If you are planning to go swimming in Central Texas this summer then you have to wait. Unfortunately, the water at Hamilton Pool Preserve would be closed to swimmers for the foreseeable future due to falling rocks, Travis County Parks officials said.
“We do not expect swimming to be permitted this summer,” states the Travis County Parks website.
Rocks began to fall after the February freeze in Texas. Water seeped into cracks in the rocky area above the pool and expanded when it froze, causing things to shift, according to officials. “This is closed due to an abundance of caution. We want to ensure the safety of our swimmers,” Travis County spokesman Hector Nieto said.
“… That is why we have closed the pool while we work with the University of Texas to determine the stability of the rocks and ensure that none fall into the pool,” he added.
Last year, the county and the university collaborated on the same issue at Reimers Ranch Park.
Over the years, Hamilton Pool has become a popular summer destination.
The swimming hole is the result of thousands of years of water erosion that formed the grotto and canyon of the landmark. Its 50-foot waterfall creates stunning,
For safety reasons, the trail beneath Hamilton Pool’s overhang is also currently closed. Visitors can still use the pool’s beach, but they can’t go around the pool to the area beneath the waterfall. Saturday morning guided hikes have also been canceled.
Visitors can still visit the preserve’s park, so not everything is shut down. Reservations can be made online at parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve.
