Texas summers get hot enough to make you question your life choices, but the state hides a secret weapon: spring-fed swimming holes that stay cool no matter how high the thermometer climbs. These pools pull their water straight from underground springs, so they hover in the 60s and 70s even in August.
Some are tucked into desert oases, others sit right in the middle of busy towns. If you want a place to cool off that feels like nature built it just for that reason, this list is for you.
1. Barton Springs Pool, Austin, TX
Right in the heart of Austin sits a natural spring pool that holds steady at about 65 degrees all year long. That chill is exactly why crowds keep coming back when the city bakes.
The pool stretches across a grassy, tree-lined stretch of Zilker Park, giving you leafy picnic spots and clear views of the downtown skyline. There is a diving board for the brave and clean shower areas for everyone else…