SUMMER! Hot days are upon us, and it’s time to find the most exciting ways to cool off. For those who are tired of water parks, Arkansas offers up many chances for swimmers to have fun the natural way on a camping trip or day visit to a state park. Check out these great swimming holes in Arkansas which are great for cooling down on a hot day.

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29. Walnut Creek: Located in Charlton, Arkansas, this spot is an historic CCC recreational site. Flickr/Katie Schenk The town of Charlton is 3 miles past the town of Crystal Springs on Route 270 from Hot Springs.

28. Buffalo Point: Swim in the clean, clear waters of the Buffalo River! Flickr/John Swimmers should be mindful of the current when the river is high. Downstream from Buffalo Point is Rush Landing, and many people canoe between the two.

27. Cadron Creek: Several swimming places are at bridge crossings on Cadron Creek at State Fish and Game access points. Cassie Westenhaver/Google Like most spots on this creek, they are rain dependent and can dry up into swampy conditions for a couple of months each year, usually July and August.

26. Cossatot River: The Cossatot is known for its largely challenging whitewater kayaking but swimmers can have a great workout here as well. Flickr/Robert Thigpen The river may be reached via two state highways (278 and 246), Weyerhaeuser roads (particularly #52000 which leads to Ed Banks Bridge and #52600 which goes to the Sandbar low-water bridge above Cossatot Falls), and Forest Service Road 31.

25. Crowley's Ridge: Try out the spring-fed swimming hole in Crowley's Ridge State Park; two swinging bridges are also located at the spot. fhwa.dot.gov Directions: From Jonesboro, Arkansas, take Route 141 north 15 miles to signs for the park.

24. Greers Ferry Lake: This beloved water playground is located in Heber Springs, Arkansas. Wikipedia The lake is surrounded by an abundance of rock outcropping, trees, and wildlife making it a leading tourist destination.

23. Blue Hole: This scenic spot is located just north of Jerusalem, Arkansas. Pinterest/bisonboys This is also a special interest area in the Bayou Ranger District of the Ozark National Forest.

22. Trigger Gap: This spot is on the Kings River outside Eureka Springs, Arkansas. naturalheritage.com Directions: Take Route 62 east to Berryville then Route 221 southwest several miles until you cross the over bridge spanning the Kings River. Then turn left on Star Lane, (it's a dirt road.) Follow the signs to the Kings River Outfitters.

21. Big Shoal Creek: This swimming hole is at the foot of a rock cliff. The cliff is 40-50 feet high with a hole in it that is said to be about the size of a half bushel. Flickr/Anna Directions: From Fort Smith, go east on I-40 about 50 miles to Exit 57 near the town of Clarksville. From here, take Route 109 south about 15 miles (through Scranton) to Midway. In Midway go east (left) on Route 22 for about half a mile and turn south (right) on Sorghum Hollow Road. About 2 miles down Sorghum Hollow Road (in the National Forest), you will come upon Shoal Creek bridge.

20. Crystal Springs Beach: This cool spot is an Army Corps of Engineers swimming beach on Lake Ouachita. sumoflam.biz Directions: Take Albert Pike west out of Hot Springs then turn north onto North Crystal Springs Road. Follow the road down to the swimming area.

19. Blakely Dam: This wonderful swimming spot on Lake Ouachita is located ten miles northwest of Hot Springs. Wikipedia Directions: Take Albert Pike Route 270 west out of Hot Springs and turn right (north) on Mountain Pine Road - Route 227 (just after the bridge over Lake Hamilton.) Take Route 227 north, then near the town of Mountain Pine, continue onto Blakley Dam Road and follow signs to Blakely Dam.

18. Kings River: Located at the interface of the Springfield Plateau and Boston Mountains subdivisions of the Ozark Mountains, Kings River natural area includes more than 3 miles of the Kings River with Kings River Falls being the focus of the setting. Wikipedia The Kings' most attractive features are the flora and fauna found along the rocky banks and bluffs. The rest of the river offers excellent floating and fishing with deep pools, overhanging trees, occasional rapids, and several large bluffs.

17. Lee Creek: This swimming spot is a 64.6-mile-long river that starts near West Fork in Washington County, Arkansas and flows south to the Arkansas River passing through Crawford County, Arkansas and Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. Lee Creek flows from Arkansas into Oklahoma, then returns to Arkansas before its confluence with the Arkansas River near Van Buren. Flickr/MRHSfan In Arkansas, upstream of the Oklahoma border, Lee Creek is classified by the State of Arkansas as an Extraordinary Resource Waterway.

16. Little Missouri River: Also known as "Little Mo", this swimming spot is a 147-mile-long waterway that runs from the Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas into the rolling hills area in the surrounding countryside. Flickr/Michael McCarthy The Little Missouri River is a rocky mountain river that flows through narrow forested canyons. This river has numerous small waterfalls, crystal clear water, and outstanding scenery including towering rocky bluffs crowned with pine.

