Jacobs Well Natural Area

This thing is as awesome as it looks! So it’s super crowded during the summer months, and you actually have to get a reservation to get access. The reason? It’s not very large, and there isn’t very much parking. We came in early fall, this year it was still quite warm late into the year so the crowds had died down, but don’t get me wrong they were still crowded. It’s a bit out there so you want to make sure if you make the drive you actually get to visit it. When it’s hot outside this place is perfect. The water is cold, the ground is very very slippery, so if you have water socks they help.
The well is freaky, it’s not very wide but quite deep. People tend to jump off the nearby rocks. There are different levels you can jump off of. I took the high cliff jump just once. I barely made the hole and honestly, looking back, should have never made that jump. There are no lifeguards and it’s at your own risk. If you miss the hole you’re in trouble because the surrounding area is very shallow. There are some middle level rocks that is much more safe to jump from. But even if you don’t dare jumping in, just swimming over it and looking down, it’s really cool. The colors are beautiful.
This is one of the coolest things to visit in all of Texas.

Jacob’s Well is beautiful. If you like the great outdoors and Hill Country watering holes, this is a must see.
Swimming is allowed with a reservation only — call head to schedule a time. You’re allowed to swim for two hours before a park ranger instructs you that it is time to head out to let the next group in. It might seem silly, but they only let a limited amount of people in the park at a time in order to help keep it pristine. It’s $ 9 for an adult per two hours, which I thought was worth it, but I never mind paying money to a park. It usually goes toward helping the park stay clean and maintaining conservation efforts, so I just can’t complain about that.
You’ll take a trail down to Jacob’s Well and it’s not long at all. Before you know it, you’ve found that glorious hole. The water is crystal clear and you can see just how far down the well goes. Once you enter the water, it is chilly, but nothing you haven’t experienced if you’ve been to Barton Springs. If you’re feeling bold, jump into the well! It took me a while to work up the nerve, but once I did it, it was a lot of fun and I had to do it again. There’s a smaller ledge you can jump from if you’re too afraid to jump from the higher rocks, like I was. It’s still fun.
As mentioned previously, there is a park ranger looking out for everyone. Don’t carve your name into anything, including the rocks! You will get kicked out. (I saw it happen to someone while we were there.) If you hurt yourself, the park ranger has a small first aid kit and he can drive you to the front of the park, if needed.
If you are navigating here using Waze or Google Maps, the directions are incorrect! It will take you to the old entrance. As far as I can tell, the address on Unilocal is correct, so use that when getting there. When you start getting close to Jacob’s Well, the main road you’re on will end — you’ll see a post directly in front of you with a ton of signs on it — and you’ll have a choice to go right or left — go right! The directions will say to go left, but that’s for the old entrance. You have to turn right on Mt. Sharp road and that will take you to the new entrance. Don’t worry, though. If you go to the old entrance, there are signs posted telling you to go to Mt. Sharp road. You can probably also just ask someone if you get super lost.
Just remember — follow the rules, pack any trash you bring in out of the park, don’t forget your sunscreen, and water shoes are really useful because the rocks are super slippery. Be careful and jump in!

I was finally able to experience Jacob’s Well and it was everything I imagined it would be. Be sure to make a reservation online to secure a spot, no walk-​ins are allowed. You can book 2 hours at a time, which is an adequate amount of time.
The water is very cold, so keep that in mind when visiting in cooler months. The jump is scary the first time, but you quickly get over that fear. Everyone is very helpful and encouraging to first time jumpers, which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
Jacob’s Well is one of the marvels of the world, everyone should visit at least once! I love that it is regulated, which preserves the well and reduces overcrowding.

First thing is to check online or call if you plan on making the trip to Jacob’s Well. They take reservations and we just happen to go when there was a cancellation. They only allow a certain number of people in at a time. It is an intimate setting to say the least. The park has walking trails and a bird sanctuary also.
The well is spectacular! Don’t know of any other place in the world that looks like this. The water is so clear. Remember to take goggles so you can dive down into the well. The water temperature is freezing, but the kids didn’t mind :) They would have stayed all day.

