Austin’s Best: Places to Cool Off

It’s May 13, and things in Austin have been heating up for a while now. And when it’s time to cool off, it seems like we all head to the same place to seek relief from the miserable cloud of humidity– Barton Springs. But if you’ve tried to go past 3:00 p.m. on a Saturday or Sunday, you’ve witnessed the downside to its popularity: parking is impossible.

Luckily, Austin is full of places to cool off. This weekend, why not try out a new swimming hole?

Krause Springs Located 34 miles west of Austin, Krause Springs actually consists of two swimming holes. A fern-covered waterfall forms a swimming hole and spring-fed pool. Show off on the rope swing, swim for hours and then camp out in one of Krause Spring’s numerous campsites.Deep Eddy Pool This man-made pool is the oldest in Texas. It’s no secret to Austinites that Deep Eddy is a great pool for families and swimmers, but it still tends to be less crowded than other Austin hot spots. Adult recreational swimmers enjoy the lap pool while kids flop around in the large wading pool. They also set up a screen beside the pool for Splash Movies during the summer.

Hippie Hollow County Park Texas’s only clothing-optional park, Hippie Hollow is another popular place to swim and sunbathe, so you’ll want to make sure you get there early. Lying in the basin of Lake Travis, the park features a steep, rocky shoreline and provides spectacular views of the lake. You must be 18+ to get in (for obvious reasons).

Blue Hole Georgetown Open from dawn to dusk, this Hole is a scenic lagoon bordered by limestone bluffs along the South Fork of the San Gabriel River. It’s about 25 miles away from Austin, so bring a basket of food and make a day of it.

Where is your favorite place to cool off in Austin?