Austin Best Swimmimg Holes

1. Colorado Bend State Park This park in San Saba County has 5,000 acres with six miles of scenic Colorado River frontage. It used to be called Lemmons Fishing Camp before it was sold to the state. Besides swimming, fishing, tubing, and canoeing in the river, there are two spring-fed creeks which form incredible swimming holes. The park also boasts beautiful Gorman Falls and a cave to explore by tour. The campground is relatively primitive for a state park, but has water and toilets. Accessible from Lampasas or Llano, it's worth the long drive. Open year-round except hunting season. A great tube or canoe ride runs from the settlement of Bend to the park. 915/628-3240.


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Lake Buchanan


Largest and northernmost of the Highland Lakes, the lake covers 23,060 acres, is 32 miles long and eight miles wide, with plenty of room for sailing, skiing, and other water sports. The first of the Highland Lakes, the 11,200-foot-long dam was completed in 1938.

2. Cedar Point Park A popular place to spot bald eagles from November to March. North of TX29 off FM2241 on the northwest end of the lake just before Paradise Point. LCRA.

3. Burnet Park On the east side of the lake, take TX29 to FM690 north. Has a boat ramp and picnic area. No camping. Burnet County.

4. Black Rock Park LCRA park, four miles north of TX29 on TX261. It has restrooms, camping, a boat ramp, and playground. Fee.

5. Llano County Park Next to Black Rock Park, it has few facilities, but is free.

6. Burnet County Park On the east side of the lake, the heavily wooded park is used mainly by fishermen. Take FM2341 about 11 miles north off TX29. It has a picnic area and free primitive camping. Burnet County.

7. Buchanan Dam When it opened, this 11,000-foot-long dam was the longest in the world. On TX29 between Burnet and Llano, a walkway halfway across the top of the dam 150 feet above the riverbed is open to the public. There is also a visitor center, museum, post office, picnic area, observation deck, and small swimming beach at the dam on TX29 west of Burnet. 512/793-2803.


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Inks Lake
One of the smallest of the Highland Lakes, Inks Lake is three miles long and covers 803 acres. The lake offers excellent year-round fishing.

8. Rock-A-Way Park Private campground on the west side of the lake at TX29. It has a dock and boat ramp. A large cliff shades the campground from the afternoon sun and it is possible to tie up a boat at the bank. Next door to Catfish Barge, a great cafe. Fee. 254/793-2314.

9. Inks Lake State Park "Devil's Hole," at the northeast corner of the lake where a creek empties into it, is one of the most scenic swimming holes in the state. The creek cascades over stairstep levels to the lake where it empties into a small canyon walled in by pink granite cliffs. Don't overlook the other coves on the lake with more gentle, sloping, granite banks. West of Burnet off TX29, the park has shelters, camping, showers, restrooms, boat rental, a grocery store (seasonal), a boat ramp, and fishing piers. 512/793-2223. Fee.

10. The Llano Slab One of the great swimming holes in Central Texas, where the Llano River runs over granite outcroppings at a low-water crossing. The water creates a sandbar island, troughs, deep pools, and wide shallows. No facilities. At the end of FM3404, about 1.5 miles off FM1431 on the western edge of Kingsland.

11. Robinson Park Llano's city park is on the riverbank with lots of shade and swimming spots. A low dam crosses the river, making for a great play area. The park also has fishing, a playground, golf course, restrooms, showers, a swimming pool, and 100 RV spots. Use is free if you don't use electric hookups. Take the road on the north side of the courthouse west to the park. 915/247-4158.


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Lake LBJ
Most of the shoreline is privately owned, making access to this pristine and narrow lake difficult. Originally called Granite Shoals Lake, the 6,375-acre, 22-mile-long lake is rated excellent for fishing.

12. Cottonwood Resource Area At Wirtz Dam, this is mainly a boat ramp and observation area. It is the only public boat ramp on the southeast side of lake. Access to the swimming and fishing area below the dam should be allowed later this summer after they complete work on the dam. From US281 at the south end of the bridge over Lake Marble Falls take FM2147 to Wirtz Dam Road. LCRA.


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Lake Marble Falls
Small 780-acre impoundment with most of the six miles of Colorado River within the city of Marble Falls. The lake inundated the falls that gave the city its name. Popular for fishing and boating, most of the shoreline is steep cliffs and inaccessible.

13. Marble Falls City Parks The city operates three parks next to each other on the north shore of the lake west of US281. Lake Side Park has a swimming pool and picnic tables, but a steep bank into the water. Johnson Park has a playground, ball fields, an amphitheater, a horseshoe pitching club, and a picnic area with swimming near the boat ramp. Falls Creek Park is mainly a picnic park, but swimming is allowed in the creek next to the boat ramp.

