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When it comes to recreational activities, there are emotional components at play. They are a blend of lived experience and expectations crafted by books and television and movies. For instance, when we wrote about hot springs last week the author painted them as apres ski (and somehow slasher film related), which is valid but isn’t the nudist, hippie expectation that someone who grew up with vegetarian Californian parents might have.
Swimming holes, similarly, are the victim of tropes — in this case tying them most strongly to life in the American South. But anyone who lives in the Midwest can tell you that they have some of the most gorgeous, iconic swimming holes in the nation. This list proves that over and over again.
In particular, the Midwest kills it when it comes to quarries. Now there was some mild fisticuffs in the Uproxx offices over what constitutes a “swimming hole” — but we all signed off on quarries, which we love. They are not the secluded rope swing idylls that we picture most readily, but they are the homes of a million memories of rock jumps, belly flops, and freckle triggering sunburns. Plus, they are often filled with spring water due to the excavations. That feels like pure swimming hole joy.
Check out our picks for each state in the Midwest and jump into the comments to add the names of swimming holes you love. There’s nothing wrong with crowdsourcing even more places to escape the summer heat and have an outdoor adventure.
North Dakota: Cascade Falls (Hot Springs)
Named for the gently cascading falls that descend into the swimming hole, this location is ideal for recreation because the six warm springs that run downstream into the Cascade Creek keep it roughly 67 degrees. It’s a wonderful contrast to the colder surrounding creeks and rivers in the region. This is the only part of the river that is recommended for swimming because of the varying depths and the relatively slow flow of the water.
Eight miles south of the town of Hot Springs, this natural beauty is like something out of a film, with its turquoise-colored pools and lush foliage. There are literally ferns and orchids lining the banks that cannot be found in the rest of South Dakota, so be sure to take some time outside the refreshing waters to explore and snap pics.
Cascade was a city established between the springs and the existing town of Hot Springs. It aimed to be a destination for people seeking out the warm mineral water, but the town’s growth was quashed by an influential businessman from Hot Springs who was not having competition. So, if you need supplies, Hot Springs is pretty much the only way to go.
South Dakota: Devil’s Bathtub (Spearfish Canyon)
You have to hike a little bit to get to Devil’s Bathtub in Spearfish Canyon, but it’s totally worth it. The fact that you can say you were Satan’s loofah might be enough to make this a worthwhile trip alone — but the swimming hole itself is the best fun to be had in the area. There aren’t any signs that will lead you to the tub; most people get here because a local told them about it, and that keeps crowds down.
Large limestone walls with layers exposed and areas covered in moss surround the pool. At one point at the top of them, the creek has worn a channel that serves as nature’s waterslide. You can slide into the pool, jump from the surrounding cliffs, and swim through the cold, clear water. Make sure you go when the water levels are high so you can ride the slides.
There are some great falls in this area as well. So why not hike to see Bridal Veil Falls and/or Spearfish Falls while you are checking out the Black Hills?
Minnesota: Quarry Park (St. Cloud)
Quarry Park is a sizable 683 acres, making it the largest in the Stearns County parks system. Visitors can geocache, fish, hike, picnic, and enjoy two swimming quarries. Quarry number two is 116 feet deep with high rock formations, and this is where the daredevils head. Quarry eleven is considerably shallower at forty feet deep and boasts a sandy beach that begs you to have a seat and feel the sun on your skin. Eleven is a recent development aimed more at families and people looking to take it easy. Both swimming holes are rimmed by red granite cliffs, which provide jumps between 10 and 24 feet for those looking to leap from them. The park does get crowded, but it’s genuinely cool to spend part of your day watching people scream through the sky before slicing into the cool water.
In addition to the swimming areas, there are three designated quarries for scuba diving, so that’s another option for fun in the water.
Michigan: Dead River Falls (Marquette)
The Dead River is a name that either strikes you as a little goth sexy or triggers the part of your brain that insists on streaming serial killer shows during bouts of insomnia. Luckily, neither the river nor the falls are teeming with the dead, so you needn’t worry.
The Dead River Falls are a series of rapids and falls. In a half-mile stretch of the river, it drops a whopping 90-feet, as demonstrated by three drops over 15-feet and a series of smaller ones. The swimming hole is within this section of the river. It’s about two and a half miles from a parking lot — a healthy hike — but, it’s totally worth it if you are looking to jump off of some cliffs into the unblemished water.
Because there are a number of falls in the area, it’s worth going for a long hike and taking some pictures at the falls and as you hike along the riverfront. The entire area is dead scenic.
Wisconsin: Redgranite Quarry (Redgranite)
Natural swimming holes are the tops, but we also have a special spot in our hearts for quarries, the bad boys of swimming. For real, the abandoned ones are death traps. Sharp rocks, abandoned equipment, submerged fencing and wire can all contribute to a bad scene. So, when we find a quarry that’s well-maintained and managed, we get stoked.
When red granite was discovered in the quarry in the 1880s, it triggered a mining boom that brought skilled stone cutters from as far away as Europe and paving blocks mined from the quarry were used to pave streets as far away as Chicago. But when concrete and asphalt became popular for paving in the 1920s, the quarry closed. It has since been filled with water and functions as a giant swimming hole.
Redgranite Quarry Park is a six-acre lake with a maximum depth of 163 feet, which makes it ideal for swimming and diving off of the rocks that surround it. Rocky outcroppings that vary from between five and 30 feet above the water level make for awesome diving boards.
