If you’ve ever seen photos of Blue Hole Regional Park in Wimberley, Texas, you can understand why it is a favorite swimming spot for so many people each summer. The water is cold, the rope swings make it exciting for those who don’t want to just float, and the setting under the cypress trees is just a little magical.
We love to head out to Wimberley, about 45 minutes to an hour southwest of Austin, every summer to swim among the trees. Because you have to make reservations to swim, it’s never too packed, and there’s a sunny lawn right by the water where everyone goes to warm up.
We have gone with our two kids for the past several years. Here’s what you need to know about heading to Blue Hole Regional Park.
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When can you swim?
The swimming season at Blue Hole runs from May 1 to Labor Day, plus weekends in September. You can start purchasing half day passes on March 1. If you want a season pass, residents can buy them March 1 and non-residents can buy them April 1.
Do I have to make reservations to swim at Blue Hole?
Yes, reservations are required for swimming. Make reservations starting March 1 at the Wimberley Parks and Rec page. If you want to go on a weekend, I’d recommend booking it early on in the summer because the spots do tend to fill up. Weekdays are easier to get.
The reservations are for half day passes, so you choose either the 9 am to 1 pm time slot, or 2 pm to 6 pm.
You can’t go in the swim area without a reservation, even if you’re not swimming. But you don’t need a reservation for the rest of the park.
What should I bring to Blue Hole?
Bring food, drinks, towels and something to sit on! (No alcohol allowed.) You can go big with your setup or simple, but I’d say bring at least a picnic blanket and lots of snacks.
Lots of people use wagons to bring their camping chairs, tents, towels and big coolers. There are some picnic tables and umbrellas but you have to reserve them ahead of time.
Wear water shoes. The bottom is very rocky and doesn’t feel good on bare feet. You can bring personal floats and noodles, and they have life jackets to borrow.
Is the water cold?
The water is spring-fed so it stays cold — somewhere around 70 degrees. This feels great when it’s really hot outside but can be hard for little kids to handle, even if they want to! Last time we went, my 4- and 6-year-old were shivering and had blue lips. Expect to be in and out a lot with your kids so they can warm up in the sun.
Where do I park?
There is a parking lot right by the entrance to the swimming area. Once that fills up, there are parking spots on the streets in the park, but they are a longer walk to the entrance.
If you want a spot in the close parking lot, get there as early in your time slot as you can. Your walk gets longer the later you show up. You can drop people and stuff off at the entrance, but it gets kind of backed up if many people are doing that.
What to expect when swimming
The depth of the water changes significantly as you move away from the entrance, from 1 foot to more than 18 feet deep. My kids could touch the bottom on the shallow end around age 4; but it gradually gets deeper and then more quickly as you move toward the rope swing.
In the shallow end (the part closer to the entrance), the water starts out the day really clear, but as it gets crowded, the dirt gets stirred up and the water’s not as pretty. If you want that clear blue water, get there early or head to the deep area where there aren’t as many people (and you can’t touch the bottom to reach the dirt).
The water entry is a couple of natural stone steps with a railing. Not super even and can get slippery. You kind of have to plop into the cold water!
What else is there to do in Wimberley?
Wimberley is a great little town to spend the weekend if you don’t want to go to Blue Hole and back to Austin in one day (though it’s of course doable).
- More swimming: Cypress Falls Swimming Hole
- Pioneer Town at 7A Ranch. Small pioneer-times town with train ride and ice cream parlor
- Restaurants: The Leaning Pear (has an old Fortlandia fort outside), Community Pizza and Beer Garden (has a fun bouncy playscape with a slide and monkey bars), Creekhouse Kitchen (creekside with a small turf area), Shady Llama (playground, playhouse, great view, and llamas)
Looking for more ideas for this summer? Check out the dinosaurs in the area, play in splash pads or visit these lake beaches. Other swimming holes out west include Hamilton Pool and Krause Springs.