For generations, swimming holes, creeks, and lakes have cooled folks off in the Ozarks who are looking for a break from the summer heat. Many refreshing and scenic spots await your discovery, from a quiet cove found on the lake, to "jumping off" spots along the spring-fed rivers and streams. Just be sure to wear that bathing suit, or wait until nightfall to skinny-dip!
With the abundance of major lakes that dot the Ozarks and Ouachitas, and each one offering popular, sometimes overcrowded, swimming areas, I have omitted most of these areas, and instead have included smaller, lesser known swimming holes. While some of these may be a little remote, they usually are not too crowded, and sometimes you may even have the swimming hole all to yourself!
*Currently, there are so many more swimming holes within the Ozarks and Ouachitas than I have had time to photograph, gather information for, and list here. As soon as new information becomes available, and I am able to gather pictures, I will post those new swimming holes here.*
If you own or manage a business or service near a swimming hole, and would like to advertise here, please contact me at advertising@exploretheozarksonline.com
Swimming Holes
- Alley Spring Campground
- Baptist Camp
- Barkshed Campground
- Bayou Bluff
- Big Hole/Blue Hole
- Big Spring, Cotter
- Big Spring Hole
- Big Tree
- Blanchard Springs Rec Area (2)
- Blue Spring, Jacks Fork R.
- Blue Spring Hole, Current R.
- Bluff View
- Boiling Spring Hole, Big Piney R.
- Bradley Park, Jasper
- Buck Hollow
- Buffalo Point
- Castor River Shut-Ins
- Council Bluff Lake
- Cove Lake
- Cove Spring Hole
- Crane Lake
- Dabbs Greer/Town Hole
- Dillards Ferry
- Dog's Bluff
- Erbie Campground
- Falling Water Falls
- Fishtrap
- Ft. Douglas/Hwy 123
- Gilbert
- Goat Bluff
- Gooseneck
- Gunner Pool Campground
- Hasty Campground
- Hooten Town
- Horsehead Lake
- Johnson's Shut-Ins
- Kings River Falls
- Lake Boutin, Trail of Tears SP
- Lake Leatherwood
- Lake Niangua
- Lake Wedington
- Lee Creek, Hwy 220 Bridge
- Log Yard
- Loggers Lake
- Longpool Campground
- Love-Hensley Hole
- Marble Creek
- McCormack Lake
- Mt. Hersey
- Mouth of Calf Creek
- Mouth of Cane Branch
- Mouth of Cave Creek
- Mouth of Graves Creek
- Mouth of Roubidoux Creek
- Mouth of Shawnee Creek
- Mouth of Wells Creek
- Noblett Lake
- Ozark Campground
- Pearly Spring Hole
- Ponca Low Water Bridge
- Powder Mill
- Pruitt (2)
- Redding Campground
- Richland Creek Campground
- Riddle Bridge
- Riverton Access
- Robertson Hole (Woolum Access)
- Rocky Falls
- Rush
- Shelvin Rock
- Shine Eye
- Shores Lake
- Slabtown
- Slot Rock
- Spring Lake
- Swinging Bridges
- Troy Eddings Hole
- Tunnel Dam Bypass Access
- Tunnel Dam Low Water Bridge
- Two Rivers
- Tyler Bend
- Watercress
- Whiteley Hole
- Wolf Pen Campground