The famed Texas Hill Country roughly stretches between Austin and San Antonio and west of Interstate 35 to a vaguely defined boundary.
It’s one of the prettiest areas in the Lone Star State, but it’s also known for its long, hot summers.
Therefore, finding the water is key. Here’s how to do that if you’re not a local!
Barton Springs
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Right in the middle of Austin, this spring-fed, human-built pool is a great escape from the summer heat. If you’re driving in, arrive early so you can get a parking spot within reasonable walking distance.
Barton Creek
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Barton Creek feeds into Barton Springs but does not have a permanent water flow. Every once in a while, when conditions upstream in the watershed have been just right, Barton Creek “runs” and sometimes holds water for weeks and even months at a time.
When that happens, there are swimming holes complete with rope swings in several places. The Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin is the best place for public access.
McKinney Falls State Park
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On locally cherished Onion Creek, McKinney Falls has a pool below it that’s deep enough for swimming and wading.
This and the short, easy walk in make it a very popular spot in the warmer months. Camping, hiking, and bicycling are other popular activities here.
Hamilton Pool
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Hamilton Pool, in Travis County southwest of Austin, is an area treasure and a must-see if you’re around. This natural pool, which has a 50’ waterfall spilling into it, formed thousands of years ago when erosion caused the dome of an underground river to collapse.
The source of the water means that the water temperatures are chilly all year long, so it’s a great escape from the many triple-digit summer days here. You need a reservation to get in, and spots fill up weeks ahead of time.
Jacob’s Well
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Located in Hays County just outside Wimberley, Jacob’s Well is a karstic spring known for clear, cool waters that have long served as a swimming hole for area residents.
During the hotter months, reservations are required. Unfortunately, heavy water usage by commercial operators has caused the water table to drop in recent years, affecting the flow and quality of the water. On at least one occasion, the Well itself has dried up.
Blanco River State Park
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The beautiful Blanco River is one of the prettiest in Texas, but most of its banks are on private land, making it difficult or expensive for the public to access.
One exception is Blanco River State Park in the town of Blanco. Here, dams have created a deep section suitable for swimming. Most of the Blanco is normally too shallow for actual swimming.
Guadalupe River
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The Guadalupe drains human-made Canyon Lake and runs through that area all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. There are many publicly accessible spots in the Hill Country, and in addition to swimming, tubing is a highly popular activity.
Several operators are available to rent tubes to you and shuttle you to a put-in point. Then you get out at the takeout by the operator’s location and just return your tubes.
San Marcos River
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This spring-fed river is cool, even chilly, making it a big draw in the summertime.
The most popular section is a run in the city of San Marcos that ends at Rio Vista Park, where collapsed dams have created three small cascades popular with tubers and kayakers. This float is fun, but expect to share it with a lot of other people.
Camp Ben McCullough
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“Camp Ben” is on Onion Creek in Driftwood near the famous Salt Lick barbecue joint and not on too many radars of people outside that area.
Although it’s privately owned, the owners usually have it open to the public for free. When water levels are high enough, you can use a rope swing or just jump for the classic way of entering the creek.
Pedernales Falls State Park
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Pronounced “Per-duh-nales” by locals, this river is mostly bounded by private land, but there are some exceptions, and Pedernales Falls State Park between Johnson City and Dripping Springs is one of them.
Swimming and wading aren’t allowed at or below the namesake falls, but there is a dedicated swimming area farther downstream. Like most other permanently flowing rivers in Central Texas, the Pedernales is spring-fed and thus keeps cool temperatures all year long.
Milton Reimers Ranch Park
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Known as just “Reimers Ranch” or “Reimers” to local residents, this Travis County park near Dripping Springs is also on the Pedernales just a few miles from Hamilton Pool. It’s a uniquely beautiful place with a large, easily accessible beach area in the middle of the park. Reimers is also a highly popular spot for birdwatching and rock climbing.
Comal River
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The shortest navigable river in Texas, the Comal’s run is entirely within the city of New Braunfels. Due to that and its proximity to Austin and San Antonio, the Comal can get very crowded on hot days, but it’s still a delightful respite from the heat.
Frio River
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In Spanish, “frio” means “cold,” and it’s an apt name for this famous spring-fed river. There are several privately owned campgrounds and other locations that offer river access, but Garner State Park is the easiest and probably least expensive place for the public to enjoy the almost-frigid waters here.
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