11 Free Swimming Holes near Lemmon Pools
first prev 1 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of Sky Islands Traverse, Mt Lemmon, AZ 85619, USA City, Zip, or Address
Seven Cataracts
Tucson, Arizona
4.9 miles SA set of waterfalls deep in Willow Canyon near Tucson, reached by off-trail canyoneering scrambles — visible from the Catalina Highway pulloff after rainfall.
Canyoneer, Hike, Swim 2.4 mi
Sycamore Reservoir
Tucson, Arizona
6.7 miles SA small lake up in Bear Canyon on Mount Lemmon with a sandy shore and a dam that creates a small waterfall — best hiked in fall, winter, or spring, when the desert foliage is at its most striking.
Hike, Swim 1.0-1.2 mi
Maiden Pools
Tucson, Arizona
8.4 miles SWGranite pools carved smooth by the Ventana Stream, best filled in late winter and spring, with shading oak trees and big rocks for picnicking — 2.4 miles up Ventana Canyon Trail.
Hike, Rock Climb, Swim 1.4-1.8 mi
Romero Pools
Tucson, Arizona
8.9 miles WA two-hour canyon hike through Romero Canyon leads to year-round stream-fed pools surrounded by Catalina State Park desert — best enjoyed September through May.
Hike, Swim 1.0 mi
Montrose Pool
Tucson, Arizona
8.9 miles WA seasonal catchment pool about a mile up the Romero Canyon Trail in Catalina State Park, filling after rainfall — best hiked October through May and dog-friendly to the pool.
Hike, Swim 0.5-3.8 mi
Hutch's Pool
Tucson, Arizona
9.0 miles SWA famous desert pool in Sabino Canyon — 8 miles round trip from the trailhead, plus up to 8 more if you walk from the visitor center — with spectacular desert views the entire way.
Hike, Swim 1.2 mi
La Milagrosa Canyon
Tucson, Arizona
9.1 miles SA hidden canyon east of Tucson with rock-climbing walls and a seasonal waterfall pooling into swim basins — best after fall or winter rain, with boulder scrambling required.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Rock Climb, Swim 1.3-3.5 mi
Seven Falls
Tucson, Arizona
9.1 miles SWSeven Falls crosses a stream seven times through Bear Canyon before arriving at pools best visited in late winter when snowmelt keeps the water flowing strong.
Hike, Swim 4.4 mi
Chiva Falls
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
12.4 miles SEA desert waterfall tucked in Coronado National Forest, best reached by mountain bike or motorized vehicle on rocky double-track — with a pool at the bottom to cool off in (check depth before diving).
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim 0.5 mi
Tanque Verde Falls
Tucson, Arizona
13.1 miles SEWaterfalls and pools in Tanque Verde Canyon reachable on a short hike — but this site has about 30 deaths since 1971 from flash flooding and cliff jumping. Check weather carefully and use extreme caution.
Hike, Swim 0.2-4.6 mi
Frog's Hollow
Vail, Arizona
13.5 miles SEMultiple small pools and shallow waterfalls in a frog-filled Arizona canyon, best in fall through spring after rain — hike via the Arizona or Indian Springs Trail.
Hike, Mountain Bike, Swim
