12 Natural Springs in Texas and Where to Find Them

What better way to enjoy a simple and laid-back vacation than dipping in a natural spring? We all want that adventurous experience of beach swimming, freediving, boating, or parasailing on one of the world’s natural wonders. Still, if we want something more relaxing and less adventurous, we know exactly where to run: springs. A spring has these calming vibes that help us make the most of our vacation without the need to swim too much. If you’re living in Texas, you’re in luck because that means you’re not far away from natural springs that will calm your nerves.

Some of the most beautiful places in the world to cool off are found in Texas’s spring-fed swimming holes, where the water is crystal clear. Therefore, you may find a cool place to plunge into the water nearby, whether in the busy city of Austin or the arid Chihuahuan Desert — you are never far from some of the most picturesque springs in the Lone Star State. Below, we will dive into 12 of the most beautiful natural springs in Texas and where to find them.

12 Natural Springs in Texas & Where to Find Them

1. Jacob’s Well

Perhaps one of the most popular natural springs in Texas on our list, Jacob’s Well, is also the most unique. The spring is situated in Texas Hill Country on the grounds of the Hays County Parks Department’s Jacob’s Well Natural Area (JWNA). One of Texas’s most beautiful springs, Jacob’s Well is a tour that should not be missed. It covers 81 acres of pristine natural land and is Texas’s second-largest submerged cave.

Jacob’s Well is actually among Texas’s most enchanted locations. Although swimming is a well-liked activity here, visitors can also take in the scenery on dry land. Jacob’s Well is a 140-foot-deep natural spring that draws water from the Trinity Aquifer. It would force water into the air in the 1900s, up to 6 feet! But to conserve Jacob’s Well after the water stopped flowing there in 2000, limits on visitors were put in place.

2. Balmorhea State Park

The Balmorhea State Park pool is the largest spring-fed swimming pool in the entire globe. A 46-acre (19 ha) state park, Balmorhea State Park was established in 1968 and is situated on the San Solomon Springs in Reeves County, Texas. You won’t want to pass up the chance to swim in these waters with some of Texas’s purest water. The park’s major attraction is the 1.3-acre (0.53 hectare), 3.5-million U.S.-gallon, spring-fed freshwater pool constructed around the springs. No chlorination is necessary because the spring has a steady flow of 22 to 28 million US gallons per day.

3. Comal Springs

Most of Texas’s naturally occurring freshwater springs are in Comal Springs. Landa Park in the city of New Braunfels contains seven main springs and several side springs. Water seeps through the Edwards Aquifer formation to generate the springs. You never know what you’ll find at this place because it is teeming with antiquities and archeological gems from when the local indigenous people lived there. The Comal Springs are a vast karst aquifer that receives water from the Edwards Aquifer and is home to many unusual plant and animal species. It also supplies water to most of central Texas.

4. Guadalupe River State Park

A portion of the Guadalupe River in the counties of Kendall and Comal is the site of the Texas state park known as Guadalupe River State Park. Even though the lovely Guadalupe River has some of the purest spring-fed water streams in Texas, it also attracts many visitors since it makes for excellent swimming. Choose a route of 4, 15, or 19 miles of waterways to explore a variety of ponds, creeks, and lakes. Armadillos, raccoons, and skunks are widespread in the park, as are white-tailed deer and other animals. The park also contains a wide variety of other bird species.

5. Barton Springs Pool

Natural mineral springs feed the Barton Springs swimming pool. All the water used in the Barton Springs Pool at Zilker Park, Austin, comes from an underground spring. The pool is located within the Barton Creek channel and draws water from Main Barton Spring, Texas’ fourth-largest spring. This spring-fed, 3-acre pool is more of a “warm” pool than a hot one, with a normal temperature of 68 to 70 degrees. Here, swimming is permitted all year long. This spring resembles a swimming pool more than a deep-soaking hot tub.

6. Blue Hole Regional Park

These famous springs in Texas were protected for future generations by the city of Wimberley after they were spared from construction in 2005. Today, the location is a 126-acre park that welcomes people of all ages. Deep in the Texas Hill County, Blue Hole Regional Park is a natural swimming hole fed by a spring and surrounded by the recognizable Cypress trees. The entire family will delight in swinging on their renowned rope swings, swimming in the clear water, and tanning on the lush swim lawn.

7. Krause Springs

A trip to Krause Springs will be among the most romantic camping experiences in the state for outdoor enthusiasts. Krause Springs, one of Texas’s most alluring springs, is a short drive from Austin and offers visitors a chance to get away from the city and enjoy the thriving natural beauty. The same family has held this upscale, 115-acre hot springs resort for more than 50 years, located in Hill Country roughly 30 miles northwest of Austin in Spicewood, Texas.

Thirty-two springs can be found there, and many supply both the man-made and natural pools that empty into Lake Travis. The location is perfect for the sweltering summer months when you don’t want to pass out from the heat. Though privately owned, the place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known as a “Texas institution.”

8. Hamilton Pool Preserve

Visit the Hamilton Pool Preserve, one of Texas’s most picturesque swimming spots, to see some of the area’s bluest water. The Pedernales River supplies this recreational area in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin. It forms a 50-foot waterfall cascading down a limestone ledge into this lovely natural swimming hole. Swimming is permitted all year long as safety allows, and it is one of the best day outings in Texas. 

9. Big Bend National Park Hot Springs

Big Bend National Park Hot Springs in West Texas undoubtedly hosts the best hot springs in the state. The actual hot spring is geothermally heated and maintains a constant temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. People who take a bath there have been believed to benefit from the healing properties of the natural salts that seep from the rocks into the waters.

You may select between the Langford Springs and the Boquillas Springs here, and since they are a little more than half a mile from the nearest parking lot, they seldom ever become busy. A substantial cement tub that serves as the region’s hot spring was left behind by the historic Langford Bathhouse, which was in operation more than a century ago. You can reach these hot springs by using one of the many beautiful hiking trails nearby.

10. Boykin Springs Recreation Area

A prolific rocky spring in Zavalla, Texas, close to the Louisiana border, is known as Boykin Springs. There are many reasons to visit and enjoy this spectacular water landmark, besides taking in one of Texas’ most stunning natural springs. This recreation area, situated in Jasper County on Boykin Springs Lake in the Angelina National Forest, provides a variety of activities, including swimming, hiking, fishing (directly from the springs), camping, picnicking, and simply taking it easy in the great outdoors. There are many swimming areas, including one with a sandy beach that is ideal for spending a day in the water with family.

11. Hancock Springs Pool (Lampasas)

Hancock Springs Pool is Texas’s oldest spring-fed pool, but what gives it its appeal may be that it hasn’t been as crowded with swimmers as some other natural springs in the state. People from all around Texas came here to soak in the therapeutic waters, and many even got baptized. Hancock, however, is one of the few swimming holes in Texas that receives its cool, 70°F water from an artesian spring, along with Barton Springs and Balmorhea. Nothing feels better when it’s still September and creeping up 100 degrees.

12. Chinati Springs

Infrequently referred to as the Ruidosa Springs, the Chinati Hot Springs is a well-liked attraction at a privately owned oasis adjacent to Marfa’s vacation and camping rentals. These springs have record high temperatures of 113 degrees Fahrenheit, making them hotter than the other springs on this list. There are “cooling ponds” close to the hot springs if you need to cool off. Additionally, the water is said to have minerals that heal conditions like arthritis, skin problems, and stomach ulcers.

Summary of 12 Natural Springs in Texas

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