From Lake To Spring To Pool — 5 Kinds Of Swimming Adventures In Colorado

COLORADO — Come on in, the water is fine!

As the heat beats down, nothing is quite as refreshing as a dip. If you aren't lucky enough to have your own pool, or you just want to try out some other exciting options, check out our list of places to swim in Colorado.

We chose five different options, so everyone can find a swimming spot that suits them. Enjoy!

Big Soda Lake

Big Soda Lake offers the beach life of every landlocked state's dreams. Located within Bear Creek Lake Park, this lake features a swim beach with a separate 150-yard, lap-swimming lane. The beach also includes a playground, two volleyball courts, picnic sites and shelters, a concession stand and paddlecraft areas.

The lake is open to paddlecraft all year, but paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and pedal boats are only available to rent during the summer. You will certainly have plenty to do at this beach if you decide to take a break from swimming.

Paradise Cove

Adventure awaits — plus possibly a bit of a drive — but the destination is worth it. The Paradise Cove Swimming Hole in Guffey Gorge is a beautiful swimming spot, and the best way in is cliff jumping.

To arrive at the spot from the parking lot, you will need to take a half-mile walk into the canyon, but that's where you'll find the deep pool surrounded by granite cliffs. With shade from ponderosa pines providing the perfect picnic place, this area is worth the effort. Because of the fantastic location, do expect it to be crowded, and try to plan around the busiest times for peak enjoyment.

Confluence Park

When you don't have time for a designated swimming trip but want to take a quick dip, Confluence Park right in Denver's LoDo neighborhood is the perfect option. Located at the confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, the park has plenty of places to relax by or in the water. Confluence Park offers swimming, kayaking, tubing down the South Platte and access to the Riverfront Park trail system.

Fun fact: this park is also where Colorado's Gold Rush began in 1858.

Mount Princeton Hot Springs

Hot springs aren't exactly known for cooling people off, but Colorado has too many amazing options to leave them off the list entirely. Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort includes natural non-sulfurous springs that are 100 percent odorless. The resort offers a variety of pool options — both natural and man-made — and is family-friendly.

The creekside hot springs, located in Chalk Creek, are each are fed by their own geothermal hot spring "bubbling up into the actual creek bed and into majestic circles of stones that create natural pools of warmth and rejuvenation."

In addition, the resort also has a bath house with a soaking pool, exercise pool, infinity pool and 400-foot water slide. Use of all of these pools is available with a day ticket or complimentary for hotel guests. Overnight guests (16+) also have access to the relaxation pool and cascading hot springs. Be sure to check for any hot spring closures before booking.

Public pools

Obviously, everyone cannot go to resorts and destination swimming holes every day — so for the last option, we have a free standby that never lets us down when we need a dip. Most public city pools are open and ready for business as of Memorial Day — the unofficial kickoff to summer. Be sure to check your local parks and recreation department website to confirm that your nearest location is open. For example, Boulder has already opened its outdoor swimming facilities, but Denver's outdoor pools open on June 13.

Happy swimming!

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