Northern California Swimming Holes

With temperatures in summer often soaring into the 90s and beyond, there are so many great rivers, lakes, and ponds to escape to in Northern California. There are a few amazing gems that stand out beyond the rest. Cliffs to jump from into waterfall-fed pools. Boulders to lie out on when warming up

Now that Paradise is starting to get some 85 degree weather, time to enjoy some of the little gems this little town has to offer. Behind the Feather River Hospital is the Paradise Flumes. An old lo…

You may not know this, but the Bay Area has some pretty cool swim holes. Granted they may not match the natural splendor of Tahoe or Yosemite, but for a short drive, they can be an awesome time! There's also some great campgrounds near these holes. Trust us, there’s nothing better than warming...

Everyone wants to know: why does a photo or video go viral? One answer is that content becomes popular when it stirs a powerful emotional reaction, whether happiness ( cats and babies) or outrage.We were curious to find out what kinds of travel photography elicit that sharing impulse and, specifically, which T+L images have been pinned the most. Serene shots of pools are clearly inspiring, whatever the season. T+L fans have been pinning photos of natural swimming holes across the U.S., as…

Swimming Holes of California: Alder Slabs, Sequoia National Park, Summer 2013

Have you ever done something scary? I have. If someone told you to jump off a cliff would you do it? I did. Seven years ago we went on a camping trip to an awesome campground (with a funny name) ca…

Discover the best things to do in Northern California. Everything from tourist attractions to hidden gems. Weekend getaways, vacations ideas, day trips, outdoor adventures. All of these trips can be made in one day or less, with a starting point of San Francisco or Sacramento.

It’s that time of year when most of us would give anything to jump into a refreshing swimming hole or…

The Sierra Nevada Mountains hold many wonders. Some are famous worldwide, like the silken waterfalls in Yosemite National Park and the giant trees in Sequoia National Park. Others, like the Natural Bridges in Calaveras County, are only famous with locals. These no-less-amazing limestone tunnels make a charming destination for a short hike in the Sierra foothills (and an enthralling summer swimming hole). Starting at 1,500 feet, Upper Natural Bridge Trail descends 300 feet on a 2-mile

Many of the swimming holes featured on this blog can be We found in Timothy H. Joyce's book "Swimming Holes of CA". All photos Copyright Timothy H. Joyce, All Rights Reserved.

Swimming holes are, by nature, off the beaten path. Often accessible only on foot, these natural pools afford beautiful views and refreshing swims well worth the hike (and far from the tourists). We have curated our favorite places to take a dip, from Croatia to Nevada City, shown to us by locals. Jump in!

Upper Falls makes the final upstream fall comprising McCloud Falls, a trio of waterfalls located on a gorgeous stretch of the Upper McCloud River. Known best as an overlook/picnic area along the McCloud River Three Falls Hike, Upper Falls offers a quieter, more sheltered swimming hole compared to it’s waterfall counterparts downstream at Middle and Lower Falls. While the

Take a dip!