Root & Roam Guide · Day Trips

Hill Country Watering Holes

Fifty-one places to swim, float, wade and cool off — from Austin's cold springs to the Frio's wide green bends. Checked August 7, 2026.

51Places
10Float Corridors
7Regions

Start With The Water

Go where the water is good.

Hill Country water is spring-fed, flow-dependent and always changing. This guide separates the dependable cold springs from the seasonal creek pools, calls out reservation requirements up front, and links straight to the operator or park page you need before you leave the house.

Hill Country water changes quickly. A sunny swimming hole can be dry after drought, unsafe after rain, or closed because of bacteria, algae, debris or flash-flood risk. Check the linked operator notice the morning of your visit, obey posted signs and never enter from private land.
Checked August 7, 2026

Three Rivers

Three rivers. Three rhythms.

Not every float is the same trip. These three corridors cover the range — a short beginner float, a longer social tube run, and a wilder paddle-friendly stretch.

San Marcos: City Park → Rio Vista

About 45–60 minutes on clear, spring-fed water. Beginner-friendly with an easy walk/shuttle repeat. Rio Vista carries a nonresident fee on peak summer dates.

Comal: Hinman/Prince Solms → Last Public Exit

1.5–2 hours, spring-fed, includes the Tube Chute. Seasonal $2 activity wristband on weekends and holidays, with tube and container restrictions.

Guadalupe below Canyon Dam

Horseshoe and Sattler/Gruene routes, 2–6+ hours depending on release. Duration changes dramatically with the dam — book a shuttle or outfitter.

The Complete Index

All 51 places, searchable.

Search by name or town, or filter by water type. Every card links to the operator or park's official page — check it the morning you leave.

01Cold Springs

Barton Springs Pool

Austin

The essential Austin swim

Water: Spring poolAccess: Paid in seasonStatus: Open · year-round
Official source →
02Cold Springs

Deep Eddy Pool

Austin

Historic lap-and-lounge pool

Water: Spring poolAccess: Seasonal feeStatus: Open · closed Tuesdays
Official source →
03Cold Springs

Barking Springs

Austin

Social shallows below Barton

Water: Creek edgeAccess: FreeStatus: Unguarded
Official source →
04Seasonal Water

Campbell’s Hole / The Flats

Austin

Easy Greenbelt water

Water: Barton CreekAccess: Free · hike-inStatus: Flow dependent
Official source →
05Seasonal Water

Gus Fruh

Austin

A deeper limestone pool

Water: Barton CreekAccess: Free · hike-inStatus: Flow dependent
Official source →
06Seasonal Water

Twin Falls

Austin

Short waterfall walk

Water: Barton CreekAccess: Free · hike-inStatus: Often reduced or dry
Official source →
07Seasonal Water

Sculpture Falls

Austin

The Greenbelt classic

Water: Barton CreekAccess: Free · hike-inStatus: Check algae + flow
Official source →
08Seasonal Water

Hill of Life Dam Pool

Austin

Upper-Greenbelt quiet

Water: Barton CreekAccess: Free · hike-inStatus: Conditional
Official source →
09Rivers

McKinney Falls State Park

Austin

Two limestone falls

Water: Onion CreekAccess: State park passStatus: Conditions permitting
Official source →
10Lake Beaches

Commons Ford Ranch

Austin

Lawn, dock and lake swim

Water: Lake AustinAccess: FreeStatus: Open water · unguarded
Official source →
11Lake Beaches

Emma Long Park

Austin

Beach-entry family day

Water: Lake AustinAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open · reserve weekends
Official source →
12Seasonal Water

Bull Creek District Park

Austin

Shallow creek play

Water: Bull CreekAccess: FreeStatus: Wade only when clean
Official source →
13Seasonal Water

St. Edward’s Park

Austin

Pools and small falls

Water: Bull CreekAccess: Free · hike-inStatus: Flow dependent
Official source →
14Lake Beaches

Bob Wentz Park

Lake Travis

A classic open-water cove

Water: Lake TravisAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open water · unguarded
Official source →
15Lake Beaches

Mansfield Dam Park

Lake Travis

Swim, scuba and views

Water: Lake TravisAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open water · unguarded
Official source →
16Lake Beaches

Pace Bend Park

Lake Travis

Best all-day lake park

Water: Lake TravisAccess: Paid day useStatus: Use swim-only coves
Official source →
17Lake Beaches

Arkansas Bend Park

Lake Travis

Quieter north-shore water

Water: Lake TravisAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open · check algae
Official source →
18Lake Beaches

Cypress Creek Park

Lake Travis

Small public lake access

Water: Lake TravisAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open water · unguarded
Official source →
19Lake Beaches

Tom Hughes Park

Lake Travis

For capable lake swimmers

Water: Lake TravisAccess: Paid day useStatus: Rocky · steep access
Official source →
20Lake Beaches

Hippie Hollow Park

Lake Travis

Clothing-optional shore

Water: Lake TravisAccess: Paid day useStatus: Adults only
Official source →
21Cold Springs

Krause Springs

Spicewood

The lush retreat

Water: Spring poolsAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open · private
Official source →
22Cold Springs

Hamilton Pool Preserve

Dripping Springs

Iconic limestone geology

Water: Grotto poolAccess: Reservation + feeStatus: Very limited swim area
Official source →
23Rivers

Milton Reimers Ranch

Dripping Springs

Natural river beach

Water: Pedernales RiverAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open · steep walk
Official source →
24Rivers

Pedernales Falls Swim Area

Johnson City

Swim + dramatic landscape

Water: Pedernales RiverAccess: State park passStatus: Downstream only
Official source →
25Seasonal Water

