13 Free Swimming Holes near American River Confluence
first prev 1 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of American River Confluence near Auburn, California City, Zip, or Address
Lake Clementine Trail Loop
Auburn, California
0.1 miles NFour connected trails loop around Lake Clementine on the North Fork American River — wheelchair accessible, pet friendly, and great for fishing, camping, and family summer outings.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Mountain Bike, Swim
Upper Lake Clementine
Auburn
4.9 miles NEA cobble beach at the head of Lake Clementine in Auburn State Recreation Area, reached by a steep dirt road off Foresthill Road. $10 per vehicle, open mid-April to mid-October, with weekend reservations required in summer.
Canoe, Kayak, Swim
Granite Bay Main Beach
Granite Bay, California
12.4 miles SWThe largest sand beach on Folsom Lake, guarded in summer, twenty five minutes from downtown Sacramento at the end of Douglas Boulevard.
Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Jones Bar
Nevada City
26.4 miles NA primitive South Yuba River swimming hole at the mouth of Rush Creek in South Yuba River State Park, reached by a steep trail from the Independence Trail lot on Highway 49 or a rough 4WD road. No fee posted at the bar.
Hike, Swim
Hoyt's Crossing
Nevada City
26.9 miles NA deep pool and boulder beach on the South Yuba River in South Yuba River State Park, reached by a 0.75-mile walk on the Hoyt Trail from the Highway 49 bridges north of Nevada City. Free to walk in.
Hike, Swim 0.1 mi
Edwards Crossing
Nevada City, California
28.8 miles NDeep blue water, rock cliffs, and a sandy beach on the Yuba River — with a half-mile walk from the parking lot and cliff jumping spots up to 20 feet deep.
Hike, Swim
North Fork Falls
Colfax, California
30.6 miles NEClear water, cliff-jumping pools, and waterfalls at Sierra Nevada's North Fork Falls — a summer hike to two deep pools with 10-to-25-foot cliffs ready for leaping.
Camp, Hike, Swim
Paradise Beach
Sacramento
31.2 miles SWA free sandy beach on an oxbow bend of the American River in Sacramento's River Park neighborhood, reached on foot over the levee from Glenn Hall Park and open sunrise to sunset.
Hike, Swim
Hell Hole Reservoir
Georgetown
34.8 miles EA 4,630 foot Rubicon River reservoir in the Eldorado National Forest, 51 miles and two hours east of Georgetown, where the boat ramp cove is the only drivable shoreline and the lake drops over 100 feet by September.
Camp, Canoe, Hike, Kayak, Swim
Heath Falls Overlook Trail
Truckee, California
41.8 miles NEHike and Swim near Truckee, California
Hike, Swim
Palisades Creek Trail
Truckee, California
41.8 miles NEA difficult Sierra Nevada trail past Palisade Falls — one of the tallest on the American River — with views of Devils Peak, alpine lakes, and 2,000 feet of elevation gain.
Hike, Swim 4.1 mi
Shirley Lake Canyon Trail
Olympic Valley, California
46.8 miles NEA 2.5-mile hike from Squaw Valley Village past streams and waterfalls to a pure Sierra lake — rocky near the top, with a free gondola ride back down from High Camp as a reward.
Hike, Swim
William Kent Beach
Tahoe City
49.8 miles EA free Forest Service swim beach on Lake Tahoe's West Shore, two miles south of Tahoe City on Highway 89, with a pebbly shore, cold clear water and picnic tables across from William Kent Campground.
Kayak, Swim
