Swimming Holes in California
247 natural swimming holes
California has 247 natural swimming holes in our directory — lakes, rivers, ocean coves scattered from the backcountry to roadside favorites. Favorites include Lower McCloud Falls, Hoyt's Crossing, Emerald Pools. Every listing includes location details, fees, reservation info, and safety notes where known. Conditions change with weather and seasons, so always verify before you go.
All California swimming holes
- Bear Hole
- Bridge to Nowhere (East Fork San Gabriel River)
- Bridgeport Covered Bridge Family Beach
- Cache Creek Canyon Regional Park
- Cattle Camp Swimming Hole
- Cedar Creek Falls
- Cherry Flat (Stuart Fork)
- Clear Lake State Park
- Cleo's Bath
- Deep Creek Hot Springs
- Eaton Canyon Falls
- Edwards Crossing (South Yuba)
- Emerald Bay State Park
- Emerald Pools
- Garden of Eden (San Lorenzo River)
- God's Bath
- Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park
- Hermit Falls
- Highway 49 Crossing
- Hoyt's Crossing
- Jedediah Smith (Smith River)
- Kimtu Beach (Trinity River)
- Knights Ferry (Stanislaus River)
- Lower McCloud Falls
- Natural Bridges
- North Fork Falls
- Oregon Creek Day Use Area
- Panther Flat (Middle Fork Smith River)
- Patrick Creek (Smith River)
- Purdon Crossing (South Yuba)
- Red Rock Pool (Santa Ynez River)
- Remington Hot Springs
- Santa Paula Punch Bowls
- Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
- Sutter's Landing Regional Park
- Tahquitz Falls
- Three Sisters Falls
- Tish Tang (Trinity River)
- Tooby Memorial Park
- Uvas Canyon County Park
- Wild Willy's Hot Springs
- Abalone Cove
- American River (Sailor Bar)
- American River Confluence (Auburn)
- Ancil Hoffman Park
- Andrew Molera (Big Sur River)
- Aquatic Park Cove
- Arroyo Seco Gorge
- Avila Beach
- Ayala Cove (Angel Island)
- Aztec Falls
- Bass Lake
- Bear River Campground
- Benbow State Recreation Area
- Big Lagoon
- Big River Beach
- Big Rock (Trinity River)
- Black Sands Beach (Shelter Cove)
- Blue Lakes
- Blue Rock (Navarro River)
- Bonita Falls
- Boulder Bay (Big Bear Lake)
- Bowling Ball Beach
- Bowman Lake
- Briceburg (Merced River)
- Brown's Hole
- Buckeye Hot Springs
- Burney Falls
- Cabrillo Beach
- Caples Lake
- Carlon Falls
- Carpinteria State Beach
- Castaic Lagoon Swim Beach
- Castle Crags (Castle Creek)
- Castle Crags State Park (Sacramento River)
- Castle Lake
- Cathedral Beach (Merced River)
- Clark's Pool
- Clear Lake (Redbud Park)
- Cloverdale River Park
- College Cove
- Convict Lake
- Cooper Canyon Falls
- Corona del Mar State Beach
- Cosumnes River Gorge Pools
- Crescent Beach
- Crystal Cove (Reef Point)
- Crystal Creek Falls
- Cull Canyon Swim Lagoon
- D.L. Bliss State Park (Lake Tahoe)
- Darwin Falls
- Dinkey Creek
- Don Pedro (Fleming Meadows)
- Donner Lake (China Cove)
- Doran Beach (Bodega Bay)
- Eagle Lake Swim Beach
- Echo Lakes
- El Matador State Beach
- Electra Road (Mokelumne River)
- Enderts Beach
- Euchre Bar
- Fallen Leaf Lake
- Feather River (Belden)
- Folsom Lake (Beals Point)
- Frenchman's Flat (Piru Creek)
- Garrapata State Park Coves
- Gualala Point (Gualala River)
- Hatchet Falls (Lion Slide Falls)
- Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach
- Hearst Beach (San Simeon)
- Heart's Desire Beach (Tomales Bay)
- Hendy Woods (Navarro River)
- Hobo Campground
- Holy Jim Falls
- Honey Run Covered Bridge (Butte Creek)
- Hospital Rock (Kaweah River)
- Hume Lake (Sandy Cove)
- Huntington Lake
- Jenkinson Lake (Sly Park)
- Johnson's Beach (Russian River)
- Junction City Campground (Trinity River)
- June Lake (Oh Ridge)
- Kings Beach (Lake Tahoe)
- Klamath River (Dillon Creek)
- La Jolla Cove
- La Jolla Shores
- Lake Almanor
- Lake Alpine
- Lake Anza (Tilden)
- Lake Camanche (North Shore)
- Lake Clementine
- Lake Del Valle
- Lake Gregory Swim Beach
- Lake Isabella
