6 Turquoise Swimming Holes in Texas You Won’t Believe Are Actually Real
Texas isn’t exactly the first place you think of when you imagine crystal-clear water.
You picture dusty roads, endless flat land, and heat that could melt your shoes to the pavement.
But hidden across this massive state are swimming holes so blue, so impossibly clear, that you’d swear someone Photoshopped them into existence.
These aren’t your average murky lakes or chlorine-soaked public pools.
These are natural springs pumping out millions of gallons of turquoise water every single day.
And most people have no idea they exist…
1. Balmorhea State Park – Toyahvale
This is the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool, and it’s hiding in the middle of the West Texas desert.
The pool covers 1.3 acres and holds 3.5 million gallons of crystal-clear water, fed by San Solomon Springs which pumps out over 15 million gallons daily.
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, this oasis reaches depths of 25 feet and stays a refreshing 72-76 degrees year-round.
You can actually scuba dive here among endangered Comanche Springs pupfish and Pecos gambusia found nowhere else on Earth.
2. Hamilton Pool Preserve – Dripping Springs
Thousands of years ago, an underground cavern collapsed here, creating one of the most photographed swimming holes in the entire state.
A 50-foot waterfall sheets over a massive limestone overhang into turquoise waters below, surrounded by ferns and moss-covered boulders.
The pool reaches about 25 feet at its deepest point, and the water stays around 68 degrees.
Reservations are required from March through October, and this spot books up fast for good reason.
3. Blue Hole Regional Park – Wimberley
Spring-fed Cypress Creek flows through this swimming area surrounded by towering cypress trees that look like they belong in a movie.
Texas Monthly magazine named it the second-best swimming hole in the state, and Travel Leisure put it in the top 12 swimming holes in the entire nation.
The water stays cool even in the brutal Texas summer thanks to natural springs, and the famous rope swings are exactly as fun as they look.
Reservations are required from May through September, with swimming sessions running in morning and afternoon time slots.
4. Jacob’s Well Natural Area – Wimberley
This isn’t your average swimming hole, it’s a portal into Texas geology that plunges over 140 feet straight down into a network of underwater caves.
The opening is only about 12 feet wide at the surface, but beneath that lies one of the longest underwater cave systems in Texas.
The water sits at a constant 68 degrees year-round and glows with impossible shades of blue and green.
Swimming has been prohibited since 2022 due to shallow water levels, but the natural area remains open for hiking and taking in one of the most mesmerizing sights in the Hill Country.
5. Barton Springs Pool – Austin
Right in the heart of Austin sits this 900-foot natural spring-fed pool that locals have been swimming in for generations.
The oldest public pool in Texas, it’s fed by underground springs that keep the water at a brisk 68-70 degrees all year long.
While it might not be a secret, swimming here at sunrise before the crowds arrive feels like having your own private piece of paradise.
The pool is over 1,000 feet long and up to 18 feet deep in some spots, so there’s plenty of room to spread out.
6. Blue Lagoon – Huntsville
This reclaimed limestone quarry looks like someone dropped a Caribbean resort into East Texas.
The water is so bright blue it almost doesn’t look real, and because it’s a former quarry with minimal natural flora and fauna, there’s nothing lurking beneath the surface to worry about.
It’s primarily a scuba training site with sunken boats and planes for divers to explore, but casual swimmers are welcome on a space-available basis.
Get there early because this hidden gem fills up fast.
Texas keeps surprising people like this.
While everyone else is fighting for pool chairs at some crowded resort, you could be floating in spring-fed turquoise water that puts most beaches to shame.
Pack your sunscreen and make a reservation.
