Recreation

Swimming

Where to swim on Lake Travis

Every public swim spot, checked against today’s level, with the honest word on water quality.

12 public swim spots

Lowest minimum first. Minimums are estimates: no agency publishes a beach-by-beach cutoff.

  • Level as of Nov 12 681.4 ft
  • 12 open
  • 0 near cutoff
  • 0 out of water
  • 0 no cutoff

  • Open

Is Lake Travis clean to swim in?

Mostly yes. Depths over 200 ft and slow flow keep Lake Travis cleaner than Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake downstream — LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) cyanotoxin tests on Lake Travis have been non-detect for years. Two things to watch:

  • E. coli spikes for 1–2 weeks after major Hill Country rain events — runoff carries livestock, wildlife and septic contamination from upstream tributaries.
  • Algae proliferation risk peaks in hot, low-flow summer months (July–September) when water warms and inflows drop.

LCRA does not publish a beach-by-beach E. coli dashboard. Treat any visible algae mat as potentially toxic, avoid the water for ~2 weeks after major floods, and check lcra.org for active advisories.

LCRA advisories (opens in a new tab)Monitoring map (opens in a new tab)Algae watch (opens in a new tab)

Cliff jumping: the real story

Cliff jumping is culturally synonymous with Lake Travis but is not officially sanctioned at any park. Travis County and LCRA neither permit nor explicitly prohibit it at most spots. Injuries and deaths happen every season, almost always from misjudging water depth at low lake levels or jumping into submerged rocks/trees exposed by drought.

  • Pace Bend Park (west cliffs)Heights: 12–40 ft · Risk: Medium-high
    The classic. Tolerated, popular, no posted ban. Crowded summer weekends. Water depth varies dramatically with lake level — always check depth before jumping, especially below 670 ft elevation.
  • Hippie HollowHeights: Step-off to 10 ft · Risk: Medium
    Adults-only, terraced limestone shelves drop directly into deep cove water. Less of a "cliff jump" scene than Pace Bend, more "walk off the rocks." Hydrilla entanglement is the real hazard.
  • Sometimes IslandsHeights: Variable — lake-level dependent · Risk: Variable
    Limestone outcrops near Mansfield Dam that emerge as "islands" when the lake drops below 681 ft. Boat-access only. Conditions change completely with lake level.
  • Starnes IslandHeights: 10–25 ft when high · Risk: Medium when high; do not jump when low
    Open-water island, popular cliff-jump spot only when the lake is at or near full pool. Boat-access only.

Rules of thumb

  • Check current lake elevation BEFORE jumping. Same cliff at 670 ft vs 681 ft is a totally different jump.
  • Never be the first one in. Have someone in the water confirm depth and clear-rock zone.
  • Drought-exposed trees and rocks are the #1 killer on Lake Travis cliff jumping.
  • Alcohol + cliffs is the most common emergency-room story from Pace Bend each summer.

Know before you go

Swimming rules

  • Life jackets for kids
    Texas law requires children under 13 to wear a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket on any vessel under 26 feet when underway. Park staff strongly recommend life jackets for all weak swimmers and children — Lake Travis is over 100 ft deep in many places.
  • No glass
    Glass containers are prohibited at every Travis County and LCRA park on Lake Travis. Bring cans or plastic.
  • No public alcohol at county parks
    Public alcohol consumption is prohibited at Travis County Parks including Hippie Hollow, Pace Bend, Mansfield Dam and Bob Wentz. Lake Patrol does write tickets.
  • No tobacco at most parks
    Tobacco is prohibited at most Travis County swimming parks (Pace Bend, Tom Hughes, Hippie Hollow). Designated areas exist at some others.
  • No pets at Hippie Hollow
    Hippie Hollow allows no pets under any circumstances — not on leash, not in a vehicle, never. Other Travis County parks allow leashed pets.
  • Cash only at the gate
    Travis County Parks entrance booths take cash only — no credit or debit cards. ATMs are rare near the parks; bring small bills.
  • Hippie Hollow rules
    Adults 18+ only. Photography requires the consent of any subject in frame — strictly enforced. Nudity is legal here and only here on a Texas public lake.

Source: Travis County Parks, LCRA and TPWD.

