Just a quick post before I have to go do a bunch of dumb shit. I am a real grumpelstilksten this morning. Grumpenstein's monster even. Cheer me up!
The Yuba at Edward's Crossing was lovely, but the brakes on our station wagon gave up the ghost on the way there so it was a little terrifying (if something can be a little terrifying). Speaking of rivers, yesterday me and Scott rode over the hill at 28th and C and I feel a little dumb that I never knew there was river access there so close to downtown! It's janky as hell but it might be ok if you had some flotation devices and a shiv to defend yourself with. Just kidding about the shiv, I think. This is the subject of my post, what are peoples favorite swimming spots? They can be far or near. I want someplace up in the hills but a little closer than Edward's Crossing.
I still love me some Lake Janky, not really much closer though.
ReplyDeleteWe went there for the day a few weeks ago and it was really quite nice. Berryessa isn't bad either, a bit shadeless for me but pleasant.
-Natalie.
University Falls! It's super cold but very fun.
ReplyDeleteI hate to give up the secret spot from since I was a sneaky, drinking teen, but it's pretty great: Take Hwy 99 north, just after you cross over the Feather River take your first right down an orchard-lined road. Park at the end next to the levee, hike about a half mile through the blackberries, and take your pick of deserted, clean, sandy beaches. It's that slow-moving, shallow, warmer-water Central Valley swimming hole experience as opposed to that faster-moving, cold water, jump-off-the-rocks mountain-stream swimming hole experience (for which I choose the North Fork of the North Fork). At the Feather you will very occasionally get a truckload of farmworkers stopping to jump in and cool off, but for the most part there isn't a soul around. Great for full-moon swims!
ReplyDelete-Charvey
"full-moon swims" by which I meant at night when the moon is out, not skinny-dipping with your bare butt in the air. (Although it's great for that, too.)
ReplyDelete-Charvey
Ponderosa Bridge up by Weimar is a beauty, though it can get crowded on weekends and you need good brakes to get there. Water is clear, not too cold, and slow.
ReplyDeletewww.aboutlaketahoe.com/paddling/nf-american/pages/rb-backflip.htm
-J
great suggestions! how far is university falls from sac?
ReplyDeleteIf you are at Sutter's Landing (that spot just up the hill on 28th Street) you can also easily ride to Paradise Beach just by turning right and continuing on to the other side of the freeway. It's slightly nicer for swimming over there. I rarely see people swimming at Sutter's Landing, just dogs.
ReplyDeleteYou can take a canoe to Paradise Beach from Sutter's Landing, too. We do that sometimes. If the river is high enough you could probably make it to Sac State, but the river has never been high enough when we've tried it.
Clark's Hole, in Auburn State Recreation Area, is nice and not as far as the South Yuba (not as dramatic, either, and more populous, but still nice). There's about a 3/4 mile hike to get to the swimming hole.
ReplyDeleteIf you happen to be down by Ripon sometime, there's a great beach on the Stanislaus. I can't remember the name of the state park right now, though.
It's Caswell Memorial State Park.
ReplyDeleteGrwffydd
Uni Falls is in Georgetown off 49 between P-ville and Auburn. 30-45 min drive. Click on the link in my previous comment for directions.
ReplyDeleteI love Lake Jenkinson, my heels are still a little red from the dirt but well worth it.
ReplyDeleteI also recently enjoyed Lake Clementine up near Auburn. Get there early and the water is amazingly clear and beautiful.
Haven't been there in a long while, but in my youth I really enjoyed a spot near the Sloughhouse bridge. My friend's idiot brother jumped off the bridge into the river. We only had the nerve to jump off the giant bolder. I just remember that it was pretty peaceful, except for my friend's brother.
ReplyDeleteI know some like the private "found" swimming holes, but my vote for the best swimming hole in CA is the One-Mile Rec area in Chico's Bidwell Park. It's a huge thirties era pool that captures Chico Creek in downtown Chico. Lots of lawn to kick back on, and - oh yeah - it can get kinda janky. See pic below.
ReplyDeleteJim E
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuker/256001448/