Since we came to a conclusion that the old blue hole in Wimberley isn't as good as it used to be now that the city took it over...Where are everyons favorite swimming holes? Public and Private? Best cliff jumps? Rope swings?
Best cliff jump spot for me is at Medina Diversion.
Best swing is on the horshoe on the guadalupe.
Best hole is up at Gate 9 Diversion area.

I think Texas Monthly did a cover story a while back on the best swimming holes in Texas.

TX Monthly article, yes! Balmorrhea State park is definitely a winner!

I have that issue of Tx Monthly. We have a Blue Hole out in Montell, Tx north of Uvlade. It is the best swimming hole with a 15 foot cliff I have ever been to. Even has a natural water slide. Up the creek there are ruts that Mormon wagon trains left. Also there are a lot of old historic military people buried near our property like the Baylors from the 1860's. I'll take pics next time I'm there.

We've got a spring on the ranch in Junction that runs in a solid rock canyon for about a mile before dumping into about a 30 foot deep crystal clear hole surrounded by 100 foot rock cliffs. I grew up swimming in that hole and I've yet to find a more fun place to swim now that I have my own kids. It's cold as a witches teet but man is it a blast to bale off those cliffs!

Barton's Springs in Austin (ssss) is a favorite...my dad was lifeguard in his teens there. And Hamilton's pool....we used to frequent that collapsed cavern swimming hole in college, but then it got overrun by people before ultimately becoming a county? run park. With the county came rules, but at least people are NOT breaking beer bottles everywhere like in the old days.

One of the best cliffs used to be jumping off the cliff on the Majer's side of the Frio. They built a rail up there after several nasty injuries.

We preferred to jump out of the cypress trees below Baldy downstream from the dam. 12-15 feet of water, and ~50 foot tall trees. Good shiznat.

I still miss the old rope swing tree they cut down, and the cypress trees that used to be by the deep hole near the pavilion. Those were fun to jump from.

As for "just really cool" Balmorreah (SP) is really cool.

Sokol swimming pool on Hwy 34.

Krausse Springs

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Krausse Springs

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+1
Awesome place to hang out on a hot summer day.


[This message has been edited by Brad06ag (edited 7/30/2010 1:52p).]

A little known one is out in Christoval (outside of San Angelo). Its got several swings, plenty of shade Pecan trees, nice fishing and cool spring water year-round.

[This message has been edited by p-wonk01 (edited 7/30/2010 1:59p).]

+2 Krause Springs

Where is that one? Never been there.

Not public

When I was a kid living in Winters we had a lease on a ranch northwest of town. It was the head waters for a spring feed creek.

The swimming hole was about 15 feet wide, 8-10 feet deep, 30 -40 feet long, and on the back side was a cliff about 20' above the water. Water was crystal clear and cold. Every summer we would camp or picnic on the grassy side and swim. The banks were shaded by large pecan trees. The grass as I remember was always full of chiggers.

I was also known to go up there with a cold six pack and a friend and spend the day.

A place that will never make anyones list but we always had a great time was Yates crossing on the Llano River close to London.

Here are the swimming holes between our city home and our ranch that we visited this summer:

Krause Springs
Colorado Bend
Our swimming hole on the Colorado RIver
Devil's swimming hole at Inks Lake
Blue Hole, Wimberly
Pedernales Falls
Llano river

I'll rate them but, they are all good. We just like the places where you can spend a day or more better.

1) Llano river (free) near Kingsland, Pedernales ($5/adult, kids free) & Colorado near Colorado Bend State Park (free for us) - Lots to do, can spend an entire day or more. The Frio would be up here also but, we haven't made it there this summer.

2) Colorado Bend ($5/adult, kids free) - Gorman Falls is worth the hike and the swimming holes are nice but, small.

3) Krause ($5/adult, $4/kids) - Cold water in the spring fed pool, nice trees, a good hour or two stop.

4) Blue Hole ($7/adult, $3/kids) - not cold but, refreshing, beautiful water a good half hour stop. A good stop on the way to Fredericksburg from Austin. However, Pedernales Falls is also on the way if you are looking for a longer stop.

5) Devil's swimming hole, Inks Lake ($5/adult, kids free) - nice if you are camping there but, probably not worth a stop.


All my "good" pictures had kids in them. All from July/August 2010.


Llano river swimming hole with packsaddle mountain in the background, still fairly unknown outside of the locals.


Pedernales Falls State Park


Colorado River swimming hole, South side of island North of Bend and a few miles South of Salt Creek.


Gorman Falls (You can't swim here but, there is a shallow pool between the park boundary and the Colorado river where you can enjoy the cool water.


The shallow pool at Gorman Falls between the park and the river. I don't have pictures of the swimming holes on the South side of the park.


Krause Springs


Krause Springs pool (as cold as it looks)


Blue Hole, Wimberly


Devil's Swimming Hole, Inks Lake. Kids like to jump off that cliff and the bolder ones go off the top of that big boulder. It's not much as far as cliff jumping but, that is one of the main activities.

[This message has been edited by HECUBUS (edited 8/9/2010 11:29a).]

OP, what contacts do you have to Medina Diversion?

ridiculous cliff dives at Hell's Gate at Possum Kingdom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq4h5fdPPE0&feature=related

Balmohrea is a long way out there, but worth the trip if you include Marathon, Ft Davis, Alpine, and or Big Bend

For six summers, I worked across the lake from Hell's Gate (and the other PK cliffs). I may have found myself plummeting into the water from a high position. Ok, every Friday night.

Parts of the Paluxy River are nice.

Cousins have a place out there...they go mayyybe once a year..I'd be there every weekend if they'd let me.

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Hell's Gate

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Work at Grady Spruce or Constantin?