These locations are our absolute favorites since they will help us survive the upcoming hot days. If you’re looking to cool down during a warm day in Houston, look no further. Check out our top picks for some of the best swimming holes around!
Lake Longhorn
It serves the Houston region as well as the whole Texas Gulf Coast. Lake Longhorn is a multisport lake. This is the place for you if you like scuba diving, marathon preparation, open-water swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, or any other sport requiring a vast body of water. A 49-acre freshwater lake in League City, Texas, it is surrounded by 20 acres of open space for public leisure. In the Houston and Texas Bay Area, this spot provides everything you need to have a relaxing afternoon on the water. There’s no denying that summers in Houston can get toasty. Visiting this lake is a great way to cool off and take a load off. The goal is to become the premier open water training lake and scuba diving dive location in the Houston region and Texas Gulf.
Krause Springs
After paying the $8 entry fee and listening to a well-prepared speech, you’ll arrive in a man-made pool full of people who are instantly bobbing around like ice cubes in a cold glass of water. 32 springs nourish the entire region. They continuously pump 68°F water. It flows over the edges of the pool, off a sheer cliff, and into a cavernous grotto beyond. The time-honored practice is obvious as you down a stairway to the swimming hole itself. Sunbathe on the slick river rocks until you’ve got all the Vitamin D you need. Relax in the cooling waters under the shadow of the tall cypress trees, and repeat all summer long! An isolated tree that protrudes out of the bluff at a 45-degree angle to the waters on the opposite side of the natural swimming hole provides the ideal setting for one of nature’s ultimate wonders: a rope swing. Visitors fall into the watery chasm while holding onto the triple-knotted rope, swinging from a neighboring ledge in the best George of the Jungle impersonation they can muster. It has an almost constant line and is by far the most well-liked feature near Houston.
Blue Lagoon
A swimming hole north of Huntsville called Blue Lagoon is accessible by an extended, bumpy ranch road and resembles, well, a tropical resort. The water is frigid, vivid blue, and appears to be a well-kept secret. Although there are buried vessels and planes for divers to discover in the reclaimed limestone quarry, it is mostly used for scuba training. However, casual guests are able to vist as long as there is space. You’ll want to get there early to ensure you can swim. What is that aquamarine beauty’s secret? The lagoon is not just the swimming hole nearest to Houston. It is also oddly devoid of natural plants and fauna, rendering it the least threatening. It’s the only place in Texas where residents are aware that the water contains nothing that can hurt them – many locals joke.
Jacob’s Well
It’s a little unnerving to jump into the alluring, bottomless waters of Jacob’s Well, the entrance to Wimberley’s underground Trinity Aquifer that empties into Cypress Creek. It can be threatening when you’re standing at the cliffs and looking down. Tourists to the 81-acre preserve are typically inspired to plunge from the limestone cliffs into the permanently 68 degrees of blue waters of the mystical cavern below by the enthusiasm of others, whether they are paddling in the nearby creek or waiting for their time to jump in. By the way, that cavern is over 140 feet deep; only experts are able to go down and investigate it. It is really remarkable to have this kind of accessible geological feature.
Pedernales Falls
Pedernales Falls State Park covers 5,000 acres. Throughout history, the Lipan Apaches, Spanish adventurers, ranchers, and cowboys have made it home. It was first made accessible to the public in 1971 when the state bought the land. The area boasts 40 miles of beautiful trails and stunning waterfalls. It’s a sizable chunk of land with a lot to offer an outdoor aficionado. They have almost everything someone might want to do outside. The Pedernales River and a few nearby springs have authorized swimming places. The property’s most popular tourist attraction – the waterfalls themselves – is not wadeable. There is a lot more to see, including gorges, streams, stair-stepped pools, and numerous magnificent overlooks where you may see the falls.
Spicewood Springs
A great range of landscapes may be found in the 5,328-acre Colorado Bend State Park on the Colorado River. This includes flatlands and hillsides, bluffs and canyons, more than 200 caverns, the 70-foot spring-fed Gorman Falls, and endless fields of wildflowers and cacti. Each time you visit this place, you can discover something new. It’s simply amazing. There are a ton of tiny hidden jewels. This contains Spicewood Springs’ six swimming holes, which are cooled by the brook of the same name and maintain a comfortable 72 to 76 degrees all year long. The biggest and most crowded pool is a short half-mile walk from the park’s river campsite’s day-use facility.
Rio Vista Park
It is not only a terrific place to take a plunge in the spring-fed, crystal-clear, 72 degrees San Marcos River, but it’s also close to the city’s center. Whereas more daring people choose to plunge in for a peaceful float downstream or use a tube to blast the rapids, a renovated dam and five miniature waterfalls serve as popular play places. Because it only lasts for around 40 minutes, families with little kids will love it. You can commute back via the shuttle, float again, and repeat the process. Of course, you won’t be alone; but rather the opposite. By noon in the summer, it’s usually very crowded. Kayakers also prefer the mornings when the river is comparable to whitewater rapids, as they may escape tube traffic congestion. Added means of avoiding summertime traffic – consider going out and exploring the park’s many trails and river access sites the old-fashioned way.
Honorable Mention: Chinati Hot Springs
Chinati Hot Springs is a 640-acre resort that has undergone several ownership changes. At one point, renowned Marfa artist Donald Judd owned the property and managed to keep it completely off-limits to the general public. It is situated in the valley of Pinto Canyon on the periphery of the Chihuahuan Desert outside of Presidio in West Texas. Nowadays, hikers and tourists vacationing in the secluded resort’s cabins have the opportunity to relax in the tubs. They are replenished daily with 109-degree water directly from the hot springs themselves. The location is popular all year round due to the chilly desert evenings. Although it’s difficult to say for sure whether the mineral waters have healing properties, it’s hard to doubt that any problems you carry with you won’t be swept away as soon as you leave given the experience of being immersed in the water and the satisfaction of admiring the area’s untamed, remote beauty.
Up Next
The 5 Biggest Lakes near Houston, Texas10 Adorable Puppies in Houston to Adopt for ChristmasThe Absolute Best Camping Near HoustonThe 8 Best Dog Parks in Houston
A swimming hole north of Huntsville called Blue Lagoon is accessible by an extended, bumpy ranch road and resembles, well, a tropical resort. The water is frigid, vivid blue, and appears to be a well-kept secret. Where’s a great place to swim close to the city center? Rio Vista Park is not only a terrific place to take a plunge in the spring-fed, crystal-clear, 72 degrees San Marcos River, but it’s also close to the city’s center. Whereas more daring people choose to plunge in for a peaceful float downstream or use a tube to blast the rapids, a renovated dam and five miniature waterfalls serve as popular play places.