Awesome place! Tried to make a reservation online but it was no more available until next day. Anyways we got there and were able to get in even without early reservation which is cool. The entrance fee is $ 9/​person. The park closes at 8 pm (at least on Saturday). It was scary at first because you will see huge rocks right below the spot from where you would jump. The water was cold but clean and refreshing.

Pretty, but tiny! If you’re scared of the jump, might not be worth going. We drove in from Houston to see it (3 hour drive). Fun for a summer day but definitely an adult location, probably not the best for little kids. The water is gorgeous, but freezing and not very easy to get into. Make sure to bring your water shoes!

Water is extremely cold and swimming area pretty small but great place to check out, still think it’s pricey for a 2 hour swimming period…

Beautiful! Pictures don’t do it justice. My nephew, who is six loved it and so did I.
I would advise checking online to be sure that the park is open and making a reservation. You are allowed in to swim, etc. for two hours at a time. Plenty of parking, the path is clearly visible and not difficult, and there are indoor restrooms (look for the signs).
Nice mini day trip. I would do it again.

We saw this place yesterday, but were not prepared to be charged for swimming. The girl at the parking lot entrance said that the charges are something that they started this summer. You get a wristband and only have 2 hours to swim. A ranger advises the crowd when their time slot is over & you must exit. The charges are per person. The water is pretty, but it ended up being only a 30 minute adventure for us.

Very cool! My 16 & 13 year old really enjoyed it.
Port-​a-​cans were very nasty but other than that everything was awesome

Awesome swimming area in Wimberley!
The water flowing from Jacob’s Well, which is an artesian spring, is pushed forth naturally from the Trinity Aquifer roughly 140 feet below the surface.
If you’re going to swim, make sure you check to see if they’re allowing swimming!

I only went once. I liked it except for the wacky Siri directions that were really wrong and the fact that it’s a small water area and not many awesome spots to set up the day’s camp. Also, you could die here. Not only could that happen at the jump in the small water hole from up high part, but it could maybe happen (yeah, really not… just injury) from some of the pass ways to get to the water– which is like less than rib deep. It is nice and chilly on a hot day, so it works. The hole jump is cool, if you are into that sort of thing. I am not. My friends are though, and it did look fun… if you like to die. They survived.:) In fact, I saw zero injuries, so it’s fine and fun to watch people get over their fears and jump.
You can bring booze, just hide it, because park rangers are everywhere and they are not fond of drinking and jumping off cliffs into small, rocky holes?! Go figure.
I experienced no bathroom except a port-​a-​potty around the headquarter area, not sure what the rest of y’all are talking about?
It’s pretty fun. I’d try it again on a weekday when it’s less cramped. Maybe I’d press my luck and Jump!

It was beautiful and the water was so chilly and refreshing! We swam for a bit, but got kicked out. Recreational season starts in May.

While the well wasn’t ready for swimming, the park was still open to climb around the well and take cool pictures. One thing that surprised us was how small the space is! There are plenty of places to walk around, climb on rocks to jump in the well, and shallow water to wade and cool off in the hot summer weather… but I could imagine this place getting super crowded! Since it’s not ready for swimming, there was literally nobody else there. We went around 10am during the week and had the well to ourselves. Not only was it peaceful, but we got to enjoy more nature than you would when there’s dozens of people jumping in the water. We saw tons of big fish swimming around, a few big ducks that swam right up to us, lizzards, and several deer as we were driving through the park! There’s a decent sized parking lot and it’s a small easy trail to make it to the well. There are restrooms near the parking lot. Drive a few more miles to downtown Wimberely and you can easily make a day of this. The downtown area had tons of cute shops that I easily could’ve gotten lost in, if we weren’t in a rush.
I’m not a parent, but I definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable letting small children swim here. While most of the water is shallow, I would be hesitant to let a child jump off the rocks and into the well. Check out the pictures… its all very shallow water, and then the big drop off of the well with a diameter that isn’t the biggest. Maybe it’s the nurse in me, but I could picture a child miscalculating the jump and hurting themselves by landing in the shallow part instead. Just thought I would throw that out there before any families made the long drive to the park!
Also, no pets allowed :(

Easy hike, we visited during a non-​swimming time. Really cool underwater cave system, but water was quite stagnant. Beautiful area.