Illinois: Bork Falls (Ozark)
Illinois has a surprising number of places you can go to get wet and cool off, but few have the straight out of Middle Earth look of Bork Falls in the Shawnee National Forest along the Ohio River. A hike along the waterfall trail from Ferne Clyffe State Park and a hike to this exquisite blue-green body of water will have you cooling off in the most ethereal setting. Every summer, travelers come to splash in the water, take pictures, and relax in the grotto behind the falls. Hey, you can even do yoga there. And, despite how beautiful it is, this swimming hole doesn’t get a lot of traffic.
The roads leading to the falls aren’t always easy to traverse, so make sure you have a vehicle with a lot of ground clearance.
Indiana: White Rock Park (St. Paul)
Yes, natural swimming holes nestled in a wooded canyon are amazing, but sometimes you want to swim, swing from ropes, zipline like a mofo, high dive, and do some scuba action. Given how exciting these activities can be at a swimming hole, we wanted to include a couple that are more akin to a water park that a nymph paradise.
White Rock Park is made up of three quarries; the main lake is dedicated to swimming, as well as scuba and cliff diving, while the other two are reserved for fishing. The main body of water is plenty big enough for some to float lazily while others swing high above the placid surface before diving in.
Family owned for over 35 years, this venue aims to provide ample opportunities to make lasting memories for every visitor and if social media is any indication, it’s working. If you want to get the most out of the park consider camping in one of the many sites throughout the property. The views of the lakes and the Flat Rock River are awesome.
Ohio: Nelson Ledges Quarry Park (Nelson)
Visitors have the Ice Age to thank for the breath-taking quartz and sandstone cliffs that surround this swimming hole. The Nelson Ledges Quarry Park’s position at one of the highest points in the state creates the watershed divide between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, as well. So there are a lot of natural factors that have gone into making this privately owned park exquisite for recreation and photo opportunities.
The clear blue-green water is ideal for cliff jumping, tubing, and swimming. Plus, surrounding areas have some awesome graffiti for those looking to take singular selfies. And the park hosts a lot of music festivals, which means the woods are often filled with tie-dyed campers smoking pot and doing yoga, which we think makes it a near constant party for folks who spend time here.
In the 1940s and 1950s, this was a working quarry, but the machinery hit one of the springs and the 30-acre space filled with mineral water, leaving peninsulas, a small island, and the rock shelves. Once abandoned by the mining company, it became a haven for free-loving hippies and bikers who tried to set up a paradise. These days, Evan Kelley — a previous lifeguard, runs the space and it is dope af.
Iowa: Richmond Springs Pool (Dundee)
Backbone State Park is Iowa’s oldest state park, and this incredible nature area in the Maquoketa River valley is the home of a ridge of bedrock called the Devil’s Backbone and the Richmond Springs pool — a naturally occurring springs enclosed by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1934 and 1935 with the goal to preserve the springs for potable water.
The water here is a chilly 48 degrees, but the presence of the springs makes the floor of the pool bubble like it’s boiling. Every minute 2,000 gallons of crisp fast-flowing, clear water are pumped into the Backbone stream, making it the ideal place to become one with nature and to shed the stresses of your daily life.
This is also a prime area for trout fishing, so consider bringing a rod and enjoying other aspects of the park. And, a hike will bring you across some great bridges and even to a mysterious cave. It’s all great for photographers, as well.
Nebraska: Sandy Channel State Recreation Area (Elm Creek)
Nebraska has a fair number of gorgeous beaches and swimming opportunities, and it would take a real aqua enthusiast to travel to all of them. If you don’t fancy such a tour de swimming hole, make Sandy Channel State Recreation Area your one stop. The water is famed for its clarity, so much so that scuba divers call the lakes the best place in the state to dive. The park itself is roughly 180 acres of beautiful landscape with six sandpit lakes that total 52 acres of cool blue water. Not all of it is a swimming hole, but there are areas you can definitely get wet.
A lot of people come to the area to boat, camp, and catch largemouth bass, yellow perch, and bluegill. Legit. People bow fish and spearfish here, too. It is a serious fishing area. If these are things you like doing, consider adding them to the itinerary.
Kansas: Lake Scott (Scott City)
Uproxx loves a spring-fed lake and the 100-acre one at Lake Scott State Park is the best in the region. Truly, this is a must-visit swimming hole, and the lake is sizable enough for a lovely swimming area and designated areas for boating and other water activities.
Like an oasis, the lake stands out from the rest of the High Plains landscape of western Kansas. Not only do the water and associated vegetation vary from the rest of the flat, dry vista, the valley in which it sits is carved into the steep bluffs of the Ogallala Formation, which is made up of sand and gravel that have organically melded together over time. All those rocks rim the steep canyons that surround the lake.
This is a great locale for exploring, so don’t miss out on a history lesson of the park’s pioneer homesteads, Chalk Pyramids, and El Quartelejo Ruins.
Missouri: Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park (Reynolds County)
Before you go thinking this swimming hole is reserved for people who have a high degree of social awkwardness and difficulty making friends offline, know that “shut-in” is a reference to the place where the breadth of a river is limited by hard rock that resists erosion. In these spaces, the river is forced to move over and around igneous rock worn smooth, and this creates a natural water park when the levels are not dangerously high. Throughout the swimming hole at Johnson’s Shut-Ins are a series of pools and slides.
Plus, the underground springs that feed the region are chilly and guarantee that you will be fully refreshed even on the hottest days. If you don’t want to immerse yourself or shoot down rocks on your butt, you can scramble around the rocks like an adorable goat or go wading to cool off.
Some pools conceal underwater ledges and caves, so you have to be really careful exploring. You may lose your footing and end up in trouble. Better to go with a friend and wear water shoes for extra grip on slippery surfaces.
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