Blue Hole in Texas is among the most beautiful and popular swimming pools in Texas, a wonderful place where to spend a relaxing day with your beloved ones.
The Blue Hole swimming hole is located very close to Wimberley in the heart of Texas hill country, and it is surrounded by natural forest and grass fields.
The John Dobie family owned the property since 1897. In 1920, the family allowed the public to use the lake for swimming and picnics.
The Dobie family sold the property to a private Austin partnership over the years.
The new owners only allowed limited access to the swimming hole and camping area.
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Table of Contents
What is Blue Hole Texas Wimberley?
Blue Hole is a natural swimming pool located close to Wimberley that is fed by Cyprus Creek, one of the mainsprings in the area.
This place is famous for its very clear water. The water temperature is usually around 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which is about 20 degrees Celsius.
People like to come here because it feels cozy and there is a lot of amazing vegetation to hide in on hot days. The swimming area is also great.
This is a great place to spend a day with your family. You can relax and be in nature. But you need to make a reservation before you go.
This place gets crowded during summer, so they limit the number of people who can visit.
Are there any swings at Blue Hole in Texas?
Well, we have good news for you!
There are two swing ropes that are hanging down from the Cyprus trees.
You can climb up a few wooden boards to get to the ropes.
The ropes come in different sizes. The smaller one is good for kids or people who are not as adventurous.
The second rope is longer and good for people who want to get a little bit more adrenaline.
The second rope, which is the longer one, is usually more popular and gets more use.
This happens especially during the summer when more people are using the ropes.
Driving time to Blue Hole pool
The driving time between the swimming hole and the main cities from Texas are:
- 45 minutes from Austin, Texas
- 70 minutes from Fredericksburg, TX
- minutes from San Antonio, Texas
Planning a visit to Blue Hole swimming pool
Before you come to Blue Hole National Park, there are some things you should know. Y
ou will have a lot of fun here with your family and friends, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Booking in advance
This is a very popular place in Texas. The owners only allow a limited number of people to swim and go picnic inside the area.
You should make a reservation before you go to make sure that you get the date that you want. Book your seat in advance to secure the date.
The place gets really crowded during summer weekends, so it’s a good idea to book everything in advance.
Bathing at Blue Hole
The swimming hole is open between May and September, and the summer months are really crowded.
There are two slots available when making the reservation:
- The morning slot is between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- The afternoon slot is between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
You can enter and exit the area at the times you book.
But, if you miss the time you book, you cannot enter the next time slot.
No matter the hour when you arrive, when the slot period ends you have to exit the property.
If you cancel your reservation one week before the date you reserved, you will get 75% of your money back.
If you cancel the reservation less than one week from the reservation date you will not receive any money back.
Remember that if you want to change the date or time of your reservation at Blue Hole in Texas, you cannot do so. You can only cancel the reservation.
For any change, you want to make you need to cancel the existing booking and make a new reservation for the new dates and time, if available.
The prices for reserving a slot are as follows:
- 12 USD for an adult ( age 13 to 59)
- 6 USD for children 4 to 12, seniors age and higher, and Military
- 6 USD for Wimberley residents
Seasonable passes are also available if you plan to visit this place a few times a year and the prices are:
- 110 USD for adults
- USD for children, seniors, and Military
Facilities available at Blue Hole Texas
Bring with you everything you need for a day at the pool because there are no shops or any other facilities available near the pool.
There is a restroom located right at the entrance in the park, while picnic tables are available at an extra charge and should be booked at the moment when you make your reservation.
Most of the picnic tables are located under the Cyprus trees so you have natural shade on a hot day of summer.
If you visit Austin, Texas and you’re looking for a fun and refreshing activity a little different from Blue Hole Texas, you don’t want to miss Barton Springs Pool.
This natural swimming pool is a beloved local attraction, and visiting it can be a highlight of your trip.
Things to know before you visit Blue Hole in Texas
Before cooling off in one of the most beautiful natural swimming pools in Texas, here are some things you need to know:
- There are no lifeguards on duty at this swimming pool so you swim at your own risk
- You pay with a card when you make your reservation
- The water is really cold, but it is perfect to cool off on a hot day in summer
- There is a lot of shade in the water as a large part of the swimming hole is covered by Cypress trees
- Beware where you walk because the other side of the swimming pool is private property; there are a lot of signs that announce you this
- Inside Blue Hole National Park you can go hiking as there are a lot of trails available and you don’t need a reservation for this activity.
- There is also a playground inside the park where you can play with your family and friends
Swimming at Blue Hole
The waters of Cypress Creek are quite cold all year round, even during the hottest days of the Texan summer.