Camp Ben McCulloch

Driftwood

Old-school creek day

Water: Onion CreekAccess: PrivateStatus: Confirm day access
Official source →
26Cold Springs

Blue Hole Regional Park

Wimberley

The storybook setting

Water: Cypress CreekAccess: Half-day passStatus: Open · reservation
Official source →
27Cold Springs

Cypress Falls Swimming Hole

Wimberley

Tubes and creek shade

Water: Cypress CreekAccess: Paid privateStatus: Verify same-day hours
Official source →
28Know Before You Go

Jacob’s Well Natural Area

Wimberley

Do not list as a swim

Water: Spring headwaterAccess: Hiking onlyStatus: Swimming prohibited
Official source →
29Rivers

Blanco State Park

Blanco

Easy family river day

Water: Blanco RiverAccess: State park passStatus: Open · bring drinking water
Official source →
30Seasonal Water

Five Mile Dam Park

Kyle / San Marcos

Low-dam river access

Water: Blanco RiverAccess: FreeStatus: Flow dependent
Official source →
31Cold Springs

Sewell Park

San Marcos

Clear upper-river swim

Water: San Marcos RiverAccess: FreeStatus: Open · swim at own risk
Official source →
32Cold Springs

City Park

San Marcos

Short-float launch

Water: San Marcos RiverAccess: FreeStatus: Open · several entries
Official source →
33Cold Springs

Rio Vista Park

San Marcos

Swim and three rapids

Water: San Marcos RiverAccess: Mostly freeStatus: Open · peak fee dates
Official source →
34Cold Springs

Ramon Lucio + Stokes Parks

San Marcos

Quieter downstream soak

Water: San Marcos RiverAccess: FreeStatus: Open · unguarded
Official source →
35Rivers

Guadalupe River State Park

Spring Branch

Cypress-lined river

Water: Guadalupe RiverAccess: State park passStatus: Access currently limited
Official source →
36Rivers

Nichol’s Landing

Spring Branch

Primitive calm-water access

Water: Upper GuadalupeAccess: Seasonal feeStatus: 20 parking spaces
Official source →
37Lake Beaches

Comal Park

Canyon Lake

1,500-foot family beach

Water: Canyon LakeAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open in season
Official source →
38Lake Beaches

Canyon Swim Beach

Canyon Lake

North-shore designated beach

Water: Canyon LakeAccess: Paid day useStatus: Open in season
Official source →
39Lake Beaches

Potters Creek Swim Beach

Canyon Lake

A designated camping beach

Water: Canyon LakeAccess: Guest-onlyStatus: Campers only
Official source →
40Cold Springs

Landa Park Springfed Pool

New Braunfels

Historic family complex

Water: Comal SpringsAccess: Paid pool entryStatus: Open in season
Official source →
41Cold Springs

Comal River + Tube Chute

New Braunfels

The dependable short float

Water: Comal RiverAccess: Seasonal wristbandStatus: Open · flow dependent
Official source →
42Rivers

Guadalupe River

New Braunfels

Longer social float

Water: Guadalupe RiverAccess: Trip fee variesStatus: Use a permitted outfitter
Official source →
43Lake Beaches

Boerne City Lake Park

Boerne

Swim and paddle close to town

Water: ReservoirAccess: Nonresident feeStatus: Open water
Official source →
44Cold Springs

San Pedro Springs Pool

San Antonio

A historic city swim

Water: Municipal poolAccess: FreeStatus: Seasonal · closed Tuesdays
Official source →
45Rivers

Bandera City Park

Bandera

In-town swimming and wading

Water: Medina RiverAccess: Summer entry feeStatus: Open · monitored
Official source →
46Cold Springs

Paradise Canyon

Rio Medina

Quiet private canyon day

Water: Medina RiverAccess: Reservation + feeStatus: Drought-adapted hole
Official source →
47Lake Beaches

Devil’s Waterhole

Burnet

Rock-lined dependable water

Water: Inks LakeAccess: State park passStatus: Open · own risk
Official source →
48Cold Springs

Spicewood Springs

Bend

Wild spring-pool hike

Water: Spring creek poolsAccess: State park passStatus: Open · trail access
Official source →
49Rivers

South Llano River State Park

Junction

Gentle swim and tube

Water: South Llano RiverAccess: State park passStatus: Check flood-debris alert
Official source →
50Rivers

Garner State Park

Concan

The grand river tradition

Water: Frio RiverAccess: State park passStatus: Open · reserve ahead
Official source →
51Rivers

Kerrville River Parks

Kerrville

Multiple city access points

Water: Guadalupe RiverAccess: Varies by parkStatus: Fresh check essential
Official source →

No spots match your search. Try a different name, town, or filter.

The Morning-Of Check

Before you go, every time.

Five minutes of checking beats a wasted drive or a real hazard. Run this list the morning you leave.

  • Check the linked official page for current status, closures, or reservation requirements.
  • Look up recent rainfall — flash floods can change a creek or river within minutes.
  • Check for algae or bacteria advisories, especially after heavy rain or in late summer.
  • Confirm whether a reservation, day pass, or entry fee is required before you drive out.
  • Never enter from private land, and never swim at a posted closed or no-swim area.
  • Skip cliff-jumping spots — water depth and hidden debris change without warning.
Save / Print the Full Guide (PDF) Ask Alison About a Spot

Leave no trace: pack out what you pack in, respect posted signs and private property, and leave the water better than you found it. This guide is informational only — conditions change quickly, so always verify with the official source before you go.

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