5 AWESOME DAY TRIPS
5 places to cap off exercise with a dip in a swimming hole
The best way to cap off a summer workout? Jumping into a glinting Hill Country swimming hole, of course, where blue-green waters cool tired muscles and soothe the spirit.
Devastating spring floods did at least some good — they recharged rivers, springs and lakes all over the state. This summer, you won’t have to look far to find a place for a post-exercise plunge.
Before you take a flying leap, though, take a few precautions. Currents in some of the swimming spots mentioned below can be swift. Don’t get in unless you’re a strong swimmer. And never swim if signs indicate that conditions are unsafe.
Water quality can be an issue, too. Stormwater runoff can contain high levels of fecal bacteria that can make you sick. It’s safest to wait a few days after heavy rain before getting in the water. And avoid excessively warm or stagnant waters — they can harbor the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, which can cause the rare but deadly disease primary amebic meningoencephalitis. (For more information, go to tinyurl.com/peptx9o.)
And now, five suggestions for action-packed day trips that wrap up with a cool dip in a classic Texas swimming hole:
1. Mountain bike and swim at Pedernales Falls State Park.
Load up your mountain bike and check out the 15 miles of
new mountain bike trails that recently opened at Pedernales Falls State Park. They’re not for newbies — expect some challenges on the single-track Juniper Ridge and Madrone routes, which wind around streams and past a small grotto. When you’ve worn out your quads, get off the bike and head to the day-use swim area, where you can leap into the Pedernales River. Then head to the falls upstream, where you can see water sliding down slabs of limestone that look like they were placed there by a giant. It’s a rare sight. Admission is $6 per adult (free ages 12 and under); 2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, 830868-7304.
2. Road bike and swim at Krause Springs in Spicewood.
If you prefer your bike tires skinny and your route paved, park at Spicewood Elementary School, 1005 Spur 191 in Spicewood. Head north a few hundred yards until the road intersects with County Road 404. When it dead ends at County Road 402, take a left and cruise until you get to U.S. 281. If you double back, it’s a 23-mile ride. (Or you can take a longer route — check the details of Bike Austin’s Krause Kruze at austincycling.org/maps.) When you finish, you’re within a mile of Krause Springs, where you can plop into a cypresslined natural swimming hole. Yes, it’s cold. Elton Krause, who opened this beloved swim spot to the public, died in 2011, but his son David has taken over. Don’t miss the rope swing and fern-covered grotto, where you’ll feel like you’re in Hawaii. Admission is $7 per adult ($5 for ages 4-11); 404 Krause Spring Road, 830693-4181.
3. Rock climb and swim at Reimers Ranch Park.
If you’d rather get your workout by scaling rock walls, try Reimers Ranch Park, where you can strap on a harness, clip into bolts screwed into the limestone and shimmy up the escarpment. The 2,427-acre park features some of the area’s best climbing (plus 18 miles of mountain bike trails.) The best part? When you’re finished, you can take a dip in the Pedernales River, which is running deep through the park this year. The park features 3 miles of river access, and a gravel-covered “beach” that’s perfect for throwing down a towel. Admission is $10 per vehicle; 23610 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, 512-2641923.
4. Hike and swim at McKinney Falls State Park.
At McKinney Falls State Park, you can pitch a tent and spend the morning hiking along Onion Creek, pausing to inspect the ruins of the old McKinney homestead and horse trainer’s cabin. The park is also home to a 103-foottall cypress named “Old Baldy,” estimated to be more than 500 years old. When you’re ready for a break, take a dip in Onion Creek — or, if the flow is too brisk, go gape at the water crashing over the Upper and Lower Falls. It hasn’t looked like this in ages. Admission is $6 for adults (free ages 12 and under); 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, 512-2431643.
5. Trail run and swim at Gus Fruh on the Barton Creek Greenbelt.
If running’s more your speed, lace up your trail runners and stay right here in town for a run at the Barton Creek Greenbelt. You can get lost in the tangle of root- and rock-covered trails for an hour or two, then finish up with a dive into Gus Fruh Pool, accessible by car from the top of Barton Hills Drive. Soak up the moment — since the drought started in 2011 it’s been more of a trickle through a rock garden than the bigger-thanan-Olympic-sized-swimming-pool that it is today. Admission is free; access at 2642 Barton Hills Drive.