Adam Blauert: Swimming holes help escape the heat

For many of us, Labor Day marks the end of a three-day weekend, which falls at the end of a of a hot week. If cooling off in the water sounds appealing, here's some nearby places where you can enjoy the water.

The Bureau of Land Management's Merced River Recreation Area at Briceburg has some great swimming holes. The river is cold and clear at Briceburg, flowing undammed all the way from the heart of Yosemite.

Drive 12 miles east of Mariposa on Highway 140 and then turn left at the Briceburg Visitor Center. This is the last weekend before the visitor center closes and it is a good resource for swimming locations and safety information.

The swimming holes are located along the 4.9-mile road behind the visitor center. Dogs are welcome and there is no entry fee.

If you're looking for water that isn't flowing, Lake McClure and Lake McSwain both have swimming areas. Just ask about swimming at the front gate when you pay your $6 entry fee.

Further west along the river, Snelling's Henderson County Park, Livingston's McConnell State Recreation Area and Newman's George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area provide river access. The river is slow and lazy as it moves across the valley. Swimming in these parks is almost like swimming in a lake. Henderson's per car entry fee is $3; the two state recreation areas charge $7.

On the west side of Merced County, O'Neill Forebay has a sandy swimming beach with showers. The fishing is so highly rated that you might as well bring a couple of poles and try your luck when you get tired of swimming. Entrance to the San Luis State Recreation Area is $10 per car.

Back in July I wrote about Natural Bridges, an amazing cavern you can swim through.

Since then I've talked to several people who made a trip there after reading my column. Every one of them thought it was one of the most impressive swimming holes they'd seen.

If you still haven't been, give it a shot this weekend. It's only an hour and fifteen minute drive and a 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to the water. The trailhead is located just north of New Melones Reservoir on Parrot's Ferry Road. Look for a sign on the west side of the road. There is no entry fee.

A bit further away, Rainbow Pool is an amzing place to take a swim.

A small waterfall drops into a large pool of refreshing water. Drive 14 miles east of Groveland on Highway 120 and park on the south side of the highway. Rainbow Pool was just reopened after being closed for parking area repaving and other improvements.

This is a longer trip than the others I've described, but it's well-worth the drive and there's no entry fee.

Many other nearby reservoirs also offer swimming. Try Don Pedro Lake, Turlock Lake State Recreation Area, Modesto Reservoir Regional Park, New Melones Reservoir, Eastman Lake, or Hensley Lake.

Adam Blauert is an avid outdoorsman and local historian who enjoys fishing, backpacking and exploring the western states. He can be reached at adamblauert@yahoo.com

This story was originally published September 9, 2010 at 5:48 AM with the headline "Adam Blauert: Swimming holes help escape the heat."