There are few things in the world that make me feel as deeply peaceful as a summer evening swim at Deep Eddy. The families have migrated their bustle and laughter to the shelter of their homes, leaving a giant expanse of nearly-deserted pool for us adult water worshippers. The sinking sun casts a gentle orangey-pink glow over the glassine surface and the lap swimmers take to their lanes, gliding silently through the water at their own paces. I love the way the coolness feels on my scalp, the way my limbs feel as they pull me along for the ride - all tension leaving my muscles as they work, silently expressing their surprise at how easy it is to pull my weightless body through the water. The spring-fed pool stays very cool, even in the blazing Texas heat (between 72-75 degrees), and the City has opted to leave it chlorine-free, so you emerge refreshed and without the strong chemically smell that often accompanies a dip in the pool. Deep Eddy is one of the many jewels of our fair city, and one of the things I would miss most if I were ever to move away. read more

Deep Eddy is not so much a pool as it is an institution in the city of Austin. Yes we may yearn for the warmer waters of Stacy and Balcones. We hearken back the wilder ways of Barton Springs and the Greenbelt. Yet nowhere else will you feel as though you are at the grand city pool as you do at Deep Eddy. You enter a one story building and pay the $3 entrance fee. Then you change in classic style change room similar to that found at Barton Springs with overhangs along the edges and open sky in the center. Full of plants. Showers are warm, but there aren't many of them. The true delight comes in descending the great flight of stairs overlooking the river and Hike-and-bike-trail. You pass a set of wood and stone bleachers gracefully set into the hillside and arrive at a pool divided. On the West it is shallow and recreational. On the east there are lanes and lap swimmers. I have found the crowd here also hearkens back to a simpler time when sepia tone photographs were the norm and the Greek ideal of perfecting the human form was a necessary routine in life. Indeed the folks here are generally very beautiful, if perhaps a bit removed, inaccessible to our modern mentality. I have chatted with some of the people there declaring my hatred of the butterfly stroke and they have offered insight in wisdom. I have chatted with the lifeguard and he has offered curiosity. The grassy area is a safe for stuff storage and there don't seem to be so many ants. I want to do the back stoke here every day, gazing at the world around me, as my ancestors have done since the dawn of time. read more

I've lived here for 7 years and have never been to Deep Eddy. I'm so sad that I wanted for so long. The water was great on a super hot day. It felt amazing. The shallow end can get kid heavy but you can find a good spot to soak in. I like the grassy areas to stretch out in. I'd like to go back during the week. It's a great and affordable way to spend the day. read more

Cold water, spring fed, cheap entry, surrounded by trees... all the makings for a great pool with a large swallow end. Only downside are steep stairs to get to pool read more

I would give it a zero but that is not an option. We were road tripping around the state of Texas and found this place online. Thought it would be a neat little stop for a hot summer day. However we were rudely greeted by an old man working the desk who informed us that nonresidents had to pay $8 vs $3 cash only. Our 5 year old was devastated by the unwelcome man at the front desk and that we had to trek back to the car only to leave because we didn't have that much cash with no ATM's around for our bank. We didn't really miss much though as 2 huge school buses full of kids came pouring in as we walked to the car. read more

Unclean pool that is always freezing and dirty!!! Only reason I give it a two star instead of 1 is because alot of people like to meet up here to have a few drinks and enjoy the sun. The picture you see here isn't even the right pool. Would never put a child or my child at risk swimming in this pool. Has parasites written all over it! So its not good for kids IMO. read more

Deep Eddy is one of my favorite places in Austin. This year-round pool is one of a few gems that make Austin such a neat place. I try to go at least once a week, even in winter months. If I tell someone I'm going to Deep Eddy and they say, "the distillery?," I kind of lose my mind. This is the real Deep Eddy. read more

I halfway enjoyed Deep Eddy. It was my significant other, myself, and my son. The shallow area was nice. The deeper part was dirtier than normal. I understand it is spring fed, so I overlooked. Enjoyed a few cool laps in the hot Austin sun. The only thing that really killed our visit was the abundant amount of unsupervised children and biting gnats. We did not stay very long, so I did not feel we had gotten our 7 dollars worth of swimming. I will try again next time! read more

