18 natural swimming spots across Colorado —
Lakes & Reservoirs,
spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools and hidden creek spots.
5 of 18 are free to visit.
18
Swimming Holes
5
Free Entry
8
Regions
2
Need Reservation
🏔️
Colorado
18 holes listed
Type:
Swimming in Colorado
Colorado has 18 documented natural swimming spots
ranging from spring-fed pools to waterfall plunge pools and river swims.
5 of them are free to visit. Browse by region below or use the filters above to find the right type of swim for you.
Front Range
1 spots
🏖️
Boyd Lake State Park
📍 Loveland, Larimer County
Lake🟢 Easy$11/vehicle daily pass
A full-service reservoir just over an hour north of Denver with a designated swim beach, marina, and nearby camping.
Lake🟢 Easy$16/vehicle daily pass plus $2…Reservation Required⚠️ Safety Note
One of the most accessible alpine lakes on the Front Range — literally steps from the parking lot — though very popular and busy on weekends given its proximity to Boulder/Denver.
⚠️ Safety Notice
High-alpine lake water is genuinely cold enough (~10,300 ft elevation) that only brief cold-plunge-style dips are advisable, not extended swimming — cold-water shock risk applies here as at any high-elevation lake.
One of Aurora's largest park and open-space sites, with a sandy beach for swimming/sunbathing and an on-site education center about the reservoir's role in Denver's water supply.
One of the most popular tubing spots near Denver, flowing right through downtown Boulder — fun and easy to reach, but regional guides explicitly warn that 'the tubing can get extreme' at points in the season and recommend not entering…
⚠️ Safety Notice
Regional guides explicitly warn this creek's tubing conditions 'can get extreme' depending on flow, and recommend helmets; a fatality was also recorded nearby when a cyclist fell into the creek. Check current flow before treating this as a casual family swim spot.
A 1,500-acre reservoir just south of Denver popular for swimming, boating, and birdwatching (200+ species recorded) — note a fatality was documented here in a past summer when a young man went under and did not resurface, a reminder this…
⚠️ Safety Notice
A documented fatality occurred here when a young man went underwater and did not resurface, later recovered by search-and-rescue. This is a large, open reservoir, not a shallow pool — treat with the same open-water caution as any other big lake, including buddy-system and flotation-device guidance.
A rustic, multi-pool natural hot springs destination outside Steamboat Springs — note that after dark, the site has a long-standing clothing-optional policy, worth flagging accurately for a general-audience directory.
⚠️ Safety Notice
This site has a long-standing clothing-optional policy after dark — worth noting accurately rather than presenting it as identical to a standard daytime family hot springs visit.
⚠️ Safety Notice
As with other Colorado mountain rivers, current strength is highly flow-dependent — check conditions before tubing/swimming, especially during spring runoff.
One of Colorado's most unusual water features — a shallow, sandy-bottomed creek at the base of towering dunes that produces rhythmic, wave-like 'surge flow' pulses from snowmelt, best experienced by wading, skimboarding, or light tubing rather than true swimming.
A picturesque natural swimming hole near Cripple Creek with a small waterfall and sandstone backdrop, popular for cliff jumping — but explicitly described by regional guides as a 'swim at your own risk' site with several jump heights of varying…
⚠️ Safety Notice
Regional guides explicitly describe this as a 'swim at your own risk' site — no one is present to help if a cliff jump goes wrong, and divers are advised to swim the pool first to check for underwater obstructions before every jump.
The crown jewel of Colorado's developed swimming destinations — the world's largest hot springs pool, thermally fed year-round, with waterslides and full resort amenities in Glenwood Canyon.
📍 Palisade / Grand Junction area, Mesa / Garfield County
Lake🟢 Easy$11/vehicle daily pass
A developed swimming and fishing area along the Colorado River near Palisade, with calmer pond sections distinct from the swifter main river channel — a good option for those wanting river-adjacent swimming without whitewater currents.
Colorado's largest natural lake, offering crystal-clear water, mountain scenery, and a charming lakefront downtown just outside Rocky Mountain National Park.
5 of the 18 swimming holes in our Colorado guide are completely free to visit.
Others charge a small entry fee, typically $5–15 per person.
Use the "Free Entry" filter above to see only the free spots.
When is the best time to visit swimming holes in Colorado?
Late spring through early fall is generally the best season — typically May through September.
Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends, especially at popular spots.
Spring-fed holes maintain consistent water temperatures year-round, making them swimmable even outside peak season.
Do I need a reservation to visit Colorado swimming holes?
2 of the spots in our guide require advance reservations, particularly
during peak summer weekends. These are marked with a "Reservation Required" badge on each listing.
Always book 1–2 weeks ahead for popular spots in July and August.
Is it safe to swim in natural swimming holes in Colorado?
Natural swimming holes are generally safe when you check conditions before visiting.
Always check water levels after heavy rain, watch for blue-green algae in warm still water,
never swim alone in remote locations, and heed any posted closure signs.
Spots with known safety concerns are marked with warning badges in our listings.
What should I bring to a swimming hole in Colorado?
Essentials: dry bag for your phone and keys, water shoes for rocky creek beds,
reef-safe sunscreen, plenty of drinking water, and a microfibre towel.
If visiting a remote spot, bring more water than you think you need and let someone
know where you're going before you leave.