9 natural swim spots within about 80 miles of Payson, Arizona.
This page lists 9 natural swimming holes near Payson, Arizona, sorted by straight-line distance within about 80 miles — including 1 river, 4 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 1 lake. It is a city day-trip list, not the national GPS finder. Open each listing for directions, fees, and access before you drive.
Near Payson, Arizona, our directory maps 9 natural swimming holes within about 80 miles of the city center — including 1 river, 4 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 1 lake. The closest mapped spot is Payson Arizona Swimming Spots (0.7 mi straight-line). Distances are not drive time; open each listing for directions, fee notes, access rules, and safety context before you travel.
| Central place | Payson, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Search radius | About 80 miles |
| Mapped spots | 9 |
| Closest listing | Payson Arizona Swimming Spots (0.7 mi) |
| Water types | River (1), Creek (4), Waterfall (1), Lake (1), Other (2) |
| Typical fees | 6 free · 2 fee · 1 varies |
9 natural swim spots in Arizona, sorted by distance from the city center. Statewide inventory counts are on the U.S. swimming holes dataset. For live GPS sorting from your device, use the GPS finder.
The creek carves its way through a rugged riparian corridor where the Sonoran Desert transitions into the cool ponderosa pine forests of the Mogollon Rim country, creating a landscape that feels surprisingly lush against the Arizona heat.
View detailsTucked into the canyon country of central Arizona, the Camp Verde swimming holes — known locally as the Bull Pen — are one of those rare finds that reward the effort it takes to reach them.
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CAVE CREEK is a creek destination on Cave Creek in AZ near Phoenix, Carefree, Cave Creek. Fee note: None. Confirm current access and conditions before you go — no lifeguards at informal spots.
View detailsMormon Crossing (often searched as Mormon Crossing) is a free creek swimming hole in Arizona used for wading and cooling off. Informal access — scout depth and flash-flood risk in monsoon season.
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Pebble Beach near Phoenix, Arizona is a river swimming spot on Salt River. What people come for: Salt River swimming and tubing; Picnic tables and family-friendly amenities. Expect a fee of about $6 per vehicle, and you will find restrooms and picnic areas. Best visited in May to September. Wear a life jacket, especially while tubing or if you are not a strong swimmer.
View detailsGrasshopper Point and Oak Creek swimming near Sedona, AZ — cliff-side creek pools 2 miles up Oak Creek Canyon. Separate day-use fee; lot fills early in summer.
View detailsSycamore Canyon near Sedona / Clarkdale, Arizona is a remote red-rock canyon with seasonal creek swimming holes. Free hike-in wild access — bring water; monsoon flash floods are dangerous.
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The creek winds through sandstone formations sculpted by millennia of wind and water, creating a ribbon of blue-green calm that rewards anyone willing to seek it out.
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Wolf Creek Falls near Phoenix, Arizona is a falls swimming spot on Wolf Creek. What people come for: Secluded waterfall pool for swimming; Cool, clear waters year-round. Access is free, and you will find restrooms and camping. Best visited in Spring. Wear sturdy hiking shoes with traction for the steep, loose, and rocky trail.
View detailsBrowse by water type in Arizona — each link opens the full state directory for that category.
Looking for rivers near you to swim? A river swimming hole is moving water deep enough to swim or wade — often a bend, pool, or slack-water pocket. Browse river spots below, or start with GPS near-me sorting, then confirm access and flow the day you go.
Looking for swimming creeks near you? Creek swimming holes are smaller stream and brook pools — usually cooler, shallower, and tucked into forests or hollows. Use the list below (or near-me GPS), then confirm water level after rain.
Waterfall swimming holes are plunge pools and cascades fed by falls. Flow is often seasonal; check depth, cold water, and slippery rock before you enter.
Looking for swimming lakes near you? Only swim where it is allowed — many reservoirs and drinking-water lakes ban body contact. This catalog is lakes, ponds, and reservoirs with documented public swim access: beaches, fees, and no-swim warnings on each listing.
Mixed or unique water types that do not fit a single category — review each listing for access and conditions.
People search for this in a dozen different ways. Here is what each one means around Payson, with the counts from our directory.
Highlights and safety notes from our listings — not third-party reviews. Report outdated info or share a tip.
Payson is a practical launch point for day trips to natural swimming holes in Arizona. Within about 80 miles you will find 9 mapped destinations in our directory, starting with Payson Arizona Swimming Spots about 0.7 mi from the city center.
The mix spans river, creek, waterfall, lake, other — related terms searchers use include creek swimming, river swimming holes, spring-fed pools, and wild swimming.
Every card on this page is a verified directory entry in Arizona with map coordinates. We measure straight-line distance from the Payson city center — not driving time. A creek swimming hole 12 miles away on forest roads can take longer than a river access point 20 miles away on a highway.
Wild swimming near Payson includes informal river bends, spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools, and developed park swim areas. Rules, fees, and seasonal access differ by land manager. Never assume swimming is allowed without checking the listing and posted signs the day you visit.
Natural water near Payson changes after rain, snowmelt, and summer heat. Cold shock, currents, submerged rocks, and bacteria are real risks at creek and river swimming holes — most sites have no lifeguard. Check weather and local advisories before you enter the water.
We publish original planning copy, safety tips, and last-updated dates on each listing. See our editorial policy for sourcing standards, or contact us if access or conditions have changed.
Near Payson, Arizona, our directory lists 9 natural swimming holes within about 80 miles — mainly 1 river, 4 creeks, 1 waterfall, and 1 lake. Each listing links to directions, fee notes, and safety context. Use near me on your phone for live distance sorting from your location.
This page shows 9 mapped natural swim spots within about 80 miles of Payson. The full Arizona directory may list additional holes farther out or awaiting coordinates. Counts update as we verify new listings.
The closest open mapped spot to Payson is Payson Arizona Swimming Spots (0.7 mi straight-line). Open that listing for driving directions, access notes, and current fee information — unofficial holes can change without notice.
6 listings note free or no-fee access; 2 require a fee or park admission; 1 have variable or unverified fees. Open each spot page for current fee details.
Near Payson, documented water types include river, creeks, waterfall, lake, others. A swimming hole is a natural outdoor pool in moving or spring-fed water — not a chlorinated pool. Filter by type on the Arizona state page or open each card for water-body details.
Late spring through early fall is the usual swim season near Payson, but snowmelt, drought, and weekend crowds change conditions week to week. Check each listing before you drive — high water after storms can make creeks and rivers unsafe.
Wild swimming near Payson carries real risks: cold water, currents, rocks, and no lifeguards at most unofficial sites. Check weather, water level, and posted warnings the day you visit. Read our river safety guide and each listing's safety section before entering the water.
Within about 80 miles of Payson we map 4 creek swimming holes. The closest is Cave Creek, about 38 mi out. Also searched as: swimming creeks near me, water streams near me.
Within about 80 miles of Payson we map 1 river swimming hole. The closest is Pebble Beach, about 50 mi out. Also searched as: rivers you can swim in near me.
Within about 80 miles of Payson we map 1 swimming lake. The closest is Clear Creek, about 64 mi out. Also searched as: lakes to swim near me, swimmable lakes near me.
Within about 80 miles of Payson we map 1 waterfall plunge pool. The closest is Wolf Creek Falls, about 67 mi out. Also searched as: waterfalls to swim in near me.
Listing data last updated across spots on this page.
Guides: Arizona swimming holes guide