Take the plunge in these swimming holes to keep your cool

Need to chill? California’s coastline and beaches typically get all the attention, but consider an old-fashioned swimming hole to cool off on a hot summer day. Be mindful of fast-moving water and make sure to pack out all of your trash.

Southern Californians don’t have to travel far to visit a picture-perfect swimming hole: the Punch Bowls — a series of pools with a natural water slide — are north of Santa Paula and east of Ojai in Los Padres National Forest.

The trail begins near Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula. This popular swimming spot is between Big Cone and Cross campgrounds and is an eight-mile round-trip hike.

Info: bit.ly/santapaulapunchbowls

Farther west in the Los Padres National Forest, hikers will find several large swimming holes along Red Rock Trailhead in the Santa Barbara area.

Red Rock Pools, the most popular, is about a half-mile from the trailhead and can be crowded on the weekends. The more secluded pools are farther up the Santa Ynez River.

Info: Daily parking is $10 per vehicle, bit.ly/redrockpools

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite is famous for its towering waterfalls, but when conditions are right the park also offers places to cool off in snow-melt water.

A swimming hole at the Wawona Swinging Bridge can be fun for the family. The swinging bridge is off California 41 near Yosemite’s southern entrance, but Rainbow Pool can be found off California 120, about 10 miles outside the park’s westernmost entrance.

Rainbow Pool, which features a waterfall along the South Fork of the Tuolumne River, was originally a toll stop in the stagecoach days. It was later the site of a popular resort until it burned down in 1958.

Today, the Rainbow Pool day-use area is a picnic spot — managed by the Stanislaus National Forest — that caters to those visiting Yosemite.

Info: Rainbow Pool, bit.ly/stanislausrainbowpool

Vallecito, Calaveras County

Natural Bridges is a swimming hole in the Sierra foothills. This summertime hot spot near the Tuolumne-Calaveras county line rewards hikers with a swim in ice-cold Coyote Creek through a moss-covered cave.

The Natural Bridges parking area is between Columbia State Historic Park and the wineries of Murphys. The round-trip hike is about two miles but make sure to pack plenty of water because the return back to the car is all uphill.

Info: Natural Bridges, bit.ly/natrualbridges

Nevada County, Calif.

The South Yuba River, near Grass Valley and Nevada City, is known for its pristine swimming holes surrounded by smooth granite rocks.

Swimming spots include Oregon Creek, South Yuba River State Park, Edwards Crossing, Mountain Dog, North Canyon, Middle Yuba Bridge and Shangri-la.

Info: Nevada County swimming holes, bit.ly/nevadacountyswimming

Garberville, Humboldt County

Richardson Grove State Park, deep in the redwood forests of southern Humboldt County, offers a family-friendly swimming area on the South Fork of the Eel River.

Swim Beach, as it’s known, is adjacent to the river parking area. In July, a footbridge will be installed to allow access to a seasonal swimming hole.

17,314 thoughts on “Take the plunge in these swimming holes to keep your cool”

  1. You can definitely see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

  3. I will right away grasp your rss feed as I can not to find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me recognize so that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  171. I am just commenting to make you understand of the helpful experience my wife’s child had viewing the blog. She realized such a lot of pieces, most notably what it’s like to possess an amazing teaching nature to get men and women really easily know just exactly various specialized issues. You undoubtedly surpassed our own expectations. I appreciate you for giving such essential, healthy, informative and even unique tips on that topic to Evelyn.

  186. It’s genuinely very complicated in this full of activity life to listen news on Television, so I just use web for that purpose, and take the latest information.|

  203. I have to point out my passion for your kind-heartedness in support of persons that actually need help on this particular question. Your personal commitment to passing the message all through has been quite significant and have allowed most people much like me to attain their desired goals. Your useful hints and tips denotes a great deal a person like me and a whole lot more to my office colleagues. Thanks a lot; from each one of us.

  208. Hello very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally? I’m happy to find a lot of helpful info right here in the put up, we want develop extra techniques on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .|

  232. Howdy! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects? Thank you so much!|

  235. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!|

  242. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.|

  246. Your style is really unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from. Thank you for posting when you’ve got the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.|

  265. Hi, Neat post. There is an issue together with your website in web explorer, would check this?K IE nonetheless is the market chief and a huge component to other folks will leave out your wonderful writing due to this problem.

  266. Appreciating the time and effort you put into your blog and detailed information you provide. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed material. Great read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  267. Hi, I do believe this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I am going to return once again since I bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.|

  270. Great beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same time as you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a weblog website? The account aided me a applicable deal. I had been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered brilliant clear idea|

  276. Ahaa, its fastidious dialogue on the topic of this article at this place at this blog, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting at this place.|

  280. Thanks, I’ve just been searching for info approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I have found out so far. However, what concerning the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?

