Best Swimming Holes

The 12 best swimming holes in and around Austin

Summer is in full swing, which means it's time to plan a trip and take a dip in one of Austin's best swimming holes. We've created a guide to 12 of the best swimming holes in Austin and Central Texas.

Barton Springs
No list of swimming holes would be complete without Barton Springs, the refreshing sanctuary in the middle of the city. Whether you're looking to get in a few laps or lay out in the sun, this gem is a convenient getaway. Tip: Come at night between 9-10 pm, when admission is free and the pool is less crowded. That means more opportunities to jump off the diving board.
2201 Barton Springs Rd. Open year-round; summer hours are 5 am-10 pm, with limited hours on Thursdays. Cash only; $3 for adults, $2 for ages 12-17, $1 for ages 11 and under, $1 for seniors. No food or drink allowed. Lifeguard.More info here.

Deep Eddy
Just around the corner from Barton Springs is Deep Eddy, another spring-fed escape. This popular pool is our No. 1 pick for kids, and there's plenty of space on the hill for a picnic lunch.
401 Deep Eddy Dr. Open year-round; summer hours are 10 am-8 pm, closed Tuesdays. Cash only; $3 for adults, $2 for ages 12-17, $1 for ages 11 and under, $1 for seniors. No food or drink allowed in pool area. Lifeguard. More info here.

The Greenbelt
More than 800 acres between Zilker Park and the "Hill of Life" is yours for the taking. Hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing are fun activities, but when it gets too hot, take a stroll along Barton Creek and find a nice little spot to go for a swim. Best picks for swimming are along the Gus Fruh trail and east of the Loop 360 access point. If you have little ones, there are plenty of shallow areas where the kiddos can splash and wade.
3755 Capital of Texas Hwy (Loop 360 access). Open daily, dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Food and drink allowed; no glass (and please take your trash back with you). No lifeguard. More info here.

"Secret" Beach
This technically isn't a "swimming hole," and it's not very "secret," either, but Secret Beach is a must on this list. In the Roy G. Guerrero Metropolitan Park park along the Colorado River you'll find a sandy spot that's perfect for posting up and lounging. If tubing is your thing, you can also plan a leisurely float down the river. This little spot is dog- and kid-friendly.
400 Grove Blvd. Open daily; 5 am-10 pm. Admission is free. Food and drink allowed; no alcohol or glass (and please take your trash back with you). No lifeguard. More info here.

McKinney Falls State Park
In Southeast Austin you'll find this amazing state park. If you're in the mood to explore, there are plenty of trails to wander along and a handful of historical sites to visit. When it's time to cool off, relax in the shallow areas or scope out places that are deep enough for a full dip.
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway. Open daily, 8 am-10 pm. Cash preferred; $6 for adults, free for ages 13 and under. Food and drink allowed. No lifeguard. Camping allowed. More info here.

Hippie Hollow
Nothing beats the summer heat like taking off your clothes — perhaps all of them. This "clothing optional" beach on Lake Travis will force you to leave your inhibitions behind. This is our No. 1 pick for sunbathing (obviously). Entry allowed for those 18 and older only.
7000 Comanche Tr. Open daily, 9 am until dusk. Cash only, $15 per vehicle. Food and drink allowed. No lifeguard. More info here.

Georgetown's Blue Hole
The Blue Hole in Georgetown is technically a bend in the San Gabriel River, just minutes away from the city center. A steep cliff overlooks the warm, deep water and long, rocky banks. This is an ideal spot to set up camp for the day or bring an inflatable raft to lounge along the river. Make sure to bring sunscreen and perhaps a beach umbrella, because shade is very limited.
West Second Street and Rock Street, Georgetown, Texas. Open daily, dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. No lifeguard. More info here.

Krause Springs
Head west through the Hill Country to find this lush wonderland. There are 32 springs and two pools for swimming as well as one magical butterfly garden for exploring. If a single day in this enchanting place isn't enough, we suggest camping for a night or two.
404 Krause Spring Rd., Spicewood, Texas. Open daily, 9 am-9 pm. Cash only; $7 for adults, $5 for ages 4-11, free for ages 3 and under. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. No lifeguard. More info here.

Jacob's Well
Jacob's Well is a wonderful place to swim, even with a few big, new changes. In order to protect the area, there are now admission fees and restricted swimming hours. Plan ahead, because you must reserve a two-hour slot for swimming via the Hays County website. Only 300 people will be allowed to swim per day.
1699 Mt. Sharp Rd., Wimberley, Texas. Open daily, 10 am-8 pm. $9 for adults; $5 for Hays County residents, children ages 5-12, active military and veterans; free for children 4 and under. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. More info here.