Beautiful pool and a fantastic natural resource to the citizens of Austin. Unfortunately, City of Austin Aquatics has a constantly changing and ambiguous policy toward lane-sharing. Making things worse, a few stalwarts seize entire lanes during peak hours when there is a line at each lane... refusing to share. City of Austin will not clarify a lane-sharing policy, as nearly every major city does. Sharing a lane in a public pool is a basic skill on par with swimming itself. It need not be a controversial issue as the City of Austin and Friends of Deep Eddy maintain force it to be. Lanes the size of Deep Eddy's can easily support 4-5 swimmers in total harmoney. It just needs a little guidance from staff to make sure people get into lanes with other people their speed, know the protocol for splitting lanes, circle swimming, etc. It's painful to see conflict after conflict at Deep Eddy regarding lane sharing during the peak hours (morning and after work). read more

This is a really great spot for families. There is plenty of space to spread out a blanket and have your own area. There is also a lot of pool including a shallow children's area. The water is very cold so it's a great way to cool off from the Texas heat. The facilities are a bit outdated and the bathrooms could use more attention. read more

I used to think I couldn't live in Austin with out Barton Springs, and then I discovered Deep Eddy. It's not necessarily prettier than Barton Springs, but the vibe is simply happier. Deep Eddy lacks "the Scene" that plays out at the Springs, which is how I ended up preferring it. Deep Eddy is also much more chilled out. The final kicker which won me over is the new bath house. Kudos to the Friends of Deep Eddy. Taking an outdoor shower under the fading blue skies at the end of a 98 degree day could not be more peaceful. August sunsets at Deep Eddy while immersed in 70 degree water to escape the 100 degree heat, watching the slight sway of huge old trees in front of watercolor splashed sunset yellow, pink, orange, and purple sky, as you finish your mile lap swim with a slow paced backstroke... Aaaah, summertime in A-town is perfected by this jewel of a pool. read more

Best place to stay cool in the HOT Texas summers. I love that is fresh water yet not as gross as the bottom of the lakes! And of course the summer time movies are just a wonderful added touch. Fun for all!!! read more

My group went on one of the Splash Party Movie nights... It was pretty cool except for the fact they showed the wrong movie and the kids (and adults) were expecting to see one thing while viewing something else. I didn't care much for the very young, rude staff either. Good points...You can bring food and beverage, the kids and good grown up friends, your own chairs or blankets....It was a cool night highly recommended if you are looking for a fun family outing. Wow that water is COLD!! read more

This is one of my favorite places in Austin to go swimming and is pretty similar to Barton Springs. It's a bit smaller and the parking actually might even be worse than at Barton Springs but it's a nice, calm environment overall and a fun place to meet up with friends to cool off over the summer. Water is warmer than Barton Springs too so I swim here a bit more than I would if I were visiting BS. read more

Great free swim. Great for families. Warmer than the springs, for the kiddos. Pizza place next door is convenient. It's nice right at the dead end of the walking trail so after a good run you can cool off here. Haven't been by in a while. read more

I came to this pool for the first time last weekend, when Barton Springs was so full that a line of traffic was snaking out onto the street. No thanks. I found Deep Eddy to be very clean, nice dressing and bathrooms, and very friendly people. Having Jim Jim's is a great touch, there's no chlorine, and the water is nice and cold. My mom and I enjoyed seeing all the great little families out there and this really is a pool that accommodates everyone from lap swimmers, to splashing toddlers, and grown-ups just looking for a place to cool their heels. The water looks a little gross, but its spring fed and not chlorinated. This is so much better for your skin and hair, but it may make people feel like the pool is nasty. It's not the cleanest environment, but far more clean than many of the poo filled man-made lakes here in Texas. read more

My favorite place for lap swims. Never as crowded as Barton, and the fresh water is awesome.

