Rio On Pools

The Rio On runs across a wide shelf of granite in the Mountain Pine Ridge and has worn it into a set of pools and channels linked by short falls, with smooth chutes between them that work as natural slides. It is shallow, safe by the standards of the other sites here, and easy to reach from the road, which makes it the most family-friendly stop in the reserve. The pine ridge and the hills spread out around it.

What you actually see

• The granite shelves - a wide slab of rock the river runs across.
• The pools and chutes - linked basins with natural slides between them.
• The pine ridge views - open country and hills around the river.
• The shallow water - safe swimming compared with the deeper falls nearby.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the best for swimming. After rain the river rises and the chutes become dangerous. Weekends bring local visitors.

Honest expectations

The granite is extremely slippery and falls are common. Water levels rise fast after upstream rain. Facilities are limited to a car park and toilets that are not always open.

Nearby

Big Rock Falls is north, and Rio Frio Cave is west.