The Land of Enchantment offers refreshing, summertime fun in swimming holes, lakes, and springs.
Though it’s best known for its arid plains, gently sweeping mesas, and snow-capped mountain tops, New Mexico is also home to plenty of natural swimming holes perfect for your next summer excursion. Whether you hike deep into a pine forest to find serene surroundings for your next dip, or jump from a diving board donning your scuba gear, there are plenty of wet, wild adventures to be had this summer across the Land of Enchantment’s several swimming locales:
1. The Blue Hole
Santa Rosa’s scorching summer temperatures feel like a breeze to manage after a day spent enjoying the Blue Hole, a spring-fed swimming hole located just off Old Route 66. The hole appears almost like a mirage—a sparkling, clear pool in an arid land mostly filled with red mesas. Its 100-foot visibility attracts scuba divers from across the country, while its 62-degree waters invite anyone in for a refreshing dip. If it weren’t for an underground cave system collapsing decades ago, the 80-foot-wide pool wouldn’t be here, so tap into your gratitude as you float in the water, which pumps up from an underground spring at a rate of 3,000 gallons per minute. Diving equipment is available to rent on-site, and daily parking is $10 per vehicle.
2. Jemez Falls
For literal centuries, Jemez Springs has been famous for its plethora of soothing, natural hot springs, spas, and bathhouses, which provide welcome relief to hikers traversing the area’s challenging routes, but there’s one special spot in town perfect for cooling off on the hottest summer day. Jemez Falls, accessed via the East Fork Trail in Santa Fe National Forest, is shaded by aspen groves and pine and fir forests as it spills down into a shallow pool, deep enough for a waist-deep soak. If one day spent lounging in the cool waters of Jemez Falls doesn’t sound like enough time, more than 50 campsites are available at the nearby Ponderosa pine-covered Jemez Falls Campground. Before you leave, be sure to check out the 1,400 feet of trails contained within the Jemez Historic Site, whose ruins reveal the lives of the indigenous peoples who enjoyed the area’s healing mineral waters for generations.
3. Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area
About an hour’s drive southwest from Carlsbad lies a desert oasis created by a network of spring-fed waterfalls, some reaching 150 feet in height. Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area, located within Lincoln National Forest, is home to a series of waterfalls and wading pools, which the U.S. Forest Service has paired with sheltered picnic sites complete with tables, grills, potable water, restrooms, and trash receptacles. Bring the whole family and plenty of food to make a day trip out of it: Daily use of the recreation area is $10 per vehicle. Note that overnight camping is not permitted, as the site closes at 4 p.m. each day.
4. McCauley Warm Springs
In the middle of the Santa Fe National Forest, one hot spring mixes with the cool waters of the Jemez River to create ideal conditions for an invigorating summer swim. Not too hot and not too cold, McCauley Warm Springs in Jemez Springs features a series of 80-degree, primitive pools to lounge in. Small minnows also like to gather in these pools, so wear water shoes if their gentle nibbling at your toes feels too irritating. To reach McCauley Warm Springs, park at the Battleship Rock Day Use Area along Highway 4 and hike nearly four miles along the East Fork Trail. Local hikers recommend keeping an eye out for ribbons marking particularly treacherous sections of trail and downloading the trail map before embarking, as cell service is spotty.
5. Nambé Falls
Located within the Pueblo of Nambé, not far from Santa Fe, Nambé Falls gives visitors the opportunity to commune with nature in serene surroundings. There are two routes to reach the falls, each only a quarter-mile long: One hike climbs the hillside to end in breathtaking views of the falls from above, while the other is a splash-filled adventure through the Nambé River, ending in a series of wading pools. Water shoes are recommended, and pets are welcome on leashes. No matter which route you take, your final destination is a majestic waterfall surrounded by lush pine forest and eye-catching red rock. After a peaceful dip under the falls, explore the Nambe Falls Recreation Area to learn more about the Tewa-speaking Nambé peoples who have called these foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains home for centuries.
6. Lightfeather Hot Spring
Though the water that gurgles up from the ground into Lightfeather Hot Spring is usually scalding, with average temperatures hovering around 149 degrees, a community-built pool nearby helps to mix these hot spring waters with the cool currents of the Gila River. Enjoy a soothing, cool-to-warm soak here by heading out on the Middle Fork Trail through the Gila National Forest. After a twenty-minute walk from the Gila Visitor Center, you’ll find the “sweet spring,” a nickname derived from its lack of pungent sulfur. Pro-tip: geothermal activity at the site can make the rocks in the riverbed very hot, so water shoes with protective soles are recommended.
7. Park Lake
Just a stone’s throw from the Blue Hole, Santa Rosa’s Park Lake is open for swimming from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, making this family-friendly spot a must-visit for a summertime dip. An inflatable obstacle course will thrill those looking for a challenge with its maze of slides, bounce houses, and monkey bars, while the lake’s expansive diameter leaves plenty of room for a leisurely swim or a ride in a paddle boat, pedal boat, or canoe. Parking is $10 per vehicle, and note that this lifeguard-equipped water park closes at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends.
8. Perch Lake
Who knew that the scuba capital of the American Southwest lies in Santa Rosa, New Mexico? Take Highway 91 just a mile or two out from the heart of downtown Santa Rosa to reach some of the Land of Enchantment’s deepest waters. Popular with divers and scuba enthusiasts from across the country, Perch Lake contains several mysterious objects sunken under the surface. Don your diving gear and investigate every nook and cranny of the twin-engine Cessna aircraft and automobile that now rest on the lake’s floor. No scuba skills? No problem; casual swimming is also allowed at Perch Lake.
