Two of Texas’ most Instagrammable spots are Jacob’s Well and The Blue Hole. After four years of living in Austin, we decided it was way past time to see these scenic gems for ourselves.

Update: As of this update in August 2022, Jacob’s Well has officially ceased flowing for the 4th time in recorded history, and The Blue Hole has suspended all swimming. This is due to ongoing drought and increased levels of groundwater pumping. Please join me in praying for the return of these iconic natural wonders.

The Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is a gorgeous water feature inside the 126-acre Blue Hole Regional Park operated by the City of Wimberley. 

If all you want to do is merely lay eyes upon this spot, it can be accomplished without a reservation, as the park allows visitors a 15-minute viewing after after signing in at the entrance.

However, if you want to actually swim under the towering cypress trees surrounding the Blue Hole and capture Instagram-worthy photos, you must reserve a four-hour slot.

Reservations fill up really fast for the summer, so consider making plans right away.

Simply pay the fee online, show up on the scheduled day, check in at the park window, and then spread out a picnic on the sprawling lawn. 

The reservation system for this swim area keeps the crowd size manageable for the space, as well as for the lifeguard on duty.

Each ticket is purchased for either 9-1:00 or 2-6:00 pm.

During the hour in between, staff is busy sprucing things up for the followng shift and giving the lifeguard a welcome break for lunch.

Speaking of the lifeguard, the sweet college student we met possessed a wealth of knowledge about the area.

She seemed to really love her summer job.

My goodness, why wouldn’t she? This place looked like lifeguard heaven to me.

Instead of sitting under a big umbrella in the hot sun, a lifeguard at The Blue Hole gets to nestle her chair under the lush shade of 100 year-old cypress trees and watch over families having old-fashioned fun in the water.

What a great summer gig.

This scenic swimming hole has a very nostalgic feel about it, with the flair of a place one might find described within the pages of a lazy summer beach read.

There are kids swinging wide from the ropes tied to sturdy branches of stately trees, doing flips and landing in the hole, while spectators stand in the water and look on.

Jacob’s Well

About 5 miles northwest of The Blue Hole is Jacob’s Well.

Situated on 81 acres of designated Natural Area, this artesian well releases thousands of gallons of water per day from the Trinity Aquifer.

All those who brave the jump into Jacob’s Well are rewarded with a very cold prize – the water stays at a constant temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Onlookers encourage uninhibiited jumpers, but it would take a little more for ME to jump off into the dark, cavernous hole of Jacob’s Well.

Like maybe I would do it for a million dollars.

Or a new car.

Yeah, I guess I might do it for a new car.

A shiny whiite Rolls Royce, perhaps.  

Can you just imagine how William Winters’ eyes must have bugged out when he first discovered this well in the early 1850’s?

History says Mr. Williams had hiked up Cypress Creek, searching for its source, when all of a sudden he happened upon an overflowing spring “like unto a well in Bible times.”

I can almost guarantee he was praising God for the glorious site he beheld. 

We stood and watched for a while, and I gotta tell you, some people were seriously conquering their greatest fears here at Jacob’s Well.

Time to Head Home

There are a few picnic tables outside the entrance to Jacob’s Well, but we had a little more to see before we headed back to our urban abode, so we opened the sunroof, cranked the air up and made our way to the Willow City Loop.

This private road is lauded in article after article as being one of Texas’ most scenic drives. Again, after living in Austin over four years … yep, that’s right.  It was high time we see it for our scenery-lovin’ selves.

This is about as scenic as it gets in the heat of a Texas hill country summer.

These boots bring a welcome distraction, as they draw your your eye up from the dry, brown grass. Aren’t they cute? And, the word on the Loop is that this very same stretch of asphalt looks like bluebonnet heaven come springtime. 

I think I see another road trip to The Blue Hole and Jacob’s Well in our future. Well, actually, I always see another road trip in our future. To pretty much anywhere.

But we’ll be back to see those beautiful flowers when next April rolls around, for sure and for certain.

Peach Ice Cream, Anyone?

And of course, what’s a Texas Hill Country excursion during the dog days of summer without a stop for peach ice cream at Gold’s Orchards?

After four years of living in Austin, I just can’t even imagine.

Encouraging everyday intentional adventure to all of Texas’ most Instagrammable spots,

Here’s another post you might enjoy:

Hiking at The Violet Crown Trail