Great place but DO NOT waste your money on the Jim Jim's concession stand. $4 for a microwaved empanada that is cold in the center. Horrible. But the pool is amazing. read more

So it's not quite as scenic as Barton Springs, Blue Hole, or Hamilton Pool Preserve, but I still adore Deep Eddy. While the pool itself isn't anything magnificent, it's cheap, not hard to get to, and I love how it's surrounded by grassy knolls rather than ugly cement. Definitely a fun place to spend a summer day without having to drive too far (spring or autumn days too if it's open then, after all this IS Austin). read more

Beautiful pool! They've done some renovations this year and I don't know what it was like before, but the grass is great and the bathrooms are really nice. It's still spring fed but has a pool bottom, different from BS. Probably more kid oriented than BS, but really nice. And they have some great shade trees for those who don't love the direct sun!! read more

I almost don't want to write a review of this place because I really don't want it to turn into Barton Springs. That said, Deep Eddy Pool is the stuff swimmer's dreams are made of. It's a real gem of Austin and so unlike any pool you'll find elsewhere. The cool, springfed waters (which, by the way, for Austinites are totally bearable) make it a relaxing place to go to swim laps or christen your baby, Austin floaties-style. Be sure to call ahead in the summers, as afternoon thunderstorms or cloudy water conditions can cause unexpected closures. Trust me, there's nothing more heartbreaking to a child than arriving to a closed or closing Deep Eddy on a hot day. Also, bring small bills if you're traveling solo to the pool. They only take cash and won't split $20 bills for single fare admission. You can also buy a pool pass which runs for $33 and gets you several swims at various Austin pools, including Deep Eddy. No more scrounging carseats for quarters! Deep Eddy in the evening, as other reviewers have suggested, is not to be missed. The sun sets over the Violet Crown and you'll feel a little closer to God, heaven, or just a good beer as you watch it reflect across the Eddy's joyful waters. Random tidbit for horse/trivia lovers: Ever seen the movie Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken? Deep Eddy used to have "Lorena's Diving Horse" back in the 20s or 30s. They used to have some great photos of this outside their gates but sadly since the remodel it seems to have disappeared. read more

People talk about Barton Springs and, yeah, I get it. But if you have kids, you know that the Springs is not always ideal. Check out Deep Eddy. Beautiful, park-setting-- water is fresh and not too chlorinated (but still not scummy!) and a generous, expansive shallow end for the little ones to frolic. read more

An awesome place to take oneself or visitors to show of f one of Austins favorite swimming holes. This pool attracts young and old Austinites alike and everyone is always having a good time. I have gone for years and will continue to frequent this Austin original. read more

Children and I visited the pool last week and have to say, it was clean and safe. The lifeguards are very attentive and professional. The shallow end is perfect for children as young as 2. I didn't have a chance to swim in the lap lanes but looked busy, green and murky. The shower area is impressively clean and to top it up the peach shaved ice flavor was very yummy. I will definitely come back here again. read more

The water is cold, but not too cold. No chlorine is a big plus! Easy to find some shade. Beautiful water & great experience. An Austin gem.

I would give this a -5 star if possible. I came to visit from out of town and had a terrible experience! Came on a Saturday and online it says it opens early. They didn't open it until 2:15pm. Then they wouldn't let anyone play in the shallow area until they filled it up about a couple of inches of water. So there were many people with kids because it was a Saturday. We sat by the steps on the far right of the lap area. My kids were playing by the steps until they opened it up. They didn't want anyone sitting on the wall which was acceptable. They wanted everyone to go to the deep end of the free swim area but they wouldn't let my 5 year old wear a life jacket. What kind of bull is that! The older people that came were so upset that we let our kids get in and play around the steps. They had many other lap lanes and they could change or just wait! Please realize you can't tell a 5 year old that we came to swim but the other people don't want you in there because they incapable of changing and moving for the kids who were not allowed to swim in the area for kids. I couldn't go to the area of the deep end because I didn't want my child to drown and he is scared of swimming without his life jacket. The idea that they wouldn't allow children to swim without a life jacket is just one bad accident away from a someone suing them!! They need something to wake them up apparently because safety is just too much to ask!! They also asked us wear a face mask to walk down the stairs and then we could take it off when we were all sitting close to everyone in the water. The kids were splashing and playing next to each other. I guess I didn't know that water will protect everyone from diseases and COVID. This was just a ridiculous place! Don't go because there rules are just stupid and something bad could happen because of poor management. Someone please get all new management or new rules!! read more