Wimberley's Blue Hole
The Blue Hole in Wimberley is a swimmer's delight. This shady oasis offers plenty of deep water for swimming or jumping off rope swings as well as a current that's just right for a lazy float on an innertube. For the younger ones, there's a large lawn area where kids can run around and play.
100 Blue Hole Rd., Wimberley, Texas. Open daily, 10 am-6 pm. Cash only; $9 for adults, $5 for ages 4-12 and 60 or older, free for kids under 3. Food and drink allowed, no glass or alcohol. No lifeguard.More info here.

Pace Bend Park
This park is an exceptional island-like gem surrounded by Lake Travis. For those with swimming in mind, the east side of the park has the most accessible beaches. Boating is very popular here, so we suggest checking out Mudd Cover and Gracy Cove, which are swimming-only areas.
2201 N. Pace Bend Rd., Spicewood, Texas. Open daily, dawn to dusk. Cash only, $10 per vehicle. Leashed pets allowed. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers, no smoking. No lifeguard. Camping allowed. More info here.

Hamilton Pool Preserve
This picturesque lagoon is fed by a small, sprinkling waterfall. There's a 10-15 minute walk down to the pool, so bring appropriate shoes. Arrive early: A limited number of folks are allowed in. Note: Warm weather can cause bacteria levels to be too high for swimming, so call 512-264-2740 before you go.
24300 Hamilton Pool Rd., Dripping Springs, Texas. Open daily, 9 am-6 pm, no entry past 5:30 pm. Cash only, $15 per vehicle. Food and drink allowed, no glass containers. No lifeguard. More info here.

McKinney Falls.

McKinney Falls_State Park_lower falls_Austin

Photo by Nicole Raney

McKinney Falls.

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San Antonio leads Texas on ending horse-drawn carriage rides by 2030

Horse-drawn carriage San Antonio

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Horses will no longer pull carriages on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

San Antonio has pulled off something that the rest of Texas has yet to do, but it didn't come without some contentious conversations. City Council has unanimously voted (with one abstention) to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. That means by January 1, 2030, there will be none on the streets at all; instead, there will be electric carriages.

These plans have been in the making since 2022 — if not always at the same level of intensity — when District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran wrote up some concerns about the horses' wellbeing. A special session at the end of October 2024 hinted to San Antonians that the end for this practice was neigh — sorry, nigh — and the final vote was made on December 12. In addition to accepting the plan, it extended its timeframe by two years.

The initial proposal included worries about the horses' exposure to traffic and pollution, as well how their presence might exacerbate those issues for the environment at large by slowing traffic. It also raised concerns about the effects of standing or walking on hard surfaces for too long, or spending time in extreme weather.

At the December 12 meeting, San Antonians gave impassioned speeches about animal welfare — both to call attention to the need for better conditions and to defend the reputations and jobs of current horse drivers — but it wasn't the first time the council heard from the public about the issue.

In a prior city survey, 50,476 respondents weighed in. Of those respondents, 51.98 percent said they liked the idea to "Transition horse-drawn carriages to electric carriages and pedicabs and ban horse drawn carriages completely." There were alternative solutions listed, but respondents were less drawn to them.

A cultural divide emerged in the data and continued in the December meeting: some people avoided the carriages because they worried about the treatment of the horses, while others enjoyed them because of their historical echoes and living legacy. Many speakers in favor of the plan used this to form their argument, raising questions about history versus progress.

More tangible objections to the plan hinged on the businesses — specifically five companies — and jobs that would be lost, which was the main factor behind extending the adjustment period.

Discussions about the particulars of the electric vehicles are still to come, as confirmed in the discussion near the end of the meeting. Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addressed concerns about what would happen to the horses, mentioning the Brady Hunter Foundation as a future partner in finding them rescue homes.

Some council members also brought up rhetorical questions about animal exploitation by groups like Sea World, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, military and police forces, and even various groups in the Fiesta parade, although these did not come with a formal motion to pick the issues up.

This decision could have a ripple effect on other Texas cities. Dallas has recently considered a similar ban, but it appears to have stalled; Austin's attempts at a ban have been unsuccessful, but according to the Austin-American Statesman, only one operator is permitted to bring horses downtown. She declines to do so because the long hours are unfair to her and the horses. Houston does have horse-drawn carriages, and there seems to be little conversation about banning them.

Cities like Chicago and Salt Lake City have led the charge in the United States with some of the most prominent successful bans. Other cities around the world with bans include Brussels and Guadalajara, which both switched to electric models. Bans that have been around for years, like Guadalajara's and Prague's, still aren't out of the woods — people are still pushing back on the decision, so it sounds like San Antonio still has much work cut out for it.

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