Full Description
Nothing beats a natural swimming hole for cooling off on a scorching summer day in Texas. Cold, clear spring water, big old shade trees, and a quiet stretch of beach or lawn offer the perfect excuse to pack a cooler and head out with family and friends to the nearest natural oasis. Whether you're looking for a quick getaway or an unforgettable summer vacation, let The Swimming Holes of Texas be your guide.
Julie Wernersbach and Carolyn Tracy highlight one hundred natural swimming spots across the entire state. The book is organized by geographic regions, so you can quickly find local places to swim-or plan a trip to a more distant spot you'd like to explore. Each swimming hole is illustrated with an inviting color photo and a description of what it's like to swim there, as well as the site's history, ecology, and conservation. The authors include all the pertinent info about admission fees and hours, parking, and on-site amenities such as showers and restrooms. They also offer tips for planning your trips and lists of the swimming holes that are most welcoming to families and pets.
So when the temperature tops 100 and there's nothing but traffic in sight, take a detour down the backroads and swim, sunbathe, revel, and relax in the swimming holes of Texas.
Contents
Introduction: Swim the Lone Star State
Planning Your Trip
Swimmers' Etiquette
History and Conservation
Park Rules and Regulations
State Parks
National Parks
North
Belton Lake
Cedar Ridge Park
Buffalo Springs Lake
Caprock Canyons State Park
Cleburne State Park
Copper Breaks State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Fort Parker State Park
Grapevine Lake
Katie's Woods
Meadowmere Park
Lake Arrowhead State Park
Lake Brownwood State Park
Lewisville Lake
Little Elm Park
Pilot Knoll Park
Stewart Creek Park
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
Possum Kingdom State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park
Isle du Bois Unit
Johnson Branch Unit
Stillhouse Park
Twin Points Park at Eagle Mountain Lake
East
Boykin Springs Recreation Area, Angelina National Forest
Daingerfield State Park
Fort Boggy State Park
Huntsville State Park
Lake Bob Sandlin State Park
Lake Livingston State Park
Lake Tejas
Martin Dies Jr. State Park
Ratcliff Recreation Area, Davy Crockett National Forest
Tyler State Park
Central
Badu City Park
Bandera City Park
Black Rock Park
Boerne City Lake Park
Cypress Bend Park
Flat Rock Park
Guadalupe River State Park
Hancock Springs Free Flow Pool
Ingram Dam
Inks Lake State Park
James Kiehl River Bend Park
Kerrville-Schreiner Park
Lions Park
Llano River Slab
Louise Hays Park
Moffett Park
Pedernales Falls State Park
Robinson Llano County Park
Wagon Wheel Crossing
Austin and Surrounding Area
Arkansas Bend Park
Barton Creek Greenbelt
The Flats and Campbell's Hole
Gus Fruh
Twin Falls and Sculpture Falls
Barton Springs Pool
Blanco State Park
Blue Hole Park, Georgetown
Blue Hole Regional Park, Wimberley
Bull Creek District Park
Canyon Lake Park
Colorado Bend State Park
Deep Eddy Pool
Emma Long Metropolitan Park
Hamilton Pool Preserve
Hippie Hollow/McGregor County Park
Jacob's Well Natural Area
Krause Springs
Landa Park
Laura Reed Park
Mansfield Dam Park
McKinney Falls State Park
Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area
Pace Bend Park
The Point at Bob Wentz Park
Prince Solms Park
Rio Vista Park
River Trail Park
Sandy Creek Park
San Marcos City Park
Sewell Park
William Eleanor Crook Park
Zedler Mill Park South
South
Choke Canyon State Park
Coleto Creek Park
"Come and Take It" Historic Swimming Hole
Lake Corpus Christi State Park
Max Starcke Park
Palmetto State Park
West
Amistad Reservoir
Balmorhea State Park
Del Rio's Blue Hole at Moore Park
Boquillas Hot Springs, Big Bend National Park
Devils River State Natural Area
Fort Clark Springs Swimming Pool
Garner State Park
The Quince
San Felipe Lions Park
Utopia Park
Wes Cooksey Park
Our Top Fives
Acknowledgments
