Is Jacob's Well worth visiting?


Is Jacob's Well worth visiting? Few are as popular as the nearby spring of Jacob's Well. This beautiful swimming hole receives plenty of visitors each year, but the beautiful setting and crystal clear waters make it well worth the trip.


Does anything live in Jacobs well?

Catfish, crayfish, eel, perch, and blind salamanders live at the bottom of Jacob's Well. Closer to the mouth of the spring, you will find turtles, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. People don't seem to have animal problems in Jacob's Well, but you may want to steer clear of the Moray eel.


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!


What animals are 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).


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.


How much does it cost to go to Jacobs well?

Jacob's Well is open to the public from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. Hikers and other non-swimmers do not have to pay an entrance fee or make a reservation. However, they should arrive early as the park can reach capacity. Swimmers must pay a fee of $5 for children ages 5-12, $9 for adults, and $5 for seniors.


Can you swim in Jacobs well without a reservation?

Reservations are required for water access at Jacob's Well. No dogs, glass, alcohol, or drones are permitted in the natural area. Visitors who just want to hike do not need a reservation. Recommended hiking hours are 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. every day.


Has Jacobs well gone dry?

For the second year in a row, the iconic spring-fed swimming hole has stopped flowing, the consequence of drought and overpumping. It was a scorching day in July 2022 when I last peered into Jacob's Well. In a sense, I had come to pay my respects.