The start of summer means travelers will be flocking to beaches and lakefronts in droves. Sure, we love boardwalks and water skiing and volleyball as much as the next guy. But when it comes to purely and simply communing with the water, there’s no better place to take a dip than an all-American swimming hole.

Swimming holes come in many shapes and sizes, but you’ll know one when you see it: a refreshing pool under a waterfall, a cool mountain stream, a crisp freshwater spring, a shaded grotto, a desert creek. No matter the locale, there’s an intimacy to the experience, fewer distractions, a deeper connection to nature. This is a place where every tiny detail—the color and temperature of the water, the type of rocks that line the pool, the height of the diving platform, the soundtrack of bird calls you’ll hear—combines to make a wholly one-of-a-kind experience. Truly, no two are the same.

Best of all, swimming holes have a way of weeding out all but the most devoted diehards. After all, the vast majority will take research, time, effort and, in many cases, skill to tackle. Whether you’re searching for that one unmarked highway turnoff, hiking for miles in a national park, or perhaps even hiring a helicopter or pack animal to take you to some remote canyon corner, you know you’re earning something special along the way. Your reward? Spending time in an unspoiled oasis of refreshing calm with just your friends, the sun, the water, and anyone else dedicated enough to make the trek.

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Where to See Incredible Natural Phenomena

Havasu Falls—Havasupai Indian Reservation, ArizonaIt’s no wonder the local tribe in this section of the Grand Canyon is called the Havasupai, or “people of the blue-green waters.” Set against red rock canyon walls, the waters of Havasu Falls are downright inspiring, taking on remarkably turquoise hues thanks to high concentrations of magnesium and calcium carbonate. The Havasupai consider the waters sacred, but even if you don’t believe in their powers, you’ll love wading in the wide pool beneath the 120-foot waterfall or sitting in the shade of the cottonwood trees. Although the falls are among the most well-known in the country, their extreme isolation—they’re only reachable by chartered helicopter, mule, horse or overnight hike—means you’re unlikely to encounter massive crowds. For more information: havasupai-nsn.gov

Sooke Potholes—Sooke Potholes Provincial Park, British Columbia

Formed during the last ice age some 15,000 years ago, the Sooke Potholes are a result of melting ice and boulders scraping deep holes into the bedrock of the Sooke River. Though these deep, emerald-green pools are only about 25 miles west of Victoria on the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, they feel worlds away from the city. Black bears, bald eagles and Roosevelt elk call this area home, and the fall brings spawning coho and Chinook salmon swimming upstream.

For more information: env.gov.bc.ca

Wakulla Springs—Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, Florida

Tucked into a forest 14 miles south of Tallahassee, the 6,000-acre Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park contains one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, with some 250 million gallons of crisp, clear water flowing out of its underground cave system every day. You can explore the spring by glass-bottom boat—a great way to see the fossilized mastodon bones 80 feet below the surface on the floor of the four-acre spring basin—or, better yet, dive right in. The 70-degree spring water might seem cool to Floridians, but it’s just right for manatees, who have been arriving in ever-increasing numbers each winter.

floridastateparks.org

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