Discover the Best Swimming Holes in California

Searching for a refreshing summer escape? Discover the best swimming holes in California, from serene mountain creeks to family-friendly state park lakes. Whether you're looking for hidden swimming holes in California, seeking out pristine natural pools in California, or hoping to find waterfalls you can swim in California, we have you covered. Browse our list below to explore swimming/swim holes near California's top cities and natural areas.

Auburn Swim Hole on American River in California

Auburn Swim Hole on American River

Auburn, California
Rating 4.5 (97)
River swimmingPicnickingEasy access

Popular American River swim spot near Auburn with easy river access, picnicking,...

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Aztec Falls

Lake Arrowhead, California
Rating 4.5 (720)
Cliff JumpingHiking Required

A popular spot on Deep Creek featuring a sandy beach area and steep cliffs perfe...

Beale Falls in California

Beale Falls

Marysville, California
Rating 4.5 (281)
WaterfallSwimming holeHiking required

Popular hike-to-waterfall destination near Marysville with frequent Google Maps ...

Big Sur River Gorge in California

Big Sur River Gorge

Big Sur, California
Rating 4.9 (111)
River swimmingSwimming holeRock jumping

Big Sur river gorge area with strong review support for hiking to a scenic swimm...

Cable Rock Day Use Site in California

Cable Rock Day Use Site

Briceburg, California
Rating 4.9 (7)
Swimming holeJumping rockFishing

BLM day-use site on the Wild and Scenic Merced River. The agency describes it as...

Colorado Lagoon Aquatic Park in California

Colorado Lagoon Aquatic Park

Long Beach, California
Rating 4.6 (23)
Swimming beachSaltwater lagoonRestrooms

Long Beach saltwater lagoon recreation site with a sandy swimming beach, restroo...

Cull Canyon Lagoon in California

Cull Canyon Lagoon

Castro Valley, California
Rating 4.4 (331)
Sandy beachManaged swim lagoonSeasonal lifeguards

East Bay Regional Park swim complex with a sandy beach, protected lagoon swimmin...

Don Pedro Lake swimming pond in California

Don Pedro Lake swimming pond

La Grange, California
Rating 4.5 (62)
Swimming pondFamily friendlyReservoir access

Managed Don Pedro Reservoir swim pond area with review support for family swimmi...

Malibu Creek Rock Pools in California

Malibu Creek Rock Pools

Calabasas, California
Rating 4.7 (601)
Rock poolCreek swimmingHiking access

Rock pool area inside Malibu Creek State Park, a trail-access swimming spot alon...

Malibu Creek State Park in California

Malibu Creek State Park

Calabasas, California
Rating 4.7 (3556)
SwimmingRock poolCreek access

Large California state park with trails, creek access, a rock pool, lake, and pe...

McCloud Swimming Hole in California

McCloud Swimming Hole

McCloud, California
Rating 4.7 (86)
Swimming holeRope swingSmall beach

McCloud River swimming spot known for a small beach area, rope swing, and cold c...

Millerton Lake in California

Millerton Lake

Friant, California
Rating 4.5 (18)
SwimmingBeach areaBoating

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area reservoir with over 40 miles of shoreline f...

Oregon Creek Day Use Area in California

Oregon Creek Day Use Area

Camptonville, California
Rating 4.6 (446)
River accessSwimmingDay use area

Official Middle Fork Yuba River day-use access area with strong Google Maps evid...

Rainbow Pool in California

Rainbow Pool

Groveland, California
Rating 4.6 (877)
Swimming holeWaterfallRiver pool

Well-known South Fork Tuolumne River swimming hole with a waterfall-fed pool, cl...

Red Rock Pools in California

Red Rock Pools

Santa Barbara, California
Rating 4.5 (98)
Swimming holesRiver trailTrailhead access

Los Padres National Forest trail and river corridor with several large swimming ...

San Luis Reservoir Lake in California

San Luis Reservoir Lake

Los Banos, California
Rating 4.7 (82)
Reservoir swimmingShoreline accessBoating

Large California reservoir with map support for public swimming use in designate...

Santa Paula Punch Bowls in California

Santa Paula Punch Bowls

Santa Paula, California
Rating 4.7 (424)
Swimming holeWaterfallHiking required

Popular Ventura County hike-to-swim destination with waterfall-fed punch bowl po...

Seven Falls in California

Seven Falls

Santa Barbara, California
Rating 4.5 (176)
Waterfall hikeSwimming holeSeasonal pools

Santa Barbara waterfall hike with long-standing map/review support for swimming ...

Slick Rock Recreation Area in California

Slick Rock Recreation Area

Three Rivers, California
Rating 4.6 (1404)
River swimmingDay use areaPicnicking

Popular Kern River recreation corridor used for swimming, wading, and riverside ...

Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area in California

Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area

Leggett, California
Rating 4.6 (455)
River swimmingCampingPicnic areas

Redwood state recreation area on the South Fork Eel River with river swimming, s...

Tiger Creek Fish/Swimming in California

Tiger Creek Fish/Swimming

Pioneer, California
Rating 4.2 (20)
SwimmingFishingCold clear water

Tiger Creek roadside water access area with Google Maps evidence for swimming an...