11 Free Swimming Holes near Tanque Verde Falls
first prev 1 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of 14911 Redington Rd, Tucson, AZ 85748, USA City, Zip, or Address
Chiva Falls
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
2.7 miles NEA 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 1.2 mi
La Milagrosa Canyon
Tucson, Arizona
4.9 miles NWA 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 0.2-4.6 mi
Frog's Hollow
Vail, Arizona
6.4 miles NEMultiple 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 2.4 mi
Sycamore Reservoir
Tucson, Arizona
6.6 miles NWA 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
Seven Cataracts
Tucson, Arizona
8.3 miles NWA 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 0.5-3.8 mi
Hutch's Pool
Tucson, Arizona
10.0 miles NWA 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 1.3-3.5 mi
Seven Falls
Tucson, Arizona
10.0 miles NWSeven 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 1.0-1.2 mi
Maiden Pools
Tucson, Arizona
12.7 miles NWGranite 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 3.6 mi
Lemmon Pools
Mount Lemmon, Arizona
13.1 miles NWA steep, rocky 8.5-mile trek through the Wilderness of Rocks to hidden pools tucked in the Santa Catalinas.
Hike, Swim 1.4-1.8 mi
Romero Pools
Tucson, Arizona
18.5 miles NWA 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
18.5 miles NWA 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
