9 natural springs to escape the long, hot US summer

1. Jacob’s Well, Texas

This karst spring in the Texas Hill Country near Wimberley is well-known for its extensive cave system, particularly Notably the cave entrance visible just below the water’s surface. Many visitors dive or jump into the four-meter-wide opening; for those seeking a little less action, Jacob’s Well is ideal for wading and cooling off.

2. Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Florida

Ichetucknee Springs is a 50-minute drive from Gainesville. Tubing is extremely popular here, and the Blue Hole Spring, the largest in the area, draws a lot of SCUBA divers. Typical of Florida springs, the water temperature remains at 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Ginnie Springs, Florida

Privately owned, Ginnie Springs attracts cave divers from all over as the spring, which feeds the Santa Fe River, allows entry to extensive passages and caverns. The Devil’s Eye system (which can be accessed through several entrances) contains over 30,000 feet of mapped passageways.

4. Bennett Spring State Park, Missouri

With an average flow of 100 million gallons of water daily, Bennett Spring offers no shortage of area for activity. Hiking, camping, and canoeing are all popular — but the main one? Fly fishing. Rainbow trout and brown trout can be found in the spring, resulting in anglers lining the spring daily.

5. Balmorhea State Park, Texas

Fed by San Solomon Springs, Balmorhea State Park’s water attracts visitors from all over looking to cool down. What do they find? A pool with a diving board — but this pool isn’t chlorinated, and it happens to have plenty of fish in it. At 25 feet deep, it provides for an interesting SCUBA and swimming location.

6. El Dorado Swimming Pool, Colorado

While it may appear to be a simple pool, it’s actually fed by an artesian spring in the old resort community of El Dorado Springs, in Boulder County. Pool parties pop up at times, while a slide and diving board are also available.

7. Blue Hole of Santa Rosa, New Mexico

An artesian well in central New Mexico, the Blue Hole of Santa Rosa is one of the most-visited sites in the United States for SCUBA training. The temperature is a constant 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Once a fish hatchery, the pool is 80 feet in diameter at the surface, but reaches 130 feet in diameter at the bottom of the pool.

8. Blue Hole, Texas

Yes, another Blue Hole. And this one’s also in the Wimberley area. Visitors can spend hours floating around in inner tubes; those looking for some airtime can use the rope swing that hangs from one of the hundreds of cypress trees on the bank.

9. Juniper Springs Recreation Area, Florida

Juniper Springs is located in the Ocala National Forest, which is the second largest national forest in the state of Florida. The springs, surrounded by subtropical foliage, look like a hideout straight out of a movie. The nearby cabin is so popular that reservations are decided by lottery.