Great news! There is a new way for you to browse for swimming hole information through a website called Outly. This easier to use graphical interface was created in collaboration with my colleagues at Outside Analytics. In addition to swimming hole info, the Outly site has camping, hiking and other information that you can use to plan your next outdoor adventure.

Below is a screen shot of the Outly interface. The menu on the left lists several outdoor "layers" that you can use to customize the map to plan your adventures. Simply select "Swimming Holes" from the "Water" layer and browse the map on the right. Click on the swimming hole icon on the map to see the information about that swimming hole. It's that simple! Do send me a message to let me know what you think about this new format.

Click the image below to visit Outly

Alabama Arkansas Delaware Delaware Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Connecticut Maryland Maryland Florida Georgia Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Massachusetts Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Hampshire New Jersey New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Alberta British Columbia Hawaii Puerto Rico WHY NO INFO? Ontario Quebec Nova Scotia Newfoundland and Labrador New Brunswick Alaska District of Columbia
Please send an email with comments, corrections or additions.
Some words about safety
Please do not visit these beautiful, natural places if you cannot respect them. Trash, rowdy behavior, drunkenness, accidents and trespassing on private property are causing us to to lose access to more of them every year.

Swimming in natural places has inherent dangers. There are risks to life, limb and health involved. Caution can minimize but not eliminate these risks. The authors assume no responsibility for sickness, injury or death resulting from use/misuse of information contained herein. Most accidents/drownings in natural swimming places are due to strong currents, diving and/or alcohol. Do not let carelessness or peer pressure get you into a situation you cannot deal with. Each time you go, wade in gradually and check the current. Do not jump in until you have checked both the depth AND the current first. Look downstream - if the current is strong for a long distance or might pin you against a large object (e.g., bluff, large rock or downed tree) don't go in. Large rivers have hidden currents below the surface - assume large rivers are NEVER safe to swim regardless of how calm they look on the surface.

If you find yourself being swept away in a current, do not panic, do not fight the current and do not try to stand up (foot can get trapped in rocks) - float feet first downstream on your back. Let the current carry you until it becomes more gentle and/or until you calm down. Then, staying on your back and still feet first downstream, gradually use your arms to paddle to shore.  If you swim or boat in creeks often, you should practice this maneuver until it becomes familiar.

NEVER DO THESE THINGS (even if others are doing them): 
  • Dive headfirst (paralysis, death)
  • Swim alone (no rescuers)
  • Drink alcohol and swim (drowning)
  • Go barefoot (glass, sharp rocks)
  • Stand directly under a water fall (rocks wash over falls)
  • Swim in upper pools of a waterfall (you wash over falls)
  • Climb above or alongside a waterfall (many deaths from this)
FOLLOW THESE ADDED PRECAUTIONS:
  • Don't put your hands or feet into places you can't see (snake dangers)
  • Be careful when on a rope swing (rope dangers)
  • If rocks are very slippery, walk on all fours (hands and feet) for stability
  • Be careful when swimming where alligators may be present (alligator safety)
STATES MAP
Click on State/Province below

US MAP  
LEGALITY
Much of the information on this web site is derived from other sources - such as hiking and travel books, magazine articles, publications, emails from visitors and other Internet sites. The intent is to relay this information as accurately as possible; I do not direct the public to use these swimming holes. The existence of private property or other matters of legality may have been inadvertently omitted or may be inexact in some cases.

I am not able to do an on-site visit to each place, and even when I do property ownership or legality is sometimes not evident. It is not my intention to cause negative impacts to private property owners or to increase their liability. When this is brought to my attention by bona-fide sources, I act promptly to add this information to the listing or otherwise resolve the matter on a case-by-case basis.

THE FINE PRINT: The information presented is compiled from many sources with varying degrees of reliability. Local conditions also change over time. Accuracy of the information and the safety and legality of visiting these places cannot be assured. My intent is to relay this information as accurately as possible; but I do not "direct" the public to use these swimming holes. Each visitor is personally responsible for safety and legality (including observance of private property) each time a place is visited. Also, inappropriate behavior continuously reduces our access to these special places - don't contribute to this tragic loss!

COPYRIGHT - All the material on this web site is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office (Registration Number TX6-245-508, Date 5/23/2005) and may not legally be reproduced (except for personal use) without permission.

EMAIL -  mail@swimmingholes.info.  If you have a new swimming hole or hot spring for me, or better information about one that is  - PLEASE - Good directions are VERY important, refer to a MAP to give directions!

EXPLANATION OF TERMS - clarification of  terms and descriptions.

WALDEN'S PONDS - Swimming holes that are safe and fun for the whole family.


About the Author

Dave HajdaszDave Hajdasz lives in Connecticut. He's an avid outdoor enthusiast who has enjoyed exploring fun and unique places such as caves, waterfalls and remote forests for the past 25 years. He's an experienced rock climber, kayaker, hiker, mountain biker and trout fisherman, though he always manages to get in a bit of swimming no matter where he goes. He holds the unusual distinction of swimming in 12 different natural bodies of water (one each month) in New England during the course of a year.