The water is clear and there are two ropes and a platform from where you can jump off into the water.
The bottom of the natural pool is quite rocky so that is why we recommend wearing water shoes.
In some parts of the lake, the water is not very deep, being perfect for children and beginners, or even for those who think that the water is too cold to jump in.
What to bring with you for a day at Blue Hole
As I said earlier there are no shops or restaurants from where you can buy anything you need so you’d better bring everything from home.
I drop below a list of the most important things you have to take with you for a day at the natural pool:
- Blanket
- Snorkel gear
- Drinking water
- Picnic basket with snacks, sandwiches, or something good for lunch
- Sun cream
- Sunglasses
- Sun hut with UV protection
- Water shoes
- Tubes or any type of pool floats
What you cannot bring inside Blue Hole in Texas
First and the most important thing to know is that you are not allowed to bring any alcoholic drink with you around the pool.
Access inside the park with alcohol is strictly prohibited and you may lose your reservation if alcohol is found in your bag.
Besides alcohol, there are a few other restrictions that you have to know before entering the park:
- Pets are not allowed, except for service animals
- BBQ grills are not allowed
- You cannot go fishing
- Smoking is not allowed inside the park
Parking at Blue Hole Texas Wimberley
Right at the entrance of the park, there is a very spacious parking lot and parking is free of charge.
You have to pay just for swimming in the natural pool the prices indicated above in the article.
The walk from the parking lot to the swimming hole is quite relaxing and it will take you just a few minutes.
Facilities available
In the parking lot, there are many restrooms and changing rooms as well as showers where you can refresh after a cooling bath in the swimming hole.
Inside the park, right near the swimming hole, there are picnic tables which can be booked for an additional fee, upon availability.
When you reserve the slot for swimming hole you should also reserve a table, but hurry up as they are likely to fill out soon, especially during the summer weekends.
If there are no tables available, then grab a blanket and stay in the designated area for blankets where you can also have a relaxing picnic with your family and friends.
Inside the park, there are also volleyball courts and basketball courts so you can do some exercise after a short bath in the cold waters of the natural swimming pool.
Inside Blue Hole National Park there are also hiking trails, so bring your hiking shoes with you to explore the area.
If you are lucky, you might spot deer and squirrels as there are plenty in the area around the swimming pool.
Hotels and rentals
There are plenty of things to do in the area, so consider booking a few nights at one of the hotels and vacation homes available in the area.
Our top picks for the area are:
- The Wimberley House is a beautiful vacation home conveniently located close to Blue Hole, featuring one separate bedroom and two bathrooms, ideal for 4 persons. The home comes with a completely equipped kitchen, a patio, and a barbeque area.
- Wimberley Inn is a beautiful 3-star hotel with garden views, clean rooms, and a fully equipped bathroom located quite close to Wimberley city center.
- Austin Cottage on Cypress Creek is another wonderful vacation home located in Wimberley, a short drive from Blue Hole. The property has one bathroom and one bedroom, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a beautiful patio with a river view.
Conclusion
Blue Hole in Texas is definitely among the most popular swim holes in Texas conveniently located close to Austin, and a short drive from Wimberley.
It is the best place to go on a hot day of summer as the water is quite cold and the cypress trees located around the pool protect you from the Texan sun.
The place is extremely crowded during the summer weekends so make sure you reserve your seat well in advance.
Book also a picnic table and grab with you some snacks, water and sandwiches because you will most probably get hungry after a refreshing bath in this natural swim hole in Texas.
FAQ
What is the Blue Hole in Texas?
Blue Hole is a crystal clear natural pool located about 45 minutes away from Austin in the vicinity of the small town of Wimberley. The pool is hidden between some cypress trees so you will not get sunburns even if you spend the whole day in the pool.
It is the perfect place for a day out with your family and friends, but you need to book well in advance as the place is extremely popular during summer weekends.
How deep is the Blue Hole Wimberley Texas?
Nobody knows for sure how deep Blue Hole Wimberley is but what I can tell you for sure is that it is deep enough to jump from the swinging ropes hung by the cypress trees around the pool.
Is the Blue Hole Texas open?
Blue Hole Texas is open from May to October from 8 in the morning till 8.30 in the afternoon.
The swimming hole is accessible upon reservation and there are two slots available: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Logistical tips and tricks for your trip
Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.
You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.
Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insuranceor Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money, plus COVID coverage.
Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected events and cost like illness, COVID, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.
We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.
Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.
We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.
Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.
We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.
Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.
Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.