  281. I enjoy what you guys tend to be up too. This kind of clever work and reporting! Keep up the very good works guys I’ve included you guys to our blogroll.|

  314. Everything said made a bunch of sense. But, consider this,
    suppose you composed a catchier post title? I ain’t saying your content isn’t
    good, but what if you added a title that makes people
    want more? I mean Take the plunge in these swimming holes to keep your cool –
    We The Best is kinda vanilla. You ought to glance at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they create news titles to get people to click.
    You might try adding a video or a pic or two to get readers
    interested about what you’ve written. In my opinion, it would bring your posts a little bit more
    interesting.

  321. Just about all of whatever you articulate is supprisingly appropriate and it makes me ponder the reason why I had not looked at this with this light previously. This article truly did turn the light on for me as far as this particular issue goes. Nevertheless there is one particular factor I am not too comfortable with so whilst I make an effort to reconcile that with the actual central idea of your issue, permit me observe just what the rest of your readers have to point out.Very well done.

  328. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!

  331. I believe what you posted made a lot of sense. But, what about this? suppose you were to write a awesome headline? I mean, I don’t want to tell you how to run your website, but what if you added a post title that makes people want more? I mean BLOG_TITLE is a little vanilla. You might peek at Yahoo’s front page and see how they write news titles to get people interested. You might try adding a video or a pic or two to grab readers interested about everything’ve got to say. In my opinion, it might bring your website a little bit more interesting.|

  365. Hola Kirk, Bueno, es fácil ganar dinero con ellos pero no es mucho. Probablemente tendrías que rellenar encuestas durante al menos nueve horas al día antes de ver algún tipo de rendimiento decente ( y eso me pondría de los nervios! ).

  383. Excellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  398. I just couldn’t depart your web site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often to check up on new posts

  472. I have recently started a site, the info you provide on this website has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work. “Her grandmother, as she gets older, is not fading but rather becoming more concentrated.” by Paulette Bates Alden.

  473. I wanted to type a small word to express gratitude to you for all the unique information you are sharing on this site. My time intensive internet lookup has finally been paid with awesome facts to talk about with my close friends. I ‘d point out that we visitors actually are truly endowed to live in a wonderful community with many brilliant professionals with interesting tactics. I feel extremely happy to have encountered the website and look forward to plenty of more entertaining moments reading here. Thank you once more for a lot of things.

  478. Somebody essentially lend a hand to make severely articles I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and so far? I amazed with the analysis you made to make this actual post amazing. Magnificent job!|

  499. Hey There. I found your weblog using msn. This is a really neatly written article.

    I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to
    read more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post.

    I will certainly comeback.

  527. We stumbled over here by a different page and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking at your web page yet again.|

  535. Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be fantastic if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.

  536. I was very pleased to seek out this internet-site.I wished to thanks to your time for this excellent learn!! I undoubtedly having fun with each little little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you weblog post.

  537. Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really helpful & it helped me out much. I hope to present something again and aid others such as you helped me.|

  542. Hi there, everything is going fine here and ofcourse every one is sharing facts, that’s in fact fine, keep up writing.|

  547. Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.|

  552. Hello! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Cheers|

  559. For most up-to-date information you have to pay a visit the web and on world-wide-web I found this site as a most excellent site for most up-to-date updates.|

  562. “Having read this I believed it was really informative. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this information together. I once again find myself personally spending a significant amount of time both reading and posting comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!”

  568. I have been surfing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.|

  573. Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!

  580. I will immediately take hold of your rss feed as I can’t in finding your e-mail subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly permit me realize in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.|

  590. I was pretty pleased to discover this great site. I want to to thank you for ones time for this particularly wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new information in your blog.|

  600. Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is great, let alone the content!|

  605. I have learn several good stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you put to create this type of excellent informative website.|

  609. Wow, wonderful blog format! How lengthy have you been blogging for? you made blogging glance easy. The total glance of your website is great, let alone the content material!

  622. My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different web page and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to finding out about your web page yet again.|

  634. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Talk soon!|

  704. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.|

  841. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  853. Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?

  885. Its like you learn my thoughts! You seem to know a lot approximately this, like you wrote the e-book in it or something. I think that you simply can do with some to pressure the message house a little bit, however instead of that, that is magnificent blog. A great read. I will definitely be back.|

  935. Thanks on your marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.I will make certain to bookmark your blog and will often come back very soon. I want to encourage continue your great job, have a nice day!|

  967. This design is incredible! You certainly know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!|

  991. Greetings! I’ve been following your web site for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Humble Tx! Just wanted to tell you keep up the fantastic job!|

  1002. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complex and extremely extensive for me. I am looking forward to your next publish, I will attempt to get the hang of it!

  1009. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.|

  1022. you are in point of fact a just right webmaster. The web site loading velocity is amazing. It seems that you are doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve performed a fantastic job in this subject!|

  1036. Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely great. I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a tremendous website.|