Balmorhea State Park

Not a hot spring

Balmorhea shows up on a lot of Texas hot spring lists, so it is worth being clear: the water is cool. San Solomon Springs pours into the pool at 72 to 76°F22 to 24°C all year. On a cold January morning it feels warmer than the air. In July it is a relief from the West Texas heat. You will not get a hot soak here. For that, the closest real hot spring is in Big Bend National Park (see Big Bend Hot Springs), a long drive south. Its access road has been closed until further notice since October 2026, so check before you go.

What you get instead is one of the most unusual swimming holes in the country.

What to expect

The Civilian Conservation Corps built the pool around San Solomon Springs between 1934 and 1941. It covers 1.3 acres and holds about 3.5 million gallons. Wikipedia cites a spring flow of 22 to 28 million gallons a day, enough to replace the water constantly without chlorine. The shallow end has a flat floor and stone edges. The deep end has a natural rock bottom that drops to about 25 feet, and the water is clear enough to watch small fish and turtles moving over the rocks below you.

The park also restored a desert wetland, the San Solomon Cienega, starting in 1995. It gives a home to the endangered Comanche Springs pupfish and Pecos gambusia, and you can look into it from the walkways.

There is no lifeguard. Swimmers under 15 must be supervised at all times by an adult older than 17. Soft-sided inflatables up to 8 by 4 feet are allowed. Paddles, oars and anything motorized are not.

The pool had a rough few years. A wall near the diving board failed in 2018, and the park closed again from 2019 into 2021 for drainage gate, septic and other repairs costing over $1 million. Campgrounds reopened in May 2024 and the San Solomon Springs Courts in August 2024, and the whole park was operating in 2026.

Getting there

The park is at 9207 TX-17 in Toyahvale, a few miles southwest of the town of Balmorhea in Reeves County. From I-10, take the Balmorhea exit and follow TX-17 south through town to the park entrance. If you are coming from Fort Davis or Alpine, drive north on TX-17.

TX-17 is paved all the way and any car is fine. Parking is next to the pool, so it is a short walk from the car to the water. The nearest larger towns for fuel and groceries are Pecos and Fort Stockton.

When to go

Summer is peak season. Day passes sell out, especially on weekends and holidays, and Texas Parks and Wildlife strongly recommends buying them in advance. Visitation is capped each day.

Spring and fall weekdays are the sweet spot. The air is warm, the pool is quiet, and you can often get a pass a day or two ahead.

Winter is quiet and the water feels warm compared with the air. The pool is open year-round.

Annual cleaning: the park closes for about a week each spring so staff can clean the pool. In 2026 that was April 27 to May 1. Check the park alerts page before booking in late April or early May.

Prices and booking

• Entry: $7 per adult per day. Children 12 and under are free. Swimming is included.
• Day-use windows: you can enter at 8 a.m. or at 3 p.m. (good until closing). Early entry is not allowed. Overnight guests can enter from 2 p.m.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. or sunset, whichever comes first. The pool gate locks at 7:30 p.m. and restrooms lock at 7 p.m. The park office is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Booking: reserve day passes, campsites and rooms online through Texas State Parks or by phone at 512-389-8900. Online overnight reservations close at 4:30 p.m. The park itself is at 432-375-2370.
• Scuba: $5 per diver on top of entry. Show a C card or current logbook, sign the diving agreement during office hours, reserve a day pass, and dive with at least one other certified diver. Instructors need their certification and insurance on file. No surface air pumps in the pool, no spear guns, knives or fishing gear, and no handling fish, turtles or rocks.
• Pets are not allowed inside the fenced pool area.

Where to stay nearby

• San Solomon Springs Courts, the CCC-era motel inside the park, has reservable rooms a short walk from the pool.
• Park campground: 34 campsites. Book ahead for weekends.
• Fort Davis, south on TX-17, has historic hotels and inns and is the gateway to Davis Mountains State Park and the McDonald Observatory.
• Pecos and Fort Stockton have chain motels along I-10.

Safety notes

• No lifeguard. Watch children closely, especially at the drop-off into deep water. The rock floor in the deep end is uneven.
• Cool water: 72 to 76°F22 to 24°C feels fine at first but can chill thin swimmers and kids after an hour, especially in winter.
• Sun: shade is limited around the pool. Bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water. West Texas sun is strong even in spring.
• Divers: follow the buddy rule and plan your exit before the gate locks.
• Remoteness: services between Balmorhea and Fort Davis are sparse. Fill the tank in Pecos, Fort Stockton or Balmorhea.

Nearby stops worth adding

Davis Mountains State Park and the McDonald Observatory star parties are both reached via TX-17 south through Fort Davis. Fort Davis National Historic Site preserves a 19th-century frontier army post on the edge of town. Further afield, Marfa is a common overnight stop between Balmorhea and Big Bend.