Worth seeing if you’re in the area. When this place isn’t open to swimming (came in march), you won’t find too many people here which makes it much nicer. Very very short walk down some stairs and a path. A lot closer to the parking lot than I thought it would be. Made for a good photo area, and it was nice to read the information at the front on the history and wildlife of the well. Saw some fish and turtles swimming around. Pretty area!

A well known hidden gem in the cute town of Wimberely Texas. Jacob’s Well seems like a hidden little gem but its actually very well known and it considered one of the United States Amazing Places! I must admitt it was alot smaller then I thought considering what I was reading about it and visualizing people swimming in it. Despite the size it is well worth seeing. Its a large perennial spring that flows from the underwater cave system. You probably would have to contact the park services if you wanted to go diving in the caves to get permissons. Not sure if they allow that for recerational use since there have been a couple of deaths assoicated with it.
I traveled to the well in febraury and there were 3 other people there, however in the summer or a warmer day this place can get PACKED! Plan wisely. They have spots where you can have a picnic. To make a day of it include a visit to the town of Wimberely. there are plenty of shops to wander through and a couple spots to have a bite to eat! Enjoy your day!

Water was cold, but it felt great with the 100+ temps. It was a little crowded but everyone there was having a blast. We had a great time.

Such a beautiful lil Texas treasure.
It’s serene, it’s relaxing — and it’s free! This well is about waist deep — except for the giant black hole that you see near the cliff in which the hole is 40-​feet deep (as one friend told me). But according to the website: «It is one of the longest underwater caves in Texas and an artesian spring. Jacob’s Well surges up thousands of gallons of water per minute and acts as headwaters to the beautiful Cypress Creek that flows through Wimberley, sustaining Blue Hole and the Blanco River, recharging the Edwards Aquifer, and finally replenishing estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico.»
Tips:
: Wear comfy shoes for the hike (shoes with a solid grip because those rocks are slippery) and even water shoes for the swimming hole.
: Bring sunscreen, bug spray and drinking water.
: Don’t mess with Texas, so pick up your trash.
: There are onsite restrooms by the office, parking and a rec center with activities and programs for the kiddies. They do tours.
: There are a few picnic tables along the short hike.
MOST IMPORTANT NOTE:
: DO NOT jump off the giant rock. You’ll might catch a few people doing that — but not really to their fault. The small typed up paper sign isn’t really visible. The giant boulder is slowly shifting and will soon plumet into the water … and you don’t want to be anywhere near that sucker.

Jacobs Well is definitely a one of a kind «hole in the wall» or should i say «hole in the ground» ha! anyways.
My friend and I decided to come here on a Sunday in the afternoon and had a lovely experience. The well itself is rather small so do not think that you are going to the huge swimming hole because in fact, it is just the opposite.
The water is definitely not for the weak! It’s a solid –2 degrees. Just kidding, but it is not warm that’s for sure.
The day we went we were lucky enough to have a scuba diving team there exploring the underground wonders of the well. However, they may had been having a great time, visitors were not allowed to jump off the cliff into the well! helllooooo like that’s why we came.whatever.
The trickiest part of this entire adventure out into the boonies is actually finding it! GPS is all wrong. You do not want to turn onto Whappoorill or whatever street it says. That leads you to basically a house equivalent to the one in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. NO BUENO. Turn on the street before that! It looks like a neighborhood.
Pro Tips:
–Wear your river shoes*
–Bring a backpack with snacks etc
–Towels
–Camera
–GOGGLES!