Does Jacobs well cost money?
Does Jacobs well cost money? There is no fee to park or enter the natural area. A fee is only required to swim in Jacob's Well. Swimming is permitted (with reservations only) between May 1-September 30.
Can you still swim in Jacobs well?
Swimming at Jacob's Well is currently not permitted. Please note that the park is still open for hiking and viewing the spring during our regular hours. Plus we have geocaching, bird watching and a Nature Center to explore and enjoy! We also have picnic areas, a labyrinth, a sundial, and a Loose Parts Play Area!
Can you drink from Jacobs well?
The well still produces clear, drinking water, and visitors are allowed to draw water from the well and drink it. Jacob's Well is considered to be the most authentic Christian holy site as no one can move a well that is more than 40 meters deep.
Do you have to hike to get to Jacobs well?
While the size of the park that the well sits on is very large (over 81 acres!), the well itself is much smaller. The park includes a reasonably pathed hiking trail from the parking lot to the well. Once you get to the well, there's a trail that will lead you down to access the water, about a 10-minute walk.
What is so special about Jacobs well?
By the 330s CE, the site had been identified as the place where Jesus held his conversation with the Samaritan woman, and was probably being used for Christian baptisms. By 384 CE, a cruciform church was built over the site, and is mentioned in the 4th century writings of Saint Jerome.
Are there animals in Jacobs well?
Temperature of the water in Jacob's Well remains a near-constant 68°F and visibility is typically excellent. The spring provides habitat to numerous species of fish (principally sunfish and perch); turtles; aquatic insects; crustaceans; and, most notably, the cave-adapted Fern Bank salamander (Eurycea pterophilia).
Why is swimming at Jacobs well suspended?
As of June 29, 2022, swimming will not be allowed at Jacob's Well Natural Area (JWNA) for the foreseeable future. The threat of high bacteria levels, other pollutants and poor visibility conditions are unsafe for swimming.
What lives in Jacobs well?
There are no bats, of course, but there are catfish, perch, turtles – at the beginning of the cave – and then deep in, there are blind Texas salamanders to keep you company. You can't scuba dive there without a special permit from Hays County, and the only entity that has one is the Jacob's Well Exploration Project.