- Lake Kaweah
- Lake Mendocino Swim Beach
- Lake Nacimiento
- Lake Natoma (Nimbus Flat)
- Lake Oroville (Loafer Creek)
- Lake Perris Swim Beach
- Lake Pillsbury
- Lake San Antonio
- Lake Siskiyou Swim Beach
- Lake Solano Park (Putah Creek)
- Lake Spaulding
- Lake Temescal Swim Beach
- Lake Tulloch
- Leo Carrillo State Beach
- Lewiston Lake (Ackerman)
- Limekiln State Park
- Little Harbor and Shark Harbor
- Lopez Lake
- Lovers Point (Pacific Grove)
- Lundy Canyon (Mill Creek)
- Mad River Rope Swing (Kneeland)
- Meeks Bay (Lake Tahoe)
- Memorial Park (Pescadero Creek)
- Middle Bar Bridge (Mokelumne River)
- Middle McCloud Falls
- Millard Falls
- Millerton Lake
- Mono Lake (South Tufa)
- Monte Rio Beach
- Moonlight Beach
- Moonstone Beach
- Muir Rock (Kings River)
- Navarro Beach
- New Melones (Glory Hole)
- Ortega Falls
- Paradise Cove
- Patrick's Point (Agate Beach)
- Pfeiffer Beach
- Pigeon Point (Trinity River)
- Pinecrest Lake
- Point Dume Cove
- Potem Falls
- Puddingstone Lake Swim Beach
- Rainbow Bridge (Lake Natoma)
- Rainbow Pool
- Rattlesnake Bar
- Redwood Creek (Orick)
- Richardson Grove (South Fork Eel River)
- Riverfront Regional Park (Russian River)
- Roaring River Falls
- Rock Pool (Malibu Creek)
- Rollins Lake
- Rubicon Springs
- Ruby Van Deventer County Park
- Russian Gulch State Park
- Ruth Lake
- Sacramento River (Cantara Loop)
- Sacramento River (Colusa)
- Saline Valley Hot Springs
- Salmon Creek Falls
- Salmon Hole (Big Chico Creek)
- Salmon River (Forks of Salmon)
- Sand Dollar Beach
- Sandy Flat
- Santa Fe Dam Swim Beach
- Scott River (Jones Beach)
- Scotts Flat Lake
- Seacliff State Beach
- Sespe Creek (Sespe Gorge)
- Seven Falls
- Seven Sisters Falls (Murray Canyon)
- Shadow Cliffs Swim Beach
- Shasta Lake (Bridge Bay)
- Shaver Lake
- Shaw's Cove
- Silver Lake (Eldorado National Forest)
- Silverwood Lake Swim Beach
- Solstice Canyon Falls
- Speedboat Beach
- Spooner's Cove (Montana de Oro)
- Steelhead Beach (Russian River)
- Stillwater Cove
- Stinson Beach
- Stone Lagoon
- Stump Beach Cove (Salt Point)
- Sturtevant Falls
- Sunset Cliffs Coves
- Swimmer's Delight
- Swinging Bridge (Merced River)
- Switzer Falls
- Sword Lake
- Tecopa Hot Springs
- Tenaja Falls
- Tenaya Lake
- The Gorge (Big Sur River)
- Travertine Hot Springs
- Trinidad State Beach
- Trinity Lake (Clark Springs)
- Upper McCloud Falls
- Usal Beach
- Van Damme State Park
- Vogel Flat (Big Tujunga Creek)
- Waterhouse Lake
- Wawona Swinging Bridge
- Wheeler Gorge (Matilija Creek)
- Whiskeytown Falls
- Whiskeytown Lake (Brandy Creek Beach)
- White Pines Lake
- Whitewater Preserve (Whitewater River)
- Willett Hot Springs
- Willow Creek (San Joaquin Gorge)
- Woodson Bridge (Sacramento River)
- Woodward Reservoir
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit swimming holes in California?
Most natural swimming holes in California are at their best from late spring through early fall, when water levels are safe and temperatures are comfortable. Spring runoff can make rivers and creeks dangerously high — check local conditions.
Do California swimming holes require reservations?
Some do — popular spots increasingly use timed entry or day-use permits. Check each listing's reservation field and the official park link before you go.
Are swimming holes in California free?
Many are free, but state parks and popular preserves often charge a day-use or parking fee. Each listing shows reported fee info where known.
Are natural swimming holes in California safe?
Natural water has real risks: no lifeguards, submerged rocks, strong currents, and cold water. Never dive headfirst, check depth, and supervise children closely.
⚠️ Verify before you go. Conditions, fees, reservations, and access can change — confirm details with the official link before visiting. Last verified: September 2026