Balmorhea State Park
A natural spring-fed pool in the desert: the large pool built in the 1930s stays at about 23°C year-round and is clear enough to see small fish while snorkelling.
Balmorhea State Park is built around San Solomon Springs. In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built a spring-fed pool covering about 5,000 square metres, up to roughly 7.6 m deep. The spring discharges tens of millions of litres a day, and the water stays at about 22–23°C all year round. It is so clear that you can see small fish on the bottom and the endangered Pecos pupfish. You can swim, snorkel and even take a scuba diving certification here. The park is about 75 km from Marfa, reached by heading north via Fort Davis. Summer weekends are crowded, so you must book an entry time slot in advance on the state park's official website.
Opening hours
Open year-round; timed reservation required
Nearby sights
- McDonald Observatory
- Fort Davis National Historic Site
- Davis Mountains State Park
- Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center & Botanical Gardens
- Davis Mountains Scenic Loop
- Museum of the Big Bend
- Presidio County Courthouse
- Hotel Paisano