Central Texas/Hill Country Swimming Holes!

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Central Texas/Hill Country Swimming Holes!

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Table Of Contents:

Balmorhea
Barton Springs
Bull Creek
Blue Hole
Devel's Waterhole (Inks Lake State Park)
Deep Eddy Pool
Hamilton Pool
Krause Springs
Llano Slab
Landa Park
McKinney Falls (McKinney Falls State Park)
Pedernales Falls (Pedernales Falls State Park)
West Lake Beach

Balmorhea (Ok, so this one really isn't in central Texas)
  Description..: A gigantic (almost 2 acres) hole. The "Oasis of West Texas"
  Description..: The largest spring fed pool in the world.
  Ownership....: Texas State Parks and Wildlife Department
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Spring fed
  Location.....: Balmorhea State Park in Toyahvale, TX17 southwest of Balmorhea
  Distance.....: 410 miles (a long ways)
  Phone........: (915) 375-2370
  Hours........: 8AM - half hour before sunset
  Price........: Park admission $5/car
  Lifeguard....: Yes - Late May thru Labor Day, otherwise swim at your on risk
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: Yes (one low and one high)
  Tables.......: Yes  - In the Park
  Grills.......: Yes  - In the Park
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Water temperature is a constant 72-76 degrees
  Notes........: Flows 24-26 million gallons of water per day, that's
  Notes........: 16,666 to 18,055 gallons per minute.
  Last Update..: January 1996

Barton Springs
  Description..: A 1,000 foot long spring fed pool in Barton Creek.
  Ownership....: City of Austin
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Spring fed
  Location.....: Zilker Park, off Barton Springs Road and MoPac.
  Distance.....: 2 miles
  Phone........: (512) 476-9044
  Hours........: 5AM - 10PM, except Mon. & Thu. 7:30PM
  Price........: Free before 9AM, $2/adlt $2.25 wknds, $.50 12-17, $.25 under 11
  Lifeguard....: Yes
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: Yes
  Tables.......: ?   - In Zilker Park
  Grills.......: No  - In Zilker Park
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Water temperature is a constant 68 degrees
  Last Update..: January 1996

Bull Creek
  Description..: A long winding section of Bull Creek in west Austin
  Ownership....: City of Austin
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Bull Creek (Urban run-off :-))
  Location.....: Bull Creek District Park and Green Belt, off Loop 360 North
  Location.....: between Spicewood Springs Rd and RR2222, two sections.
  Distance.....: 5 miles
  Phone........: N/A
  Hours........: 7AM - 10PM
  Price........: Free
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: Yes
  Grills.......: No
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: The creek may stop flowing in the summer.
  Last Update..: January 1996

Blue Hole
  Description..: A hole on Cypress Creek lined with huge Cypress trees.
  Ownership....: Private
  Crowd type...: Families and children.
  Water........: Creek
  Location.....: US290 west, RM12 south to Wimberly, left on CR173, 1/2 mile
  Location.....: then right between church and cemetery for 1/2 mile.
  Distance.....: ?
  Phone........: (512) 847-9127
  Hours........: 9AM - 8PM
  Price........: Membership $5-$50, Entrance fee $1
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No - Rope swings
  Tables.......: Yes
  Grills.......: ?
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: A "Texas Monthly's" top 10 swimming holes.
  Last Update..: January 1996

Devel's Waterhole (Inks Lake State Park)
  Description..: A small inlet on Inks Lake
  Ownership....: Texas State Parks and Wildlife Department
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Inks Lake, creek inlet
  Location.....: I35 or 183 to Tx29 west, 9 miles to Park Road 4.
  Location.....: Tx71 west to US281 north, 9 miles to Park Road 4.
  Distance.....: 75 miles
  Phone........: (512) 793-2223
  Hours........: 8AM - 10PM
  Price........: $5.00 per vehicle
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: Yes
  Grills.......: Yes
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Call ahead during spring and fall for flood conditions
  Last Update..: January 1996

Deep Eddy Pool
  Description..: A large spring fed pool, an Austin landmark for years.
  Ownership....: City of Austin
  Crowd type...: Everyone (daycare kids during the weekdays)
  Water........: Spring fed
  Location.....: 401 Deep Eddy Blvd., off Lake Austin Blvd.
  Distance.....: 2 miles
  Phone........: (512) 472-8546
  Hours........: 8AM lap only, 10AM all - 9PM weekdays, 8PM weekends
  Price........: $1.75 adults, $.50 children 12-17, $.25 under 11
  Lifeguard....: Yes
  Chlorine.....: Yes by gas
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: ?
  Grills.......: No
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Shallow end for the little ones.
  Last Update..: January 1996

