Yuba River swimming holes are one of the top destinations this time of year in California when the heat is up. If you are desperately searching for a refreshing escape then look no further – Yuba River swimming holes are perfect when it is 80+ Fahrenheit outside. Yuba River is very beautiful and it is worth a trip any time of the year to enjoy the scenery and nearby hiking trails but it is in summer that it is most popular with visitors. In this article I will not only talk about the locations of best Yuba River swimming holes that we explored but also very important tips for first time visit – trust me, this is not going to be your ordinary beach vacation.
A couple of introductory words about Yuba River are necessary. Yuba River is a tributary of Feather River that originates in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Up in the mountains Yuba River is actually split into 3 forks: North Yuba River, Middle Yuba River and South Yuba River. In this article I will only be talking about South Yuba River swimming holes specifically.
South Yuba River runs through Nevada County with Nevada City, Penn Valley and Grass Valley being the prime destinations for visiting the area. You can easily find an Airbnb rental (you can get $35 discount with my LINK if you are new to Airbnb), a hotel or camping lodging around these towns.
SOUTH YUBA RIVER SWIMMING HOLES
South Yuba River State Park
South Yuba River Stat Park is probably the best for first time visitors, especially families with small children. It has what looks like a proper beach, i.e. a flat piece of land with easy approach to water. All other South Yuba River swimming holes do not have “beaches”, just a bunch of huge boulders which one can climb and sit on.
The most popular area for swimming at South Yuba River State Park is next to Bridgeport covered bridge. Don’t expect sand though, the whole beach area is covered with rocks of various sizes. What is great about this South Yuba River swimming hole is that it has calmer waters that are shallow in places, which is perfect for tiny tots.
Highway 49 swimming hole
Highway 49 swimming hole is located right under Highway 49 bridge where it crosses South Yuba River near Nevada City. It is not easy to get to the river here, you will have to scramble over big rocks going down (and up) so I don’t recommend this location for people with limited mobility or young kids.
Once you are down at the swimming hole’s level your journey is not over. As I mentioned earlier, there is no beach here. You need to find yourself a big flat boulder which will be your “home base” for the day. If you succeed in finding that perfect boulder you will have a great day.
Hoyt’s Crossing swimming hole
Hoyt’s Crossing is located about a mile up-stream from South Yuba River swimming hole at Highway 49. People park at Highway 49 bridge parking lot to get to Hoyt’s Crossing. There is a trail leading from the North end of the old bridge towards Hoyt’s Crossing.
What I said about Highway 49 swimming hole is true for Hoyt’s Crossing as well. There is no beach here, just lots and lots of giant boulders. In addition to that Hoyt’s Crossing is popular with nude swimmers – something to bear in mind if you decide to go.
Purdon Crossing swimming hole
This South Yuba River Swimming hole is located at a bridge as well, i.e. Purdon Crossing Bridge which is a little further up-stream from Highway 49 bridge. There is limited parking available near the Purdon Crossing Bridge.
The actual swimming holes are located a short hike upstream from the bridge. There is “boulders paradise” here as well, no beach. The locals say that these South Yuba River swimming holes are the most picturesque.
Other South Yuba River swimming holes
There are two more places along South Yuba River with swimming holes: Edward’s Crossing and Jones Bar. The hikes too these swimming holes are rather challenging but I am told as a result you get rewarded with far less people. We have not explored these two locations in detail so I cannot give any further advice.
IMPORTANT TIPS FOR VISITING SOUTH YUBA RIVER SWIMMING HOLES FOR THE FIRST TIME
- Safety always comes first. Beware of Yuba River water levels and currents. The higher the water levels, the stronger the currents so South Yuba River swimming holes are not recommended in early summer. Typically, the water gets to normal safe levels in July. But even then, keep an eye on children at all times! For safety reasons I strongly recommend a life jacket for younger kids to be worn at all times. For adults, just have a float for your enjoyment:
2. As I have mentioned earlier, your trip to South Yuba River Swimming holes won’t be your ordinary beach trip so there are several things you will need take with you. You have already, probably, figured out that Yuba River is all about rocks and boulders, boulders and rocks, on land AND in the water. You and all your family members absolutely MUST wear water shoes. You can thank me later. Here are the sturdy, non-slip ones for adults and kids that I highly recommend (just walk in them from the car and never take them off while at the river):
3. Most likely to get to that perfect boulder you will have to tread through water and there is a high chance that you will slip and fall into the water because the boulders are slippery and the current is pushing you. What is even more likely is that you will want to photograph every corner of the river because it is so beautiful. Therefore I highly recommend a waterproof case for your phone that you can carry on your neck and a waterproof bag for the rest of your things. Both are inexpensive but both are life savers:
4. There is very little shade along the Yuba River swimming holes, especially if you will be sitting on a boulder in the middle of the river. So your must have your basic sun protection “kit” with you: sunhats, sunblock and lip balm with sunscreen:
5. I also strongly recommend rash guards for all family members. You will burn in California sun very quickly even with the sunscreen on because sunscreen washes off in the water and it is a hassle to always remember to re-apply. Wet rash guards will also keep you cool in 100 F weather without bulk of a wet cotton t-shirt. I personally have been a fan of O’Neill’s rash guards for 15 years even though I only owned 2 of them in my life because they have exceptional quality and they last for years!
6. For kids rash guard brand does not really matter much because they will probably grow out of it by next summer 🙂
7. There are some great activities specific to Yuba River swimming holes that you should definitely partake in. The water is clear and there are lots of fish so snorkeling gear is something you should definitely think about taking with you:
8. And since there is lots of fish, mostly trout, you can try your hand at fishing. I have all the gear that you will need for trout fishing in my Amazon store.
9. Yuba River is located right in the middle of the gold mining territory so we often see people panning for gold. I think it is a unique and fun activity for the whole family, so grab a gold panning kit and have fun:
10. There is no food available near most South Yuba River swimming holes so you will need to pack a picnic with you. Don’t bring picnic baskets or food trays as in most locations you will not be able to navigate your way down and along the river with big loads. Your best bet is a comfortable waterproof cooler backpack like this one:
11. You won’t need a beach blanket at Yuba River swimming holes. You would want to sit directly on those hot big boulders after the swim in the cool water. The water temperature in the river can be described as refreshing, it is never lukewarm. The highest temperature it gets is in the lower 70s F.
If you would like to see the panoramic view of Yuba River swimming hole, check out this new short video on my Instagram page.
If you want to do more in the area than just swimming, here is a great kid-friendly hike in Nevada City – Hirschman’s Pond Trail. It is 2.4 miles long and has lots of cool surprises:
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As a local, I implore visitors to stay out of the water until August, and be very aware that the Yuba is very cold and has treacherous undercurrents can can swiftly suck you under, wedge you into a rock crevice, and even the most experienced, strongest swimmer can find themselves trapped under the water with thousands of pounds of pressure holding them there in the blink of an eye-until August the water is high and freezing, causing muscles to seize up and visibility to be low and less rock formation exposure. Our first responders and mortuary workers brace themselves every year to recover the (often lost for several days) inevitable handful of early bird visitors. You are welcome! But please heed local warnings and posted signs. ❤️
Thank you so much for brining this to everybody’s attention! I don’t know if I made it clear enough that we typically go to Yuba river end of July beginning of August to make sure it is safe and warm enough