nearly 21 feet.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbtexas.org\/2579\/Comal-River-Info\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Comal River <\/b><\/a>&#8211; This spring-fed river in New Braunfels is a tubing hotspot. Starting in Landa Park, the river travels through the city, past Prince Solms Park, Schlitterbahn and into the Guadalupe River. One destination is the popular tube chute. There are several tube outfitters to choose from, and you can see a list of them <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playinnewbraunfels.com\/splash\/comal-river\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here<\/a>. Keep in mind that only reusable cups, food containers and water jugs are allowed in the Comal River.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Inks Lake State Park (Yelp)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 etvbxt font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/state-parks\/inks-lake\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Devil\u2019s Waterhole<\/b><\/a> &#8211; This swimming hole is located in Inks Lake State Park, where Inks Lake and Spring Creek meet. Devil\u2019s Waterhole is a short hike away from a tent area, or it can be reached by kayak or canoe. It consists of boulders and cliffs to jump off \u2014 but be careful, there is no lifeguard in the area. The state park is located at 3630 Park Road 4 West in Burnet. Daily fees are $7 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/state-parks\/garner\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Garner State Park<\/b><\/a> &#8211; This state park, way out west from San Antonio, is one of the most popular in the Texas State Parks system. Guests can paddle, swim or float in the Frio River \u2014 yes, it\u2019s cold all year round \u2014 making it a destination for many people in South and Central Texas. Its busy season is from May 1 through Labor Day, and it often reaches capacity. The state park is located at 234 RR 1050 in Concan. Daily fees are $8 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Frio River in Garner State Park. Photo taken in June 2022. (Susan Carouthers Sneed)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 etvbxt font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/state-parks\/guadalupe-river\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Guadalupe River State Park<\/b> <\/a>&#8211; Located just 30 miles north of San Antonio in Spring Branch, the state park is a quick trip for swimming and hiking. As of May 6, the Guadalupe River is flowing at 10-40 cubic feet per second, which is a slow flow rate. If you plan on visiting the park, note that styrofoam is prohibited in the river. The park\u2019s busy season is March through November, and it often reaches capacity. It is located at 3350 Park Road 31 in Spring Branch. Daily fees are $7 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/parks.traviscountytx.gov\/parks\/hamilton-pool-preserve\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Hamilton Pool<\/b><\/a><b> <\/b>&#8211; Visitors to Hamilton Pool Preserve may currently enter the water from the beach, though the water is listed as \u201cvery cold\u201d on the website. Due to the risk of falling rocks, only a small section of the pool is open for access. Swimming availability depends on conditions such as bacteria levels and recent rainfall, and water access is never guaranteed with a reservation. When swimming is not permitted, the preserve remains open for hiking, and reservations are still required. It is located at 24300 Hamilton Pool Road in Dripping Springs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Hamilton Pool Preserve. (Jaco Botha via Travis County Parks.)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 etvbxt font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/krausesprings.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Krause Springs<\/b><\/a> &#8211; Located in Spicewood, Krause Springs is a popular family-owned swimming and camping site with 32 springs, a manmade pool, and a natural pool. People can book their reservations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KrauseSprings\/?ref=br_rs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">online<\/a>. Daily fees are $11 for adults, $6 for kids ages 4-11, and free for children under 4. Overnight camping is available. Krause Springs is located at 424 Country Road 404.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newbraunfels.gov\/3376\/Landa-Park-Aquatic-Complex\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/newbraunfels.gov\/3376\/Landa-Park-Aquatic-Complex\"><b>Landa Park Aquatic Complex<\/b><\/a><b> <\/b>&#8211; The park in New Braunfels has the Coach E.E. \u201cBud\u201d Dallmann Olympic Pool that varies between 4 and 7 feet deep. There\u2019s also a spring-fed pool that stays 72 degrees year-round and a zero-depth pool that\u2019s perfect for young kids, as it ranges in depth from zero to 2.5 feet. From Memorial Day to August, the complex will be open from noon to 7 p.m. Sundays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays. Daily admission ranges between $6 and $8, depending day of the week. The park is located at 350 Aquatic Circle in New Braunfels.