Wimberley: Blue Hole, Cypress Creek & Artisan Shops

Wimberley's spring-fed swimming hole on Cypress Creek is shaded by a cathedral of ancient bald cypress trees — the largest are estimated over 400 years old, with root systems gripping the limestone creek bed and canopies forming a green ceiling over the water. Entry is by reservation only (timed slots, book at Texas Parks and Wildlife); weekday mornings are the least crowded. The water temperature holds at 68-70 degrees year-round regardless of air temperature.

The Wimberley Square artisan quarter developed when Austin artists began relocating to the Blanco-Cypress Creek valley in the 1980s for the studio space and the light. Glass blowers, ceramicists, jewelers, and painters fill the studios around the square; the Wimberley Glass Works is the largest hot-glass studio in Texas. Even on non-Market Days weekends, the permanent galleries are open and the studio quality is genuine.

A vertical spring vent at the floor of Cypress Creek, 5 miles upstream from Blue Hole — the water surges upward from a cave system descending 140 feet into the Edwards Aquifer. The pool around the vent is Wimberley's most photographed spot; snorkeling the opening reveals the upwelling current and the cave mouth below. Entry is by timed permit reservation; afternoon slots are occasionally available for same-day booking.