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Editor’s Note: Shortly before publication time Santa Rosa announced on June 20 that Blue Hole had closed until further notice due to a partial collapse of the west wall. The Park Lake and Santa Rosa Lake remain open. Check santarosabluehole.com for further updates.
As temperatures across the state flirt with the triple-digits, and everyone’s looking for a spot to let the kids run wild, or maybe act like a kid themselves, everyone’s looking for a quick escape. One way to cool down, while also avoiding the chlorine-laden waters at the nearest public pool, is to head east to Blue Hole, just past Santa Rosa.
Blue Hole is one of the most popular spots for locals to chill and a convenient stop just off I-40 for tired travelers to rest and snap some pictures — or if they’re feeling adventurous, jump into a gorgeous pool of azure-colored water. The tiny lake stays about 60 degrees nearly all year and was formed by underground water dissolving limestone and other rocks until it broke the surface, creating a cylindrical hole about 80 feet deep — a perfect spot to do some safe diving. The diving rocks are about 25 feet above the water, but there are some mellow jumps about the height of a low diving board at a public pool, so even little ones won’t feel left out.
The lively atmosphere that welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to interact and chat about life is a bonus draw to Blue Hole. Eager teenagers waiting for their turn to impress their friends might be a bit cruel as they chide kids (and adults) who are nervous to jump, but the crowd joins together in cheers to celebrate their inevitable bravery when they take the splash. If the locals who frequent the park accurately represent a cross section of residents, Santa Rosa welcomes outsiders, and they know how to have a good time.
Tourists line up and ask locals to snap a couple of photos by the charming, rustic-looking Blue Hole sign. The picnic area is lively on any given Saturday afternoon in the summer. Music blares from car stereos and portable speakers from every corner of the park, while families and friends share laughs and sip drinks anywhere they can find shade. Nearby food trucks serve up Mexican food and signature alcohol-free drinks to those without a prepacked cooler.
Blue Hole also offers some of the best scuba diving training in the region and divers can be found surfacing periodically as rock-jumpers of all skill levels perform aerial stunts above their heads. With a pair of goggles, swimmers can see all the way to the bottom of the lake through the near transparent water. The lake is deep, so inexperienced swimmers might want to bring a life jacket, but lifeguards and well-trained scuba instructors are always very close by, making Blue Hole a pretty safe place to cool off.
More Than Blue
A short drive down the street from Blue Hole brings visitors to an inflatable water park featuring slides, an obstacle course and a floating climbing wall. Not to be confused with Santa Rosa Lake State Park, the four-by-three-mile Park Lake that holds the Santa Rosa Water Park may be a more suitable spot for younger kids, swimmers who might feel apprehensive about floating above an 80-foot-hole or adults who prefer to relax and let the kiddos tire themselves out. In addition to offering boat rides and paddle board adventures, the park also has a bouncy house and monkey bars to keep the little ones occupied while parents get a break and veg-out on the shore.
After working up an appetite, travelers can grab dinner at one of the city’s quaint restaurants including Chico’s Tortas y Piñas Locas, which features authentic Mexican dishes such as carne asada and tamales worth driving across the desert for, and some of the best roasted red salsa in New Mexico.