16 of America's Most Beautiful Swimming Holes

These dreamy locales are calling your name on a hot summer day.

Getty Images
Ginnie Spring: High Springs, FL
Snorkelers and scuba-divers-in-training love Ginnie Springs, a network of seven natural springs off the Santa Fe River, for its clear water and underwater caves.

Flickr/Melody McClure
Turner Falls: Davis, OK
Tucked away alongside the Arbuckle Mountains, the historic Turner Falls Park boasts a natural swimming pool that's formed by Honey Creek rushing down a 77-foot drop — Turner Falls' largest waterfall.

Getty Images
Havasu Falls: Supai, AZ
Located on the Havasupai Tribe Reservation, the swimming hole at Havasu Falls is a doozy to get to, but well worth it. You'll need a permit, and the journey involves a 10-mile trek (or a helicopter or mule ride). Fun fact: Havasupai means "people of the blue green water."

Getty Images
O'heo Gulch: Maui, HI
Formed by the Pipiwai Stream, the seven pools of O'heo Gulch are an excellent spot to cool off after a scenic waterfall hike at Haleakala National Park.

Flickr/ Mike Christoferson
Robert Treman State Park: Ithaca, NY
Located in the wine-making Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, the stream-fed pool at Robert Treman State Park lets visitors kick back in the water while admiring the stunning falls.

Flickr/Jimmy Emerson DVM
Blue Hole: Santa Rosa, NM
There's no touching the floor of this artesian spring. Scuba divers know the hole is at least 200 feet deep, and it doesn't stop there — one man even came across an underwater cliff.

Flickr/bobu
Tolliver Creek Falls: Oakland, MD
Fans of this creekside swimming hole, in Swallow Falls State Park, say getting there is a fun and easy hike for the whole family.

Photo courtesy of Yelp
Tassajara Creek: Carmel Valley, CA
Tucked away in Los Padres National Forest, this section of Tassajara Creek — known colloquially as "the Narrows" — is a favorite among hikers and guests of the nearby Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.

Flickr/Missouri Division of Tourism
Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park: Middle Brook, MO
The section of the East Fork Black River that's narrowed (or "shut in") by smooth rocks forms the basis for this "natural water park."


Flickr/Robert Thigpen
Blue Hole: Wimberley, TX
It's not hard to see why animals of all kinds, from birds to reptiles to amphibians and humans, enjoy the 126-acre haven that is Blue Hole Regional Park.


Flickr/Michael Matti
Oneonta Gorge: Mount Hood National Forest, OR
Bring water shoes for this one: The trek may involve slippery rocks and a logjam or two, but beautiful Lower Oneonta Falls is worth it.

Flickr/Photog aka eddie penland
Sliding Rock Falls: Asheville, NC
Take a detour off the Blue Ridge Parkway for this 60-foot water slide courtesy of Mother Nature.

Flickr/Brenton Rogers
Cummins Falls State Park: Cookeville, TN
Although only accessible by a moderate, one-hour hike, this gem is by no means hidden: It's been popular since the days when buffalo roamed the land, and draws a crowd on summer weekends.


Flickr/Eli Duke
Dougan Falls: Washougal, WA
A massive pool at the base of Dougan Falls is just one of several places to take a refreshing dip in the Washougal River.


Fickr/Outdoor Alabama
Caney Creek Falls: Double Springs, AL
Located in Bankhead National Forest, both the upper and lower Caney Creek Falls cascade into lovely swimming holes.

Flickr/Dave Wilson
Hamilton Pool Preserve: Travis County, TX
Part of the federal Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, this extraordinary pool is formed by Hamilton Creek flowing over the remnants of a limestone cave. Expect to wait your turn: The pool's popularity means long lines, even on weekdays.

Next
12 All-American Islands to Visit This Summer
From: Country Living US


By Maria Carter

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We're Obsessed With This Floating Lightbulb

Image
Flyte No magic, batteries, or wires here: Swedish designers Flyte promises to "set the lightbulb free" with its new concept — a bulb that hovers over its base thanks to magnetism and air induction. Hand-crafted in Sweden from sustainably-sourced oak, ash and walnut, Flyte turns on and off by a tap on the electro-magnetic base. If you don't need the light, the base can also transform into a wireless charging station for your phone. Yes, it's expensive, starting at around $$$, but considering the LED bulb is rated for 50,000 hours, it's a conversation piece that could last a lifetime. Flyte And don't worry about a curious cat or grabby toddler: The shatterproof glass won't break if Fluffy knocks it over. And since you don't need to plug it in, it's the ultimate kid-proof lighting solution. No tripping on unwieldy wires! Interested? Back Flyte at its Kickstarter page. Flyte Flyte More from House Beautiful: • 5 Reasons to Get Excited for Denmark...
Read more

Every Day Is Chrismas at the Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska

A post shared by Timothy Wang (@ttttimwang) on Dec 26, 2014 at 3:00pm PST In the tiny town of North Pole, Alaska the celebration of Christmas doesn't just happen on the 25th — every day is fair game for wearing red and green, and much of that is all thanks to Con and Nellie Miller. You see, back in 1952 they opened up a trading post in the newly named city and, in honor of Con's tradition of dressing up as Santa at every Christmas, they decided to give it a very special name: The Santa Claus House. It started off as a spot to grab necessities (think: a grocery store and post office combo). But as the community grew so did the store, and they added Christmas treasures, a new wing, and the world's largest Santa that stands 42-feet-tall. Today, thousands of people visit the store every year and millions have ventured to North Pole since they've opened. Looking for a festive photo opportunity? You've come to the right place. This holida...
Read more

"Fredagsmys" Is the Swedish Way to Make Your Friday Nights Extra Cozy

Image
Getty While the Danes have hygge , Swedes have mys , which basically translates to “coziness.” While the two concepts are similar—they both come from Scandinavian countries with extremely cold winter weather, for one — mys has a particular focus on eating delicious food that comes to a head on Friday evenings with the tradition of fredagsmys . Fredagsmys translates roughly to “cozy Fridays” and became embedded in Swedish culture in the 1990s when a marketing campaign for chips encouraged people to relax at home on Fridays and indulge in junk food after a long week of eating well and working hard. While fredagsmys can look different whether you’re a family with kids or a group of friends who get together every Friday night, the key ingredient “is easy meals for which everyone is the master chef,” according to the book The Swedish Kitchen . “Finger food and snacks are preferred to cooking and cleaning a pile of dirty pots ...
Read more