4 days · Road trip
The Swimming Holes Loop
A summer road trip built entirely around cold, clear water — the best way to beat a Texas July.
The trip
Four days, four kinds of water: a deep artesian spring, a cypress swimming hole, a grotto waterfall, and a long lazy river float. The catch is logistics — the famous holes all require reservations now — so this trip rewards a little planning.
Best for Families and friends in summer; anyone chasing cold water and shade.
A schematic of the route — 5 stops, roughly 140 miles.
Day by day
The plan
- 1
Day 1
Wimberley waters
Base in Wimberley. Morning at Jacob’s Well (reserved), afternoon cooling off at Blue Hole under the cypress, evening on the square.
- Jacob’s Well
- Blue Hole
- Wimberley square
- 2
Day 2
Hamilton Pool & the Pedernales
Drive to Hamilton Pool (reserved) for the grotto and waterfall, hike down to the Pedernales, then picnic and paddle nearby.
- Hamilton Pool
- Pedernales canyon trail
- 3
Day 3
Float the Guadalupe
Head to the Guadalupe below Canyon Lake and spend the day tubing with an outfitter. Dinner and music in nearby Gruene.
- Guadalupe River
- Gruene Hall
- 4
Day 4
The Comal & home
A gentle morning float on the spring-fed Comal in New Braunfels — short, cold, and perfect — before the drive home.
- Comal River
- New Braunfels
Before you roll out
Trip tips
- Reserve Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole, and Hamilton Pool as far ahead as you can.
- Check water-quality status for Hamilton Pool before driving out.
- Water shoes, a dry bag, and a backup swimming hole save the day.
On this route
Destinations you'll hit
Wimberley
29.997°N 98.099°WHays County
An arts town built around water — Jacob’s Well, Blue Hole, and the Cypress Creek. Market days, galleries, and the bluest swimming in Texas.
Hamilton Pool & the Pedernales
30.342°N 98.126°WTravis County
A collapsed grotto where a 50-foot waterfall spills into a jade-green pool. Reserve ahead — this is the most-photographed swimming hole in Texas.
Gruene & New Braunfels
29.738°N 98.104°WComal County
A 19th-century river town wrapped around the oldest dance hall in Texas, with the Guadalupe and the spring-fed Comal running right past the door.
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