14. Max Starke Dam Just below the dam are flat rocks and a steady flow of water popular with fishermen, but not a bad swimming hole. Watch out for a sudden increase of release from the dam. Very steep climb down to the water. No facilities. Follow the signs to the dam off of US281 south of town.


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Lake Travis


The most popular of the Highland Lakes that stair-step up the Colorado River from Austin. The lake winds through steep, scenic hills for 65 miles with 270 miles of shoreline. At its widest point it is 4.5 miles across and 190 feet at its deepest at Mansfield Dam.

The lake is formed by Mansfield Dam on FM620. Built in 1941, the dam took 1.75 million cubic yards of concrete to build it up to 266 feet tall and more than a mile long with 24 floodgates, making it one of the largest masonry structures in the world.

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has eight primitive recreation areas on the upper end of Lake Travis. When the land along the river was purchased from landowners, they quite often sold full parcels rather than small sections of river frontage. This gave the public large areas of former pasture land that has now been opened as parks.

Four of the primitive parks require daily permits of $3 per day per vehicle and can be purchased at the honor boxes at the park entrance. By and large you get a nicer, cleaner park for the money. Annual passes may be purchased at the LCRA, 3701 Lake Austin Blvd., or through the mail. For information on the LCRA parks, call the Parks, Lands, and Conservation Department at 473-4083 or 800/776-5272, Ext.4083 or http://www.lcra.org.

LCRA day use parks are open from April 15 thru September 15 from 6am to 10pm and September 15 thru April 14 from sunrise to sunset.

Travis County also operates several parks around the lake; their number is 473-9437.

15. Camp Creek Primitive Area This park is 600 acres off of FM1431 at the end of County Road 343 on the north side of the lake. It covers a small area, but has good swimming spots. It also has a creek running through the campground. The park features a hiking trail, boat ramp, tables, grills, and toilets.

16. Shaffer Bend Primitive Area Off of FM1431 on north side of the lake, take County Road 343A to the end of the road and make a hard right. The park has a scenic view of the river valley, lots of waterfront acreage with a low, gradual shoreline, and allows camping.

17. Narrows Primitive Area This LCRA natural area is open for day use only, on the south side of Lake Travis. Vehicles are required to stay on designated roads and parking areas. Off TX71 follow FM410/411 through Spicewood. Has a boat ramp that is open 24 hours.

18. Krause Springs A beautiful private park chosen as one of the best swimming holes in Texas by Texas Monthly. It has a spring-fed swimming pool, waterfall, creek swimming area, camping, restrooms, and showers. Take TX71 west to Hollingsworth Center (Spur 191) to Spicewood. Make a right at the four-way stop in Spicewood. Fee. 830/693-4181

19. Grelle Primitive Area A hiking trail winds around this 400-acre park. The park is on the south side of the lake; from TX71 take Spur 191 into Spicewood, make a right on County Road 412, and follow it about a mile past Krause Springs. The park has a nice, low shoreline with lots of open spaces, shaded camping spots, and restrooms. Fee.

20. Turkey Bend (East) Primitive Area An equestrian/ hiking trail winds over 400 acres, and it also has toilets and fire rings. At the Burnet/Travis County line on the north side of the lake off of FM1431 at the end of Shaw Drive (a beautiful drive in itself). Fee.

21. Muleshoe Bend Primitive Area In a bend in the river that looks like a muleshoe, this is the largest of the primitive parks. From TX71 turn on Paleface Ranch Road, then take FM404, turn at FM414 (at the sign for Country Music Miniature Donkeys). The park has lots of low shoreline and shaded camping areas, but it seems like a lot of the trash in the lake washes up here. It has toilets. Fee.

22. Gloster Bend Primitive Area Off FM1431 at the end of Singleton Road on the north side of Lake Travis about six miles west of Lago Vista, this LCRA recreation area is limited to daytime hours and vehicles must stay on designated roads and parking areas. Nice swimming areas, but you have to carry everything from the parking lot to the water. Boat ramp is open 24 hours. Fee.

23. Pace Bend Park (Paleface Park) With more than 1,300 acres and nine miles of shoreline, this park off TX71 at the end of FM2322 is one of the most popular swimming holes in Travis County, especially for its cliffs, overhangs, and coves on the west side of the four-mile-long peninsula. The eastern shore is more of a gentle slope. Twenty-two named coves with picnic facilities make it a favorite meeting place for large and small groups. Paleface has restrooms, drinking water, boat ramps, camping, a playground, and a jet ski course (seasonal). The one-mile center strip of the park is a wildlife preserve with hiking trails. Travis County operated. 264-1482. Fee.