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tpwd.texas.gov\/state-parks\/mckinney-falls\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>McKinney Falls State Park<\/b> <\/a>&#8211; Located just south of Austin, people can take a dip in Onion and Williamson creeks. The Upper and Lower Falls are perfect for swimming \u2014 that\u2019s where Onion Creek flows over limestone and into pools below. The park\u2019s busy season is March through November, and it often reaches capacity. It is located at 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway in Austin. Daily fees are $6 for adults and free for children 12 and younger.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ParadiseCanyonTexas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ParadiseCanyonTexas\/\"><b>Paradise Canyon<\/b><\/a> &#8211; Located in Rio Medina, Paradise Canyon offers opportunities for swimming, fishing, camping, cabin stays, vintage trailer rentals, and RV sites. Daily admission is $35 per carload (limit five people).<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsanmarcos.com\/listing\/rio-vista-park\/19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Rio Vista Park<\/b><\/a> &#8211; The park provides access to the San Marcos River, where people can swim, tube, kayak, canoe and paddle. No reservations are needed, and access and parking are free. Visitors may bring their own tubes or rent from a vendor. The <a href=\"https:\/\/sanmarcostx.gov\/Facilities\/Facility\/Details\/-56\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Rio Vista Pool <\/a>is also available for swimming at an additional price. Rio Vista Park is located at 555 Cheatham St. in San Marcos.<\/li>\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsanmarcos.com\/things-to-do\/san-marcos-river\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>San Marcos River<\/b><\/a> -Outside Rio Vista Park, there are several other places to swim and tube in San Marcos on the river. San Marcos riverfront parks are open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily unless posted otherwise. Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitsanmarcos.com\/things-to-do\/san-marcos-river\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">here<\/a> for a list of tubing outfitters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A dog swimming in the San Marcos River. (Courtesy, City of San Marcos)<\/p>\n<ul class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 etvbxt font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Stack-vJ7SwH7U__StackBase-sc-1m5bkhd-0 evEXvX dsnUCb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.co.kerr.tx.us\/historical\/pdf\/Schumacher%20Crossing%20-%20marker%20fact%20sheet.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Schumacher Crossing<\/b> <\/a>&#8211; People can get access to the Guadalupe River at Schumacher Crossing, located one mile east of Hunt on Texas 39.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 jJNfBD fSvavs article-text\">Popular swimming hole <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/news\/local\/2024\/05\/02\/swimming-at-jacobs-well-suspended-for-the-summer-due-to-low-water-levels\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>Jacob\u2019s Well<\/b><\/a><b> <\/b>is not on the list due to low water levels.<\/p>\n<p>Outdoors with KSAT<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 bTVksG\">Get Outdoors content straight to your inbox with our free newsletter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 kfUEDb copyright\">Copyright 2024 by KSAT &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n<p>About the AuthorRebecca Salinas headshot<a class=\"Link-PukYsz7Y__LinkBase-sc-scvrjz-0 gQZqgJ\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ksat.com\/team\/RebeccaSalinas\/\" title=\"View Rebecca Salinas&#039;s full profile\" itemprop=\"url\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rebecca Salinas<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Box-_wrDxHtU__Box-sc-10sa3ie-0 Text-nO2aZ44r__TextBase-sc-s2hv5x-0 duhyRF bxSMlJ\">Rebecca Salinas is an Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News. A San Antonio native, Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Uncover hidden gems for swimming in Texas Tubing in the San Marcos River. (Courtesy, City of San Marcos)&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":909604,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5133],"tags":[5229,367923,23773,2824,7202,7203,164225,358,1072,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-909603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-america","tag-canyon-lake","tag-ksatkids","tag-outdoors","tag-san-antonio","tag-sanantonio","tag-spring-branch","tag-texas","tag-things-to-do","tag-tx","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116855581163341410","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=909603"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/909603\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/909604"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=909603"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=909603"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=909603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}