I LOVE Deep Eddy! It's much smaller and quieter than Barton Springs -- perfect for a play date with my little niece. It's beautiful, clean and absolutely perfect for a sunny day. read more

Today was my first time going to Deep Eddy! I enjoyed it, the water was super cold and it wasn't half as crowed as Barton springs pool. The only reason I left one star off is the kids. Kind of hard to enjoy yourself when there are tons of kids all around you jumping into the pool constantly and swimming underwater around your legs. It could be me I don't like to get too close to other people's kids but that was the only thing that bothered me. read more

Awesome pool and facilities. The summer movies are a hit with our family. Clean, cool natural pool with lots of shade. It's great for kids who do not swim well (such as mine) and the lifeguards are really good about enforcing rules and safety. It's cheap, too...just a few bucks for access. As for the movie nights, there a couple of things that could make it better. One, the movies are not always closed-captioning, and considering how Austin has one of the largest Deaf community in the United States, it does suck when they're watching a movie and cannot understand. Secondly, for the movie night they won't let you bring your coolers onto the lawn until after a certain period before dusk - which is a pain and a stupid rule. In spite of the two little bumps regarding the summer movie nights, it still gets five stars from me. Please don't come and visit it. We like it because it doesn't have a lot of people and it's clean. Stay away from our pool! :) read more

I swim here year round. No Chlorine, just fresh spring water. The lifeguards are friendly. Great for laps or just lounging.

Deep Eddy is not for everyone. And I'm ok with that. But for me, it's one of the best attractions in one of the most enjoyable cities in the USA. I've lived in Austin for 11 years now, and my son and I love the cool water on a hot summer day. I often tell people that Deep Eddy Pool has the prettiest bathrooms in town. The modest admission fee ($3 adults, $1 for young kids and $2 for older kids) seems to keep the pool from getting too crowded. The people who go to Deep Eddy go there because they like it, not because it's the easiest or cheapest or closest pool. So they tend to be friendly and happy folks, they respect the place, they don't leave their trash littering the grounds like you see at other pools, and the parents tend to watch their kids responsibly. I realize it's not for everybody: some people don't like the cold water, some don't like the lack of chlorine, some don't like the crowded parking lot, some don't like the admission fee. But I'm very grateful for this historic and beautiful place, it has shared many many wonderful days with me and my family and friends. Thanks Deep Eddy! read more

Deep Eddy Pool - The cold, chlorine-free waters of Deep Eddy Pool are a perfect antidote to Austin's wilting summer temperatures. 2013 JCP - Swimming Pools Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Cool pool, but parking can suck. It gets pretty congested, but that's to be expected.

Great place to swim. The restrooms and changing areas are totally cool. Bring the kiddos , no nudity or creative smoking like Barton springs but a great Austin feel. Austin original read more

We've always been fans of Deep Eddy and can't wait to see the recent upgrades. ride your bike,brings blankets and cooler.

It's fun but keep in mind it's cold. Very very cold. Plan on parking far away unless you get lucky and somehow scoop up a spot in the lot.

Summer fun at Deep Eddy's!!!! This is the perfect place for families in the summer or even couples. The pool is huge and is freezing cold for those scorching hot Austin days. They have movies on the weekends they play poolside on the lawn and is the perfect place to have a picnic or take a date. read more

Great alternative to Barton Springs. It is has lanes for people who want to do laps, a shallow area for babies, and a "normal" area for..well whatever you wish. Also there are life guards on duty so that helps all of us feel a bit safer. read more

Deep Eddy was quite refreshing to go on a hot summer day in Austin - but I might be a little spoiled by the natural spring pools in Napa County... Deep Eddy had too many dead bugs in the pool for me to fully enjoy it. Otherwise, I would give it another star. Sorry, Eddy! If I come again, I would probably bring a floatie to lay on. read more

Being from South Florida, I don't think I can get used to cold water, no matter how HOT it is outside. I would go back though.

Deep Eddy is a special place...love the view to Town Lake.