24. Camp Chautauqua A former recreation area for Air Force personnel at Bergstrom at the entrance to Pace Bend Park, it is now leased to nonprofit groups by the county as a campground. It still has lots of recreation facilities, a boat ramp, fishing pier, and meeting shelters. Swimming is available from the rocky shore. Fee. 264-1752.

25. Dink Pearson Park At the end of Lohmann's Crossing Road off of FM1431. A great place to swim, but often crowded, especially on weekends and holidays. The park has picnic tables, a boat ramp, and restrooms. Last few miles of winding road to park offers panoramic view of the lake, but it's no place to be if you've been drinking too much or you're in a hurry. Day use only. Travis County Park. Fee.

26. Arkansas Bend Park Take Lohmann Crossing Road from Jonestown (FM1431) to Sylvester Ford Road. A nice park with two big coves with lots of cliffs and secluded spots. Arkansas Bend has a boat ramp, restrooms, camping, hiking trails, and picnic tables. Travis County Park. Fee.

27. Sandy Creek Park This park was built on rocky cliffs overlooking the lake. It has a boat ramp, restrooms, camping, drinking water, picnic tables, and hiking trails. On FM2769 just north of Volente. Travis County Park. Fee.

28. Volente Beach Club This restaurant has a beach and volleyball theme four miles from the intersection of FM2222 and FM2769, and includes three sand volleyball courts, a swimming area, marina, outdoor shower, and great sunset. Coolers allowed, but no outside alcohol allowed in. Day use. Fee. 258-9993.

29. Cypress Creek Park At the intersection of FM2222 and FM2769 (go west until FM2222 ends). This park is one of the first to be affected by low lake levels. There are separate areas for day use and camping, and the park has a boat ramp, restrooms, and picnic tables. Travis County Park. Fee.

30. Bob Wentz Park at Windy Point At the end of Comanche Trail off FM620. The lake level determines how big this park is. The popular sailing area features camping, restrooms, drinking water, picnic tables, nature trails, showers, a boat ramp (restricted to sailing craft) and sailboat rental (seasonal). 266-2544 or 266-3857. Travis County Park. Day use only. Pets not allowed on point swimming area. Fee.

30. Windy Point Park This privately owned park caters to scuba divers with a more than 100-foot dropoff with artwork on the bottom. The campground has showers and water. Next door to Bob Wentz Park at the end of Comanche Tr. 266-3337.

31. Hippie Hollow (McGregor Park) This is the only clothing-optional beach in the state. Its rock ledges are great places to sunbathe and picnic, and it has restrooms and hiking trails. Take FM620 to Comanche Trail and follow around to the park. Travis County Park. Must be 18 years old or older to enter. Day use only. Pets are not allowed. Fee.

32.Tom Hughes Park Turn off FM620 on Marshall Ford Road to Park Road, which winds to the park on the south end of Mansfield Dam. There is a steep climb to the water. Restrooms are available. Travis County Park. Day use only. Pets are not allowed. Fee.

33. Mansfield Dam On the south or west end of the dam off FM620 (depending on how you look at it). The water tends to be a little colder here because it is deepest near the dam. This area is popular with scuba divers. The park allows camping and has restrooms, picnic tables, drinking water, a boat ramp, and nature trails. Walk across the dam from the observation area. Travis County Park. Fee.


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Lake Austin
Constant level lake with colder than usual water. The 1,830-acre Lower Colorado River Authority lake meanders 20 miles up the Colorado River from Austin and Tom Miller Dam.

34. Fritz Hughes Park Just below Mansfield Dam, take Low Water Crossing Road off FM620 and go left at the "Y" in the road on Fritz Hughes Park Road. Fritz Hughes has a playground and nice picnic area, but not a great swimming area. If you go straight at the "Y" you get to the old low water crossing where the water is usually running pretty swift, and is more popular with fishermen than swimmers. Day use only. Travis County Park.

34. Selma Hughes Park Take FM620 to Quinlan Park Road below Mansfield Dam. Selma Hughes has restrooms and picnic tables. It's a small park, but scenic, with a nice, sandy lake bottom and plenty of shade trees. Day use only. Travis County Park.

34. Mary Quinlan Park Take FM620 to Quinlan Park Road. Quinlan has a boat ramp, restrooms, and little else. Day use only. Travis County Park.

35. City Park (Metropolitan Park or Emma Long Park) Off FM2222 just west of Loop 360. It's a great place, but crowded every weekend during swimming season. The park features camping, restrooms, cold showers, a playground, hike and bike trails, and boat ramp. Three miles of winding shoreline make it a popular place for fast boats. Fee.

