Hamilton Pool provides sweet relief from summer heat

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Hamilton Pool has a rich history.

The nature preserve has been around for thousands of years. It’s even a place where cliff swallows choose to spend a lot of time. The little birds are nesting above the pool, and that has swimming temporarily off limits.

Park Supervisor Michael Brewster explains the pool could reopen as soon as Wednesday.

"This time of year, there's about a one-month window when cliff swallows nest above the pool. They can pollute the pool themselves without a rain shower, and that's what we're experiencing right now. There's no swimming today, but we are testing the water today. We may open up as early as Wednesday," Brewster said.

Other than swimming, everything else at the preserve is open. You can hike a quarter of a mile down to the pool or take another trail to the Pedernales River, where you can also swim. Admission is $10 per vehicle.

Be sure to tune in all week for more of our “Getaway: Not Far Away” series. Tuesday, Bonnie Gonzalez will head to Copperas Cove to uncover more gems around central Texas.