Ready to take a cold plunge, Sacramento?

Whether you’re looking to ditch the crowded pool outings or spend time in nature, these eight swimming holes in and around Sacramento outghta do the trick. Stay cool and let’s dive right in.

Note: Use caution when venturing out to any of these places and swim at your own risk. Always take into consideration freezing water temperatures, changing or hidden currents, unseen rocks in the water, and slippery surfaces. Additionally, diving into underwater caves and tunnels can be extremely dangerous, even for experienced divers with proper equipment.

Sand Cove Park

Considered the closest representative to a Sacramento beach, this dog-friendly, ~10-acre park in South Natomas offers a beach with access to the Sacramento River perfect for swimming, wading, or floating. Visitors will also find a few more conveniences, including a parking lot, drinking fountains, paved walkways, portable toilets, and some nice, shaded areas.

Pro tip: Locals suggest heading here during the weekday evenings when it’s less crowded than on weekends.

Sutter's Landing River Access

Dogs are allowed at this Sacramento River swimming spot, which is open from sunrise to sunset. The park has a place for your children and fur children to play separately and safely, so bring the whole family for a fun day filled with running around, sandy shores + cool water.

Tiscornia Park

Located where the American + Sacramento rivers meet, this waist-deep water is a great place to spend your day. Life jackets are provided on site for safe swimming, but there is no lifeguard on duty. Remember, the river bed drops off and creates an underwater ledge 30 ft from the shore, so swim with caution.

Paradise Beach

This cove created from a bend in the American River remains open year-round, sunrise to sundown. This shallow-water swimming hole has restrooms near its parking lot, which is a short walk from the beachfront.

Pro tip: It can get crowded on weekends during summer and becomes a popular fishing spot during other seasons.

The American River Confluence

This section of the American River located under a Highway 49 bridge has slow-moving water, making it safe to swim for the whole family. The bridge offers shade on the hot summer days.
Pro tip: It costs $10 per car to enter the swimming area.

Hidden Falls Regional Park

Hike a downhill, rocky trail to reach this swimming hole near waterfalls in Auburn. Along the way, take a break on the benches to make your trek a little easier + find a large wooden deck for a more enjoyable swimming experience.

Pro tip: Weekdays are best to avoid crowds; parking reservations are required on all weekends and on certain high-usage dates, so plan ahead.

Lake Clementine Trail

Take a 0.6 mile, one-way hike to find this deep swimming hole on the North Fork American River near Foresthill Bridge. Since the trail is considered easy to moderate, it’s great for the entire family to enjoy before reaching the water for swimming.

Natural Bridges Trail

This 2-mile round trip hike will lead you to awe-inspiring limestone caverns carved out by the Coyote Creek in Vallecito. While dogs + bikes are not allowed, you can still enjoy a fun swim, wade, or raft through its very cold water.

Pro tip: This spot tends to be beautiful in the spring with wildflowers blooming along the trail.

Safety first — before visiting a local swimming hole, make sure you borrow a life jacket. | Photo via City of Sacramento

Safety first

Before you visit local rivers, borrow a life jacket from the Sacramento Fire Department. The department offers loaner life jackets for adults + kids at five of its fire stations, which can be checked out for the day or weekend by filling out a form. Check out these water safety tips from the fire department, too.