Making waves

Stunning Hill Country pool cannonballs onto Condé Nast Traveler list of top swimming holes

Condé Nast Traveler says Hamilton Pool has unrivaled “storybook majesty.”

Photo by Deborah Stachelski

As Mother Nature cranks up the heat in Texas, it's time to think about a getaway to cool off in the country’s best swimming holes.

A list published May 24 by Condé Nast Traveler magazine crowns Hamilton Pool in the Hill Country — west of Lake Travis and north of Dripping Springs — as one of eight “stunning” swimming holes in the U.S. (But before you jump in the car and drive south from Dallas, there's something to know about it now — read on.)

No other spot in Texas made the unranked list.

While giving a nod to two other watering holes in Central Texas, Barton Springs and Blue Hole, Condé Nast Traveler insists “they can’t rival the storybook majesty” of the Hill Country’s Hamilton Pool.

“The crown jewel of a 232-acre preserve, its 50-foot waterfall gushes over a limestone outcrop, making for wildly dramatic photos. The falls can slow to a trickle in drier weather, but the pool water remains consistently high,” the magazine says.

But that's a bit of a tease.

Unfortunately, all swimming is prohibited at Hamilton Pool “for the foreseeable future,” the Travis County Parks department recently announced.

“Following the big freeze in February,” the department says, “rocks have been falling with increased frequency at many locations in and around the pool. We are working with geologists to assess the hazard. We do not expect swimming to be allowed this summer.”

Furthermore, the section of trail that flows underneath the overhanging cliff at the pool also is closed for safety reasons, and Saturday morning guided hikes at Hamilton Pool are suspended indefinitely.

Even when this “crown jewel” is accessible, you can’t just show up. Reservations to visit Hamilton Pool are required every day of the week. People seeking a respite from the hot Central Texas summer can usually plunge into Hamilton Pool during the 9 am-12:30 pm and 2-5:30 pm daily reservation periods. The per-car entry fee is $12, while the per-person entry fee is $8 for adults and $3 for seniors; children 12 and younger are admitted at no cost.

Swimming at Hamilton Pool also isn’t allowed after heavy rainfall or if there are high bacteria levels.

So, what if you arrive at your reserved time but aren’t able to swim there?

“Most visitors enjoy hiking to the pool and photographing the waterfall, as well as relaxing on the beach or in the shade of the rock overhang. On most occasions, you can hike three-quarters of a mile through the plush canyon to the Pedernales River,” Travis County Parks says.

If you want to add "top swimming hole" to your out-of-state vacay plans, try another one on the Condé Nast Traveler list: Devil’s Punchbowl, Colorado; North Chick Blue Hole, Tennessee; Fanning Springs State Park, Florida; Robert H. Treman State Park, New York; Falling Water Falls, Arkansas; Slide Rock State Park, Arizona; or McCloud Falls, California.

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Exploring Texas

Texas' new Palo Pinto State Park opens just a 2-hour drive from Dallas

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park opens March 1

Texans will be able to hike, fish, camp, and explore a brand-new state park — the first new Texas state park in 25 years — starting on Sunday, March 1.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located at 100 Park Road 77 in Strawn, spans 4,871 acres of former ranchland between Abilene and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (about a two-hour drive west from downtown Dallas).

According to a press release, the land was originally purchased by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in 2011 and the park was expected to open three years ago, but construction delays impeded the opening. Funding for the park was provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF), the Texas Legislature, the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, the federal government, and $10 million was raised by TPWF through private donations.

The park offers more than 16 miles of trails for hikers, bikers, and horseback riding, and the park's website states 1.25 miles are ADA compliant, and all-terrain wheelchairs are available for some non-accessible trails. Campers and overnight guests also have three campsites to choose from, including RV sites, walk-in tent spots, and primitive camping areas.

Visitors are also welcome to swim, fish, and boat (note: motorboats are not allowed) in the 68-acre Tucker Lake using the park's accessible kayak/canoe launch, fishing pier, and fish cleaning station. Visitors don't need a license to fish at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, and the park will loan fishing gear upon request.

Tucker Lake at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Visitors are welcome to kayak and canoe at Tucker Lake, but motorboats are not allowed.Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Birding enthusiasts might spot golden-cheeked warblers during their visit, as the endangered species take residence in the park's oak and Ashe juniper trees in the spring and summer months. Many other migratory birds can be seen at the park throughout the year.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is anticipating high visitation in March with the spring season's temperate weather and Texas schools' spring breaks. TPWD strongly encouraged visitors to reserve day passes in advance to avoid being turned away if the park has reached its capacity limit.

"This is a tremendous moment for Texas State Parks and the state of Texas," Texas State Parks director Rodney Franklin in the release. "Opening Palo Pinto Mountains State Park represents the culmination of collaborative efforts that includes our Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as well as private donors. I am proud of the dedication of our TPWD team but also the unwavering support of the Texas Legislature and the voters of Texas that have brought us to this moment. State park staff stand ready to welcome families far and wide to begin making memories at Texas’ newest state park."

Day passes are available up to one month in advance, are non-transferrable to another person or park, and are valid all-day until 10 pm unless the park closes earlier. Day passes can be reserved online or by calling TPWD's Customer Service Center during regular business hours at (512) 389-8900. Entrance fees are $7 daily for adults and children aged 13 and older, and admission is free for children 12-years-old and younger.

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