Privacy Policy

Hidden Swimming Holes ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website hiddenswimmingholes.com and use our services.

We only collect non-essential data (including advertising and analytics data) where you have given explicit consent via our cookie consent banner. You may withdraw or change your consent at any time using the Cookie Settings link in the footer. Essential cookies required for basic site functionality are used without consent as they are strictly necessary.

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• IP address and approximate location
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Referring website
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Device information (mobile, desktop, tablet)

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide and maintain our website and services
• Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
• Process and verify swimming hole submissions
• Improve our website content and user experience
• Analyze website usage and trends
• Protect against fraud and ensure website security
• Comply with legal obligations
• Send you updates or newsletters (if you've opted in)

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties, except in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our website (hosting, analytics, security)
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights, property, or safety
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred
• With Your Consent: We may share information with your explicit consent

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure hosting infrastructure
• Regular security updates and monitoring
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. These may include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
• Advertising Cookies: Used by Ezoic, Google, and other advertising partners to serve relevant ads

When you first visit our site, you will be asked to provide consent for non-essential cookies via our consent management platform. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time using the Cookie Settings link in our footer. Please see our Cookie Policy for more details.

We use Ezoic to manage and optimize advertising on this website. Ezoic is a technology platform that uses artificial intelligence to improve the user experience and monetize web content. As a result, Ezoic and its advertising partners may use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your use of our site and other sites in order to serve you targeted advertisements based on your browsing activity and interests.

Ezoic processes data as an independent data controller for certain purposes. The types of data Ezoic may collect include:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type, version, and device information
• Pages visited, time on site, and browsing behavior
• Ad interaction data (impressions, clicks)
• Unique identifiers stored in cookies or local storage

Ezoic complies with the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF 2.2) and will only process your data for advertising purposes where you have provided consent or where a legitimate interest applies. You can review and manage your advertising consent preferences at any time by clicking "Cookie Settings" in the footer of this site.

For more information about how Ezoic collects and processes personal data, please review the Ezoic Privacy Policy.

This site also participates in Google's advertising programs. Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site or other sites. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or aboutads.info.

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to our processing of your personal information
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

Our website is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.