Hamilton Pool
  Description..: A 232 acre nature preserve with large creek-fed swimming hole.
  Ownership....: Travis County Parks and Recreation.
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Creek
  Location.....: Hamilton Pool Road (Off Texas Hwy 71 west of Austin)
  Distance.....: 20 miles
  Phone........: (512) 264-2740
  Hours........: 9AM - 6PM
  Price........: $5.00 per vehicle, $2 per ped/bike
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: ?
  Grills.......: ?
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Call ahead for water conditions.
  Last Update..: January 1996

Krause Springs
  Description..: Spring fed pool and hole surrounded by large Cypress trees.
  Ownership....: Private
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Krause Springs
  Location.....: Spicewood; TX71 west, Spur 191 north(@Spicewood), follow signs
  Distance.....: 35 miles
  Phone........: (210) 693-4181
  Hours........: 9AM - Sundown
  Price........: $2.50 adults, $2.00 children 4-11
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: Yes (in the pool)
  Tables.......: Yes
  Grills.......: ?
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Private camping and RV sites, hiking trails
  Last Update..: July 2001

Landa Park
  Description..: A large spring fed swimming pool
  Ownership....: City of New Braunfels
  Crowd type...: Family, kids
  Water........: Comal Springs (68 degrees)
  Location.....: I-35 to New Braunfels, Seguin Rd west, Signs to Landa Park
  Distance.....: 60 miles
  Phone........: N/A
  Hours........: 10 - 6
  Price........: $4 adults, $3 kids and seniors
  Lifeguard....: Yes
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: No
  Grills.......: No
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Great slide, rope swing, cable sling, kiddy areas
  Last Update..: Auguest 2003

Llano Slab
  Description..: An old road low-water crossing (slab) across the Llano river.
  Ownership....: Public road access/private land
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Llano River
  Location.....: TX71 west, US281 north, FM1431 west, FM3404 west.
  Distance.....: 75 miles
  Phone........: N/A
  Hours........: N/A
  Price........: Free
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: No
  Grills.......: No
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: The Llano is wide and shallow with granite sunbathing rocks
  Last Update..: January 1996

McKinney Falls (McKinney Falls State Park)
  Description..: A creek with two small waterfalls and swimming pools.
  Ownership....: Texas State Parks and Wildlife Department
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: Onion Creek
  Location.....: 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway
  Distance.....: 8 miles
  Phone........: Park information (512) 243-1643, water conditions 243-0848
  Hours........: 8AM - 10PM
  Price........: $4.00 per vehicle, ped/bikes-$1/adult, $.50 per child
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: Yes
  Grills.......: Yes
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Call ahead for water conditions.
  Last Update..: January 1996

Pedernales Falls (Pedernales Falls State Park)
  Description..: A large ranch with access to the Pedernales river.
  Ownership....: Texas State Parks and Wildlife Department
  Crowd type...: Everyone
  Water........: River
  Location.....: US290 West, right on RR3232, right on RR2766, left into park
  Distance.....: 38 miles
  Phone........: (210) 868-7304
  Hours........: 9AM - 6PM
  Price........: $4.00 per vehicle, $1 per ped/bike
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: Yes
  Grills.......: Yes
  Air for rafts: No (use lungs)
  Notes........: Call ahead during spring and fall for flood conditions
  Last Update..: January 1996

West Lake Beach
  Description..: A small private lakeside day camp.
  Ownership....: Private
  Crowd type...: Family
  Water........: Lake Austin
  Location.....: 2905 Westlake Drive
  Distance.....: 4 miles
  Phone........: (512) 327-9004
  Hours........: 9AM - 7PM
  Price........: Adults (12 and over) $4.50, Children $1.50
  Lifeguard....: No
  Chlorine.....: No
  Diving Board.: No
  Tables.......: Yes
  Grills.......: Yes
  Air for rafts: Yes, Free
  Notes........: Call ahead for availability, often closed due to group use.
  Last Update..: January 1996

Distance is measured from downtown Austin.

Swimming Hole Tips:

Take sunscreen lotion, insect repellent, calamine lotion, and a first-aid kit to prevent sunburn, flight-by-insects, and to treat minor injuries.

Wear old tennis shoes or water shoes when swimming in water holes to prevent cuts and bruises from rocks, glass, and cans.

Water/Swimming Safety Tips

Central Texas/Hill Country Swimming Holes!

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Thank you for visiting the Independant Travel Services.
Copyright © - 1994-1998 - Independant Travel Services - All Rights Reserved.
Site by Third Rock