10 Free Swimming Holes near Sonora, CA 95370
first prev 1 next lastShowing Swimming Holes within 50 miles Distance miles of Sonora, CA 95370, USA City, Zip, or Address
Natural Bridges
Sonora, California
6.8 miles NWA free 250-foot limestone cavern on Coyote Creek near Sonora where you can float or swim through deep pools in summer — just avoid touching the limestone walls.
Hike, Swim
Gods Bath
Phoenix Lake-Cedar Ridge, CA, California
17.9 miles ECrystal-clear but cold water at the bottom of a boulder-hop, rope-assisted descent into Clavey River canyon — cliff jumping, smaller pools on the way, about a mile one way.
Hike, Swim
New Hogan Lake
Valley Springs, California
27.0 miles NWNew Hogan Lake is a 4,400-acre reservoir tucked into the golden Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County, California, about 30 miles northeast of Stockton near the little town of Valley Springs....
Backpack, Camp, Hike, Swim
Briceburg Recreation Area
Midpines, California
34.5 miles SEBriceburg is where State Route 140 drops out of the Sierra foothills and meets the Wild and Scenic Merced River, twelve miles east of Mariposa on the road to Yosemite, and it's one of the best public...
Camp, Kayak, Swim
Hite Cove Trail
El Portal, California
35.6 miles SEOne of Yosemite's earliest wildflower blooms lights up the Hite Cove Trail in spring, with the added bonus of watching the South and Central Fork Merced rivers merge.
Hike, Swim 0.7 mi
Lukens Lake
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park
42.8 miles EA short 1.6-mile forest walk to a secluded lake famous for the luminescent shooting stars visible while you swim, plus a wildflower meadow that peaks in July.
Hike, Swim
Merced River
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
46.7 miles EThe Merced River circles Yosemite Valley with whitewater, swimming holes, gold-panning spots, and unbeatable views of Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point at every bend.
Camp, Swim, Whitewater
Devil's Bathtub
Yosemite Valley, California
47.2 miles EA warm, off-the-beaten-path pool fed by the Royal Arches Cascade just above Yosemite's Ahwanhee Hotel — great for families or a picnic near world-class climbing walls.
Swim
Mirror Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
48.3 miles EA paved, car-free trail winds to this seasonal lake at the base of Half Dome, offering a still mirror reflection and a popular summer swimming hole.
Backpack, Hike, Swim 1.3-1.6 mi
May Lake
Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park
49.4 miles EA 2.5-mile roundtrip hike to a scenic 9,270-foot lake at the base of Mt. Hoffmann — with views of Clouds Rest, Half Dome, and Teyana Lake, plus the option to summit the peak for even grander panoramas.
Hike, Swim
