The Blanco River Narrows Is One of the Best Swimming Holes in Texas

There are few issues (apart from barbecue) that get Texans extra heated and excited than an under-the-radar swimming hole. And tucked alongside the Blanco River within the Texas Hill Nation lies a legendary swimming spot few have seen—and even heard of.

Right here, miles away from the closest public highway, a small canyon carves into curving limestone. Inside is a hidden world of trickling springs and deep, darkish swimming pools. As you descend into the canyon from the dry riverbed, all sounds stop, save for the dripping of spring water. Maidenhair ferns wave gently on the canyon partitions, and curious fish swim as much as the floor, their translucent fins fanning out on both aspect as they tread water. This surprise is named the Blanco River Narrows.

Flanked on both aspect by non-public land, the Narrows is accessible solely by a challenging hike by way of the (largely) dry mattress of the Blanco River. For the intrepid adventurer who’s up for the journey, the Narrows is a worthy quest. 

“It is the fruits of this grueling expertise, and you then’re on this virtually otherworldly, magical, hidden place that so few individuals get to go,” says Wes Ferguson, a Texas-based author and creator of the 2017 e-book “The Blanco River.” “It is unimaginable.”

As soon as, the land across the Narrows was owned by a household who would invite individuals to park on their property for a small payment and stroll all the way down to the swimming pools. Now, it’s a bit harder to get to. When you don’t have a direct connection to one of many landowners, there are presently solely two routes to achieve the Narrows.

Earlier this summer season, we determined to make the trek through the upstream route. The round-trip journey includes greater than 14 miles of mountaineering by way of a (largely) dry riverbed, beginning at a low-water bridge over the Blanco alongside Chimney Valley Highway. The opposite route begins downstream, and though it’s a barely shorter hike, there are extra water crossings. 

Each entry factors require hikers to remain within the riverbed—which is public land according to Texas law—all the time to keep away from trespassing. Needless to say though strolling the riverbed to the Narrows is authorized, this hasn’t stopped native landowners from making an attempt to intimidate hikers. Having learn stories the place hikers returned to their vehicles to seek out their tires slashed, we selected to take a rideshare to the bridge as a substitute. 

As we stepped out of the automotive within the predawn darkness, the fact of our endeavor hit: we had been instantly alone with out a car in the midst of nowhere. We had been additionally in for a protracted stroll on uneven terrain, neck-deep water crossings, and must bear the stifling warmth of a Texas summer season afternoon on our return. We took a deep breath and stepped off the rocks close to the low bridge into the darkish water. 

Our hike to the Narrows took round 4.5 hours. The primary half a mile or so was flooded from latest rain, and at one level, the river was so deep our ft might not contact the underside. A lot of the remainder of the hike was dry and traversed light gravel bars or clean limestone expanses, skirting the perimeters of grassy bluffs and rocky cliffs.

As we neared the top, the riverbed widened right into a seemingly countless area of tall grasses interspersed with boulders, making for sluggish going. Then, it constricted once more right into a rocky channel dotted with sycamore bushes, and the rocky floor gave solution to stable sheets of water-carved limestone. Lastly, the limestone mattress cut up open, and we noticed the gorge. 

The primary pool we encountered was cool, inexperienced, and shallow. As we swam down the size of this pool, the remainder of the Narrows opened up earlier than us. Stair-stepping downstream between the fern-covered canyon partitions had been a sequence of limestone cabinets and swimming pools so deep they appeared black. We tied our 50 ft of rope to a handy column within the rocks and jumped in. 

The swimming pools themselves had been great, the perimeters impossibly clean. “One of many fascinating geological marvels [here] are these potholes,” says Ferguson. “They had been fashioned over millennia by rocks that get caught and [started] swirling when the water flowed over. That sluggish grinding of those little rocks simply swirling round ended up creating these huge potholes … Legend has it that they’re bottomless.”

I swam all the way down to attempt to see the underside, however no luck. The swimming pools might look bottomless, however I later realized they’re between 20 to 50 ft deep. Some are linked underwater, and I swam between them beneath gorgeous submerged arches.

The Narrows extends for 1 / 4 mile, and at instances, the 40-foot-tall canyon partitions are not more than 10 ft aside. Its lush fern-covered springs are a pointy distinction to the encompassing dry riverbed, and I questioned why the Blanco emerged from underground at this specific spot.

“You understand, in a manner it doesn’t,” he says. “The river is flowing underground beneath the riverbed. However in that spot, the riverbed type of cracks open, and so that you’re primarily wanting down right into a cave that has misplaced its roof.”

As we packed up and left the Narrows, steeling ourselves for the seven-plus-mile hike again to the bridge the place kindhearted pals would decide us up later that afternoon, I felt grateful to have skilled this Texas natural wonder. I don’t know if I’ll make the trek once more, however I do know the great thing about the Narrows will reappear in my desires for years to return.

When you select to go to this magical place, be respectful and apply Depart No Hint rules. Pack out what you pack in, and don’t take fossils or artifacts you discover. Earlier than you start your journey, do analysis on the hike. Whereas our journey to the Narrows was clean, on-line accounts may give you some concepts of different obstacles you might encounter. Come ready with water, meals, and cord, and take additional care to not trespass by staying within the riverbed. As you strategy the Narrows, purple paint markers on the rocks point out the boundaries of personal property. 

“I believe that the landowners … really feel like they’re the protectors of this magical place,” says Ferguson. “So, I perceive the place they’re coming from, and I believe that one of the best argument for the remainder of us to proceed to have entry [to it] is by defending this place and by cherishing it.”