15. Big Piney Creek: Situated in the heart of the Ozarks, the Piney is a clear mountain stream wasting little time on its journey toward the Arkansas River. It hurries over ledges and numerous rapids in a twisting course through Newton, Johnson, and Pope Counties. Wikipedia The creek and adjacent public lands provide an ideal setting for floating, fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, and swimming--not to mention other rituals like rock-skipping and plain old relaxing.

14. Mill Creek: This jewel of the Mulberry River is a thrill for swimmers and canoeists alike. Flickr/AR Nature Gal Always check the current river level. The Mulberry is very temperamental. One day it can be a lazy meandering stream, the next it might be too full to run.

13. Little Mulberry: Another stop on the Mulberry River, this swimming hole is 2 miles below Wolf Pen, where the river begins as a stream. fotopedia.com The Mulberry River is a free flowing stream unimpeded by dams. None of the tributaries are dammed except Hurricane Creek at Shores Lake. No major springs feed the river.

12. Black River: The Black River is a tributary of the White River, about 300 miles long, in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas. Flickr/J Stephen Conn In Arkansas, the Black River is joined by the Little Black River, the Current River, the Spring River and the Strawberry River. Old Davidsonville State Park offers swimming from a dock on the Black River.

11. Sylamore Creek: This gorgeous spot for swimming is located in Blanchard Springs Cavern State Park northwest of Mountain View, Arkansas. Flickr/Tricia J Directions: From Mountain Home, take Route 5 southeast about 40 miles to Sylamore.

10. West Fork White River: This swimming spot is a part of the Upper White River, a long river that flows northwest through Fayetteville, Arkansas and into Lake Sequoyah then north into Beaver Lake before crossing the Missouri State Line. Wikipedia Forming south of Fayetteville, along US Highway 71 near Winslow, the West Fork of the Upper White River flows as a Class I stream with Class II potential at high water levels. The river flows south to north through Fayetteville to Beaver Lake, where it meets the flow from the Upper White River to the east.

9. Tanyard Creek: Tanyard Creek is located in Bella Vista, Arkansas, below the Windsor Lake Dam with the entrance being off Highway 340/Lanshire Boulevard. Flickr/Brian Clark Snakes are a common site in the creek (and sometimes sunning themselves beside the paths) but are mostly harmless and not a threat if they are left alone. Contrary to popular belief, water moccasins are not a common snake in Northwest Arkansas and nearly all the snakes you will see in the creek is the harmless midland water snake or another harmless water snake species.

8. Sugar Creek: This swimming spot is on the Cossatot River in Mena, Arkansas. Flickr/Carol Von Canon This swimming destination is also popular with campers and day-trippers on ATVs.

7. Spring River: This popular swimming spot has been described as Arkansas's most dependable natural stream. Mammoth Spring, flowing at over nine million gallons of 58-degree water per hour, serves as the headwaters for the river and provides plenty of fresh water throughout the year. TripAdvisor The river is crystal-clear, with long pools and whitewater falls. The scenery is mostly hardwood forest with some rocky bluffs. Access is from U.S. 63, which parallels much of the upper Spring. The constant flow from Mammoth Spring makes the Spring River one of the state's best year-round floats even during the summer months when river levels tend to fall.

6. Woolum Camp: Located on the Buffalo National River, Woolum camping area is open year round for swimmers and floaters. Flickr/Seth Anderson Buffalo National River has three federally designated wilderness areas within its boundaries. Totalling over 30,000 acres, the three areas capture the essence of the wild Ozarks.

5. Big Spring Park: This spot is a second magnitude spring flowing into the White River. Flickr/kissthisphotos Bull Shoals Dam was completed in 1951 and as Bull Shoals Lake filled the flow at Dew Spring increased. In 1954 it was determined that the source was an arm of the lake called Jimmy's Creek. Now called Big Spring it flows 28.9 million gallons every 24 hours. There is a nice sitting area with park benches overlooking the spring and the White River.

4. River Bluff Float Camp: This picturesque swimming spot is a part of the Ouachita River. Wikipedia River Bluff Float Camp is located off of AR Hwy 27 north of Mt. Ida, and is right on the banks of the Ouachita River approx. 32 miles downstream from the Pine Ridge Access.

3. Richland Creek: One of the most scenic streams of the Natural State, this creek features Richland Falls, a 100-foot-wide cascade that drops six to eight feet. Wikipedia One good way to experience Richland Creek is to hike the Ozark Highlands Trail, a 178-mile long (and expanding) path which includes an interesting route through Richland Valley.

2. Steel Creek campground: This popular spot is home to scenic Roark Bluff and serves as access points for the Buffalo River Trail and the Old River Trail. Wikipedia This campground is one of the more popular spots on the Buffalo, featuring horse and tent camping in addition to excellent opportunities for photography.