RPMatt

Jacob’s Well is one of Texas’ most beautiful and unique destinations. Nestled in the hill country near Wimberley, it is a spring that makes up the headwaters of Cypress Creek, which flows through Blue Hole Regional Park and feeds into the Blanco River. The water stays a cool 68 degrees year round.

Unfortunately, in recent years it has been prone to drought conditions, and even dried up for part of 2023. Hays county, where the well is located, does a great job of managing the area and protecting it from the effects of overcrowding. There are limited windows in which you can visit the park and even more limited windows where you can swim in the well. However, the area has plenty to do to fill your time besides Jacob’s Well!

In addition to the well, there is the town of Wimberley, Blue Hole Regional Park, the Comal River, and Canyon Lake all nearby. I spent a long weekend here in the area with some friends last summer, and we had a blast!

The photos for this post were taken by @FirstGenerationTraveler. Go and check out his page for some beautiful film photos!

Getting to the Wimberley area

If you’re located in Texas, Wimberley is only about an hour outside of Austin or San Antonio. You’ll likely either be staying in Wimberley or near Canyon Lake. If you’re coming in from out of state, you can fly to the airport in Austin and pretty easily get to the area by car. Austin’s airport is big enough to have quite a few flights but small enough to easy to get in and out of, especially with it’s location on the edge of the city.

If there is enough water to allow swimming in Jacob’s Well, then you have to reserve your spot. You can find info on how to do so here. Swimming is only open from May 1-Sep 30 every year and a reservation to swim costs $9. However, entry to the park is free all year round.

Nearby, the Blue Hole Regional park is another great swimming spot that is less impacted by drought. You also have to reserve a spot for Blue Hole, and you can do so here. Tickets for this year (2024) go on sale March 1st.

Where to Stay in and around Wimberley

Finding a place to stay can be somewhat tricky depending on your budget. Since Wimberley is such a small town that only recently became as popular as it is, there are not a lot of traditional hotel options. Personally, I think this is a good thing and was probably done on purpose to help benefit the locals. However, it does complicate things a bit for visitors.

There are some great options in Wimberley, and a few more nearby in Canyon Lake. They range from resort style lodges near the lake, to ranch-style bed and breakfasts to glamping. Here are a few options:

7A Ranch

This property contains multiple small buildings and a large pond. Each of the buildings have separate rooms similar to traditional hotel-style rooms.

Wimberley Inn + Bar

This is a traditional hotel-style place, walking distance from all the restaurants and boutiques found in downtown Wimberley. This would give you great access to Blue Hole as well.

The Juniper Ranch & Retreat

This is a glamping site a bit closer to Canyon Lake. It contains a few different tents you can choose from, and they have private hot tubs as well as a pool on the property. Definitely seems like the most unique experience listed.

Canyon Lakeview Resort

Another Canyon Lake property, this one overlooks the lake. The main lodge has rooms, and there are also cabins you can rent if you have a larger group or want more privacy. It looks to have good access to the lake itself, and you can enjoy hiking and fishing nearby if you prefer to stick around the resort.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations Hill Country Resort at Canyon Lake

This is where I stayed with my friends. We rented out two cabins for 10 of us, and had a few extra spots. Each cabin is equipped with a grill and a kitchen, so we spent a couple nights BBQing here. There are two pools that overlook the lake for when you have downtime. They also have live music on weekends, a restaurant, and a snack bar that serves drinks, ice cream, and other snacks for when you’re poolside. Finally, they had putt putt available as well. It was very family-oriented vibe, so depending on your age/family situation you may feel more comfortable at one of the other options.

What to do

Jacob’s Well

As mentioned, Jacob’s Well is one the primary things that draws people’s attention to the area. It is by no means the only attraction, but it is a famous one.

Blue Hole

Blue Hole is another great swimming spot in the Cypress Creek, which is fed by Jacob’s Well. The water is a deep blue and there are rope swings that make for a great time to swing from.

Shopping/Eating in Wimberley

Wimberley is home to many local restaurants and boutiques. It has become a popular hill country destination, similar to that of Fredericksburg, where many people visit just to experience the local culture.

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake is a very nice hill country lake. The water is quite blue as Texas lakes go, and it can be a great place to spend time if you have a boat or access to some good fishing spots.

Floating the Comal River

Floating the Comal River in New Braunfels is a Texas tradition. There is a pretty defined float route that starts in New Braunfels and goes by Schlitterbahn Water Park. Depending on the time of year, it can be bumper to bumper inner-tube traffic. It is a great way to hang out with friends and beat the heat during the Texas summer. Bonus: New Braunfels is home to many good German restaurants and beer gardens, as it is a historically German town. Stop by to get some schnitzel and delicious beer!

Schlitterbahn Water Park

Schlitterbahn Water Park is also nearby in New Braunfels. Part of the park is even fed directly from the Comal River. The newer part of the park is more like a six flags or other water parks you may be used to. This is best for families, while most folks without kids opt to go float the Comal instead.

Where to eat

After a long day of hiking, swimming, and swinging from the trees, Wimberley offers some great options to catch a bite and drinks.

Community Pizza and Beer Garden

This was my favorite place that we ate in Wimberley. It was a very casual, outdoor environment. Everything we had, from the cocktails to the pizza was fantastic.

Leaning Pear

We ate here for brunch. The food was delicious and unique, and the location right along the Cypress Creek was gorgeous.

Creekside Restaurant

We never actually ate here, due to the fact that it was always packed when we walked by. I’m sure it’s location overlooking the Cypress Creek and in the center of Wimberley had something to do with that. From what I could tell, the food was certainly a major contributor as well.

Conclusion and final tips

I was fortunate that this trip was a weekend trip for me. It’s central location in the state allowed me and my friends to meet coming from Houston, Dallas, and West Texas. It is one of my favorite places I have ever visited in Texas.

If you’re going to swim, I would recommend bringing water shoes as both Jacob’s Well and Blue Hole can be a bit rocky getting in and out of. Bring a good pair of walking shoes as well for Jacob’s Well because it is about a 20 minute hike from the parking lot to where the well is.

I hope you found this helpful and are able to get access to swimming in these beautiful Texas Watering holes! If you enjoyed this post, don’t be afraid to subscribe below to see my future posts. You can also check out my Instagram or some of my older posts:

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