Spring swimming holes: Looking for natural springs and hot springs near you? Spring swimming holes include geothermal hot springs (85°F–105°F) and freshwater spring pools (68°F–72°F) fed by deep aquifers. We document 56 spring destinations nationwide that maintain steady temperatures throughout summer, fall, and winter. Inventory counts by type are on the U.S. swimming holes dataset.
Spring swimming holes are spring-fed pools and hot springs with steadier temperature and often strikingly clear water. Confirm land rules and soaking etiquette before you go.
Spring swimming holes split into two trips: geothermal soaks (roughly 85–105°F) and aquifer-fed freshwater basins that hold near 68–72°F all year. The second group is why Florida, Texas Hill Country, and parts of the Ozarks stay swimmable when rivers are muddy.
Reservations and capacity limits are common at the famous basins. Confirm hours and water-quality notices the morning you go, and never put your head under in undeveloped hot springs.
56 destinations nationwide.
Prefer distance sorting? Use the GPS finder filtered to spring.
State-specific lists with spring destinations only.
Natural freshwater springs are fed by underground limestone aquifers (like the Floridan and Edwards aquifers). Because the water remains insulated deep underground, it discharges at a constant 68°F to 72°F (20°C–22°C) year-round, making it feel delightfully chilly in summer and pleasantly steamy in winter.
Alligators can live in any freshwater body in Florida, but they generally prefer warm, murky, calm water over the cool 72°F water and high human activity found in designated spring swimming areas. State park staff monitor spring basins regularly; always swim during daylight hours in designated zones and never feed or approach wildlife.
Warm geothermal springs (over 80°F) can harbor microorganisms like Naegleria fowleri or coliform bacteria. To stay safe in natural hot springs, never submerge your head underwater, avoid snorting or getting water up your nose, stay hydrated, and limit soak times to 15–20 minutes to prevent heat exhaustion.
High-demand natural springs (such as Hamilton Pool, Blue Hole Wimberley, and Balmorhea in Texas, or Ginnie Springs and Ichetucknee in Florida) frequently require online day-use reservations or reach park capacity by 9:00 AM on summer weekends. Always check reservation rules before heading out.
Showing 36 of 56 spring listings. Use the state links above for the rest.
Agua Caliente Hot Springs south of Tucson / Green Valley, AZ — free undeveloped canyon thermal pools in Coronado National Forest (not Tucson’s Agua Caliente Park). High-clearance FR-183 approach; no facilities; soak at your own risk.
View detailsAgua Caliente County Park near Julian, CA — San Diego County desert mineral pools (outdoor swim + ~102°F indoor spa). Open roughly Labor Day to Memorial Day; fees apply.
View detailsApopka-area nature swimming centered on Wekiwa Springs State Park (1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka) — clear ~72°F first-magnitude spring near Orlando. About $6/vehicle; day-use reservations frequently required.
View detailsBagby Hot Springs and Swimming Area is a hot springs swimming spot on BAGBY AREA near Portland, Oregon. What people come for: Crystal-clear blue-green water; Short and scenic hike to access. Expect a fee of about $5 per person, and you will find restrooms and camping. Best visited in late spring–early fall. Carry cash for the $5 soak fee; confirm road status before the drive.
View detailsVisit the iconic San Solomon Springs pool at Balmorhea State Park in Texas. Plan your trip with directions, activities, and essential visitor info.
View detailsBlue Hole NJ in the Winslow Wildlife Management Area — cold Pine Barrens spring pool near Vineland and Hammonton. Trail directions, free access, and why swimming is discouraged.
View detailsBlue Hole - Pigeon lies in Georgia, where Spring moves through a wooded corridor. There are no signs directing you here, no lifeguards, no snack bars.
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Blue Pond lies in Alabama, where Blue Pond draws visitors who want a bank-access swim. Fed by natural springs, the water holds a distinctive blue-green hue that catches the light on a clear morning and makes the surrounding longleaf pines look even greener by contrast.
View detailsPlan a trip to Chinati Hot Springs in West Texas near Marfa and Presidio — remote private desert soak, reservations, fees, and Pinto Canyon Road driving notes.
View detailsFaywood Hot Springs near Silver City / Deming, NM — private geothermal resort with clothing-required and clothing-optional pools. Day-use ~$18.25; reservations required.
View detailsGlenwood Hot Springs Resort in Glenwood Springs, Colorado is a paid commercial hot-springs pool complex on the Colorado River (world’s largest outdoor hot springs pool). Book tickets ahead in peak season — not a free wild soak.
View detailsGoldbug Hot Springs south of Salmon, Idaho — free terraced hot pools after a steep ~2-mile hike from the Warm Springs Road trailhead. Private-land easement at the start; pack water.
View detailsNestled near the small town of Middletown, the property sits within a folded landscape of oak woodland and chaparral, where the earth itself pushes mineral-rich water to the surface in a quiet, almost ceremonial act of geology.
View detailsHomestead Crater in Midway, UT — ~96°F geothermal spring inside a limestone dome near Park City. Timed soak/swim sessions about $30 with reservations required.