36. Percy Pennybacker Bridge (Loop 360 Bridge or Bull Creek Park) Under the south end of the bridge over the lake. The bridge has a nice boat ramp and dock. Primarily a parking lot for boat trailers, but a great place to go skinny-dipping late at night.

37. Westlake Beach This privately owned park has a shaded picnic area, marina, concession stand, diving platform, playground, showers, and beach and water volleyball. Great place for family reunions or birthday parties. From Tom Miller Dam off Lake Austin Boulevard, take Red Bud Lane to a right on West Lake Drive and follow it around to park. Day use only. Fee. 2509 Westlake Dr. 327-9004.

38. Bull Creek District Park An often overlooked greenbelt, Bull Creek in North Austin is one of the nicest parks outside of the central city area. An alcohol-free park. Access to the creek is from a hike and bike trail that follows much of its winding course. The park is between FM2222 and Spicewood Springs Road along US360, and the main entrance is off FM2222 at the end of Lakewood Drive. Day use.


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Barton Creek
Barton Creek is part of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and the most beautiful urban natural area in the U.S. Access points to the creek are at Zilker Park, Loop 360 east of Loop 1, Barton Skyway at Spyglass, Gus Fruth Park on Barton Hills Drive, Camp Craft Road at the end of Westbank Drive, and Loop 1 south of Loop 360. Greenbelt and parks are alcohol-free areas. There are several popular spots on the creek, but these are the most popular.

39. Barton Springs Pool In Zilker Park, this gorgeous swimming hole is one of the top 10 tourist attractions in Austin. The spring-fed water is a consistent 68 degrees year-round. Showers, restrooms, a snack bar, playground, picnic tables, and canoe rental are available. Fee.

39. Campbell's Hole About a mile upstream from Barton Springs Pool on Barton Creek Greenbelt. Also accessible from Spyglass Road. It's a wonderful location with a deep pool that has water most of the year and small rapids upstream when the creek is running. It used to give visitors the illusion of being lost in the country, but now the cliffs are capped with condos.

39. Gus Fruth Park One of the best parks and swimming holes on the Barton Creek Greenbelt, it has white water around big boulders and deep pools. It's accessible by a rough, steep climb from Barton Hills Drive or a long walk on the greenbelt hike and bike path.

40. Twin Falls Two small waterfalls here empty into a small pool. It's a better place to watch people than to swim. Accessible from the entrance off the access road Loop 1 just south of Loop 360.


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Other Southwest
41. Camp Ben McCulloch Park Bought by the United Confederate Veterans in 1904 as a reunion campground, the camp is located 22 miles from Austin near Driftwood. Take TX290 south to FM1826. It's a beautiful, shaded park, but inconsiderate users have made litter a real problem. Camping is allowed in unmarked sites along Onion Creek. The Salt Lick Barbecue is across the road from the park entrance.

42. Reimer's Ranch Eleven miles from TX71 at 23610 Hamilton Pool Rd. and a mile before you get to Hamilton Pool Preserve. Closed Mon. & Tues., open Wed.-Sun., 7am-dark. Beautiful private park with shallow rapids and deep pools, favored by fishermen. Fee.

43. Hamilton Pool Preserve One of the most beautiful public parks in the county. Acquired by Travis County in 1985, the site has been a popular spring-fed swimming hole since the early 1900s. The property was once owned by the brother of the 10th governor of Texas and by the Reimer family (see above). The pool is in a box canyon fed by a 45-foot waterfall with a sandy beach and giant boulders. A nature trail follows Hamilton Creek about a mile to the Pedernales River. Open 9am-6pm every day, no one admitted into the park after 5:30pm (hiking trails are open year-round); admission is limited to 100 people. Water quality is carefully monitored and swimming is not allowed if bacteria count from nesting bird droppings is too high. From TX71 West turn left at Hamilton Pool Rd. (FM3238) and go 13 miles to the park. No glass, fishing, cooking, or pets are allowed in the park. It is best to call ahead before making the trip, 264-2740. Fee.

44. Pedernales Falls State Park About 30 miles south of Austin off TX290. Pedernales contains white water over a gradual slope and deep, slow-moving pools at the bottom of the "falls." Access to the river from the parking lot is a rugged, steep climb. The park offers camping, showers, restrooms, hookups, and hiking trails. 830/868-7304. Fee.

45. Blanco State Recreation Area Small dams make this park a scenic wonderland on the usually shallow Blanco River. It offers camping, picnicking, fishing, restrooms, showers, and paddleboats. It's an ideal stop on a day trip to the historic area. One mile south of the old Blanco courthouse on US281. 830/833-4551. Fee.