How each spot feels

  • Family coves
    Cypress Creek, Sandy Creek and Jones Brothers carry family-cove energy — toddlers in puddle jumpers, coolers, beach chairs. Keep music low, pick up after kids, and put water shoes on everyone. Travis County rangers enforce the no-public-alcohol rule.
  • Hippie Hollow
    Adults-only, respectful, mixed demographics, LGBTQ+-friendly. Don't stare. Never photograph a stranger without explicit permission. Boat spectators offshore are part of the scenery — don't engage. Bring a sheet or towel for hot limestone.
  • Devil's Cove (boat access)
    The infamous party-cove scene — anchored party barges raft together on summer weekends. Loud music, heavy drinking, not a place to bring kids. Boat traffic and rafting collisions are the real hazards. Designated drivers and life jackets save lives here.
  • Pace Bend
    Dual personality: east-side family coves vs west-side cliff-jumping/camping scene. The west side gets a younger party crowd; the east side is family day-trippers. Quiet hours enforced after 10 PM in camp loops.
  • Mansfield Dam
    Most-amenities park with a mixed family + scuba crowd. Respect the dive flag — scuba flags mean boats stay 100+ ft away. The swim cove is boat-free and family-respectful.
  • Windy Point
    Windsurfer, sailor and shore-entry diver crowd. More "sporty adult" than party or family. Showers and pavilion make it a popular meetup spot for dive classes.

Frequently asked

  • Where can you swim at Lake Travis?
    The most popular public swim parks are Mansfield Dam Park (designated swim cove, the most amenity-rich), Pace Bend Park (Mudd, Kate's, and Gracy coves on the east side), Bob Wentz at Windy Point, Cypress Creek Park (gentle cove, family-friendly), Sandy Creek Park, Arkansas Bend, and Jones Brothers Park (free, in Jonestown). Hippie Hollow is 18+ only. Volente Beach Resort is the only paid, lifeguarded option.
  • Is Lake Travis clean to swim in?
    Generally yes. Lake Travis is significantly cleaner than Lake Austin or Lady Bird Lake downstream — depths over 200 ft and slower flow keep sediment down and algae blooms rare. LCRA's cyanotoxin tests on Lake Travis have been non-detect for years. Two big exceptions: avoid swimming for 1–2 weeks after major Hill Country flood events (E. coli spikes from runoff), and never swim through a visible algae mat.
  • Are there sand beaches at Lake Travis?
    True sand beaches are rare — Lake Travis is mostly limestone shoreline. The closest things to real beaches are Volente Beach Resort (private, paid), Jones Brothers Park (rocky-beach entry, free), Sandy Creek Park, and the gradual coves at Cypress Creek and Pace Bend's east side. Water shoes are highly recommended everywhere.
  • Can you swim at Mansfield Dam?
    Yes — Mansfield Dam Park has a designated swim cove where boats are not allowed. It is one of the most family-friendly swim setups on Lake Travis with a playground, covered shelters and the deepest boat ramp on the lake nearby. The park is also Central Texas' premier shore-entry SCUBA site with an underwater dive park.
  • Where can you cliff jump at Lake Travis?
    Pace Bend Park's west side is the classic — 12–40 ft limestone cliffs openly used by locals. Hippie Hollow has terraced rock shelves for adults (18+). Sometimes Islands and Starnes Island are boat-access cliff jumps when the lake is high. Cliff jumping is not officially sanctioned; injuries happen every season, mostly from low-water-level jumps onto exposed rocks.
  • Is there a nude beach at Lake Travis?
    Yes — Hippie Hollow Park is the only legally clothing-optional public park in Texas. It is run by Travis County, strictly 18+, $8 cash entry, open 9 AM to 8:30 PM. Photography requires the consent of any subject. Pets are not allowed under any circumstances.
  • Are there lifeguards at Lake Travis?
    No public park on Lake Travis has lifeguards. The only lifeguarded swim option is Volente Beach Resort (private, paid). Every other location is swim-at-your-own-risk.

About this guide

Every public swim spot on the lake, with a clear-eyed take on water quality, lifeguards (there’s effectively one), and where it’s family-friendly versus where it isn’t.

Full pool 681 ft · record low 614.18 ft · record high 710.4 ft

Swim conditions are inferred from the published lake level and each spot’s shoreline geometry. Neither LCRA nor Travis County publishes a per-beach cutoff — treat the statuses as guidance, not gospel.