Balmorhea State Park [Toyahvale, Texas] boasts a wildlife habitat cienega and a swimming pool fed by the San Solomon springs which is comprised of water draining from the nearby Davis Mountains. The average flow of the springs into the park is 1,000,000 gallons per hour.
The water temperature in the pool is a bit nippy, but pleasant, ranging from 72-76F, making it a bit warmer than Austin's Barton Springs. There are plenty of Mexican Tetras and Channel Catfish to observe as you snorkel about. The Fabulous NC and I also spotted a white soft shell turtle and a few crawfish in the pool. My strangest experience in the pool was having some dead skin surrounding a healing wound on my right shin being nibbled on by some Tetras as I stood in some shallow water.
The deepest part of the pool is 25 feet deep at the point where the springs bubbles up through a patch of gray sand. I am proud to say that after a few failed attempts, I was finally able to dive down and touch the springs on our forth and final day at the park.

Water in the Cienega

Some small fish (Mexican Tetras, methinks) in the Cienega

Water in the San Solomon Pool

Snorklers in the Pool

Beautiful swimmer in San Solomon Pool

The high dive a San Solomon





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