View detailsIt's something rarer and more restorative. Natural mineral-rich water, geothermally heated far below the surface, is channeled directly into private fiberglass hot tubs where you can soak at your own pace, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the Southern Appalachians.
View detailsVisit Jefferson Pools (Warm Springs Pools) in Warm Springs, VA — historic geothermal bathhouses with timed soaks, fees, reservations, and directions from Lexington.
View detailsJerry Johnson Hot Springs off US-12 on the Lochsa River in Idaho are free riverside geothermal pools reached by an easy ~1-mile trail from Warm Springs Pack Bridge (mile markers 152–153). Day-use only; no camping at the pools.
View detailsKirkham Hot Springs on the South Fork Payette River near Lowman, Idaho is a Boise National Forest day-use soak (~$5/vehicle). Gate hours typically 7 a.m.–9 p.m. with no overnight camping; walk in across the bridge to riverside pools. Confirm current USFS alerts before you go.
View detailsLafayette Blue Springs State Park near Mayo, Florida is a first-magnitude spring on the Suwannee River with ~72°F blue water. Florida State Parks day-use fees apply; confirm swimming status on the park page — high river levels sometimes close the spring.
View detailsMontezuma Hot Springs near Las Vegas, NM — free historic pools beside the Gallinas River on UWC land. Open 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; clothing required; no pets, glass, or alcohol.
View detailsOlympic Hot Springs near Port Angeles, WA — natural pools requiring a long hike/bike because Olympic Hot Springs Road is closed to cars at Madison Falls. Park entry fee; soak at your own risk.
View detailsPeacock Springs State Park near Live Oak, Florida protects clear spring runs popular for cave diving and snorkeling. Florida State Parks day-use fees apply; swimming is in designated spring areas only — confirm floridastateparks.org.
View detailsSan Felipe Springs in Del Rio, Texas is a clear spring-fed swimming spot in Horseshoe City Park on San Felipe Creek — community park access with cold, steady spring water.
View detailsStrawberry Park Hot Springs near Steamboat Springs, Colorado is a private, reservation-required mineral soak on County Road 36 — not a free wild spring. Expect steep unpaved access, limited parking, cash-only day rates, and clothing-optional hours after dark; book ahead on strawberryhotsprings.com.
View detailsUmpqua Hot Springs east of Roseburg, OR — geothermal tub above the North Umpqua reached by a short steep trail. $5 day-use or forest pass; day-use only with nudity common.
View detailsAlvord Hot Springs near Winnemucca (NV), Oregon is a hot springs swimming spot on Alvord Hot Springs. What people come for: Geothermal heated waters; Remote desert location. Expect a fee of about $5 per person, and you will find restrooms and camping. Best visited in Late spring through early fall. This is extremely remote country.
View detailsAquatic Park near San Francisco, California is a spring-fed pool swimming spot on San Francisco Bay. What people come for: Historic National Landmark status; Calm, sheltered bay waters. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find parking. Best visited in June to August. Check water conditions before entering.
View detailsBerkeley Springs S. P. near Martinsburg, West Virginia is a hot springs swimming spot on Hot Springs. What people come for: Historic mineral spa; Year-round hot springs. Expect a fee of about $10 per person, and you will find restrooms and picnic areas. Best visited in Spring. The mineral water is for external bathing only.
View detailsA natural spring wells up here with extraordinary clarity, feeding a natural swimming hole. The air smells of cool water and cedar, the canopy filters afternoon light into shifting green and gold, and the sound of kids launching off a swinging rope fills the summer air with the kind of joy that doesn't need a soundtrack.
View detailsBlue Spring S. P. is a spring swimming spot on Blue Springs near De Land, Florida. What people come for: Largest spring on St. Johns River; Year-round 73°F water temperature. There is a fee or park admission, and you will find restrooms, picnic areas and camping. Best visited in December through February. Swim only in designated areas.
View detailsThe centerpiece of this beloved state park is Blue Spring itself. A natural limestone spring that pushes crystal-clear water up through a sandy bottom, creating a shimmering, blue-green pool that looks almost too perfect to be real.
View detailsNeither destination is developed or officially managed, which means you get something harder to find in the American West: a genuinely wild soak, where the smell of sulfur mingles with sage and pine, and the backdrop is pure Sierra Nevada grandeur.
View detailsWhat makes it remarkable isn't just the water. A natural limestone cave in the heart of Rolator Park gives birth to the spring, sending a steady rush of crystal-clear water into a concrete pool that has welcomed swimmers for generations.
View detailsChena Hot Springs near Fairbanks, Alaska — a 106°F natural hot springs lake open year-round at the end of Chena Hot Springs Road. Day passes, hours, and winter aurora soaking tips.
View detailsNear Jonesboro in Arkansas, Crowleys Ridge S.P. Perched atop one of Arkansas's most fascinating geological curiosities, Crowley's Ridge State Park rises like a forested spine from the flat Mississippi Alluvial Plain of northeastern Arkansas.
View detailsVisit Crystal Springs Beach, a spring-fed pool west of Texarkana. Offers swimming, slides, and diving. Find directions, fees, and safety tips.
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