Colorado Bend State Park
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Colorado Bend State Park
Swimming hole in Bend, Texas · River
Two hours northwest of Austin, Colorado Bend is 5,300 acres of unspoiled river wilderness, with spring-fed pools at Spicewood Springs and six miles of Colorado River frontage.
Typical season: Late spring to early autumn for swimming; busy season spring and summer. Open daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; HQ 8:45 a.m.–4:15 p.m.
About Colorado Bend State Park
Two hours northwest of Austin, Colorado Bend is 5,300 acres of unspoiled river wilderness, and its swimming comes in two flavours. Along the Spicewood Springs Trail, a chain of spring-fed pools and small waterfalls climbs a canyon on the park’s southern end — TPWD calls Spicewood Springs one of the best swimming holes in the Hill Country, and a short, flat trail reaches the first pool. The second swim is the Colorado River itself: six miles of slow-moving frontage for swimming, fishing and paddling beneath limestone bluffs.
Everything else here is back-to-nature. Camping is primitive — drive-up, walk-in and hike-in sites with water nearby but no hookups — and the trails run to more than 35 miles, including the rough 3-mile round trip to Gorman Falls, a 70-foot spring-fed travertine waterfall you view but never touch. Add guided wild cave tours through some of the park’s 400-plus caves, and a weekend fills up fast.
Key facts
Highlights
- Spicewood Springs — spring-fed pools and small waterfalls up a canyon; TPWD calls it one of the best swimming holes in the Hill Country
- Six miles of Colorado River frontage for swimming, fishing and paddling
- Gorman Falls, a 70-foot spring-fed waterfall (viewing only), plus 400+ caves and 35 miles of trails
Access & fees
Entry costs $5 per day for ages 13 and older, children 12 and under free; a $70 Texas State Parks Pass covers entry for a year. The gate is open daily 6 a.m.–10 p.m. From the entrance, headquarters and the main camping are six more miles down a dirt road that can flood in heavy rain — and there is no gasoline in Bend, so fuel up first. The park often reaches capacity in spring and summer, so TPWD highly recommends reserving day-use and campsite passes in advance.
Stay safe
- There are no lifeguards — TPWD states all swimming is at your own risk
- Never swim, wade, climb or fish at Gorman Falls, in Gorman Creek or at Gorman Spring — the travertine is fragile and the area is closed to all of it
- Watch your footing at Spicewood Springs — the trail crosses the creek repeatedly and the rocks are slippery
- The entrance road can flood during heavy rains — check conditions before you visit
Map & location
FAQs
Where can you swim at Colorado Bend State Park?
At Spicewood Springs — spring-fed pools on the Spicewood Springs Trail — and in the Colorado River. Swimming is not allowed at Gorman Falls, in Gorman Creek or at Gorman Spring.
How much does Colorado Bend State Park cost?
$5 per day for ages 13 and older; children 12 and under free. A Texas State Parks Pass ($70/year) covers entry. Primitive campsites cost $10–$15 per night, plus entry.
Is there a lifeguard at Colorado Bend?
No. TPWD states: “All swimming is at your own risk; we have no lifeguards.”
Editorial review & methodology
Every listing is researched from official land-manager sources, including park, county and state pages, and each fact is re-checked against the named source before publication.
Each page shows its last-verified date, so you can see how recently the details were checked.
If you spot something out of date, corrections are welcomed via the contact page, and you can read more in how we verify.
Plan your trip: explore more river spots, browse Texas, or follow the Texas road trip.
Photo: “Colorado River Colorado Bend SP 2024” by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Last verified: 30 October 2026.
Safety
- There are no lifeguards — TPWD states all swimming is at your own risk
- Never swim, wade, climb or fish at Gorman Falls, in Gorman Creek or at Gorman Spring — the travertine is fragile and the area is closed to all of it
- Watch your footing at Spicewood Springs — the trail crosses the creek repeatedly and the rocks are slippery
- The entrance road can flood during heavy rains — check conditions before you visit
At a glance
Fee$5/day ages 13+; children 12 and under free
Nearest townBend
Best seasonLate spring to early autumn
GPS31.022965, -98.442401
Nearby spots
- Devil’s Waterhole (Inks Lake State Park) — ≈21 mi
- Krause Springs — ≈41 mi
- Pedernales Falls State Park — ≈51 mi
Sources & updates
Last verified: 30 October 2026
Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Researched by: Swim Hole Finder team
Methodology: How we verify listings →
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