Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs is arguably the most popular spot in Austin, aside from UT and possibly the Capital. Thus, I feel stupid trying to write a description of it. Just in case any of you hydrophobic, sun-allergic vampires out there are reading, Barton Springs is a natural, spring-fed swimming hole located in Austin’s famous Zilker Park. The spring delivers water that stays at a frigid 68-70 degrees year round, so even in the dead of the 115-degree Texas Summer the pool is cold enough to take your breath away. A great way to start a work-sux-let’s-play-outside-all-day kind of day.

Deep Eddy Pool

Unlike most of the other swimming holes on this list, Deep Eddy Pool is a manmade, concrete pool, BUT it is the oldest swimming pool in Texas. The swimming pool was built in 1915 near the site of a natural spring-fed eddy on the Colorado River. The pool is still filled with the non-chlorinated water from the spring. Therefore, like Barton Springs, this pool stays at around 70 degrees year round.

There is a lap pool, that is great for getting your cardio on, and the larger wading pool that is more for chillin’. Deep Eddy holds special events from time to time, my personal favorite is the Splash Movie Night, where they project a movie onto a huge inflatable, floating screen during the summer. It’s cool.

Green Belt – Scottish Woods

The Scottish Woods Trail is on the other end of the Green Belt. This is an awesome swimming hole that’s beautiful even when the water is low. There’s a small waterfall that begs to be jumped off of, but make sure you go underneath to check out the cave of secrets behind the falls. This is a great part of the Green Belt for a solid hike with a nice swim in the middle. I have to warn you, however, the hill of life is not for the faint of heart, or the drunk. The Hill of Life is the steep rocky hike that leads from the head of the trail to the water of the Green Belt below,  So it’s always going to be a hike & swim, not just a swim. Make sure to bring some good shoes and pace yourself on the boxed river wine.

Green Belt – Gus Fruh

Personally, this has always been my favorite spot on the Green Belt (I had some really great… experiences here when I was in college). The entrance is right in the middle of a neighborhood and very well hidden. From the street it’s a short hike down to the pool and river. You can hang out and swim in the big open pool-like swimming hole at the bottom of the trail, or you could hike up river a short ways and play in the rapids that feed the swimming hole.  

There is a huge rock about 150 yards upstream. The first time I came to this spot, there was a dude sitting on top of the boulder smoking weed and playing didgeridoo next to his topless girlfriend… as if I were in danger of forgetting I was in Austin. Visit the website.

Hamilton Pool Preserve

While Hamilton Pool is actually in Dripping Springs and not Austin, we thought we’d include it anyway because we like it and we can. Thousands of years of water erosion from an underground river flowing beneath the heart of the Texas Hill Country, led to the collapse of an underground dome to form the breathtaking grotto and pool known as Hamilton Pool Preserve. Thank you nature.

Located about 32 miles west of Austin, Texas and 13 miles north of Dripping Springs, Texas, Hamilton Pool is one of the more popular swimming holes in the Texas Hill Country. It sits in a small canyon and can only accommodate a limited number of people. The swimming hole’s popularity often causes Hamilton Pool to reach capacity during the warmer months, forcing swimming hole goers to wait in line, sometimes for hours, and abide by the “one-in one-out” rule. It’s best to get to Hamilton Pool as early as possible to beat the crowds.

Hamilton Pool sometimes closes due to rain and hazardous trail conditions, so unless there’s been a drought recently, it is a good idea to call 512-264-2740 to hear the current trail and pool status.