A beautiful way to spend a hot summer afternoon
Where I live: Happy Camp, California is a small town of about 1200 people. We're located deep in the heart of the Klamath National Forest. During the summer there's plenty to do here, including gold prospecting, rafting, and hiking. And of course, there are the lovely swimming holes to cool off in.
Later in this lens I'll invite you to tell us about swimming holes in your area. I'll also list books about swimming holes in other areas.
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What you'll find here:
Klamath River Valley
Swimming Holes
The Eddy - Happy Camp's Most Popular Swimming Hole
... three miles north of Happy Camp on Indian Creek Road.
The Eddy in Indian Creek is one of the best-known swimming holes in the Happy Camp area. There are steep rocks to climb down, but then a good sized area suitable for small children to wade in so long as their parents watch closely, and a much deeper place for older people to swim with rocks to jump off of.My boyfriend and I like to go downstream a bit to swim across the creek to a rock formation where we can get out and rest in sun or shade. Very relaxing!
My teenage son who is a bit more adventurous has gone tubing down Indian Creek many times, from this location to the confluence with the Klamath River.
Laughing Waters Spa
...a favorite place of mine.
I gave this place the name of Laughing Waters Spa. We spent a lot of time in it last summer. It is in the South Fork of Indian Creek near the bridge. You can spend a few minutes sitting under the little waterfall getting a nice natural upper-back massage. This is something like having a jacuzzi, but very natural and comforting. One day a snake joined us there. Don't be surprised if nature steps in. Little fishes live there too. Take goggles to have a look beneath the surface. Clear Creek Swimming Holes
Clear Creek is five miles southwest of Happy Camp, just past the Wingate River Access. There's an old store there that's been converted into a home. Park across the street next to the telephone and hike down the path to the creek for a great swimming hole experience.To get more wild with it, you can go back to Wingate and turn left on Clear Creek Road. Drive eight miles on this rural dirt road ... don't stop until the end of the road. There you'll find a little campground, and a trail head for the Siskiyou Wilderness. Walk a mile or two along this path, next to Clear Creek, and you'll find several beautiful swimming holes just before the foot bridge that crosses the creek into the wilderness area.
Elk Creek Swimming Holes
You can't find a cleaner, more pristine and clear stream than Elk Creek - a cool, delicious dip in the finest water which flows from the Marble Mountain Wilderness south of the Klamath River.To get there, go to Happy Camp, that precious jewel of a community in the center of the Klamath National Forest, and cross the Elk Creek Bridge which is paradoxically the big bridge over the Klamath River. We call it the Elk Creek Bridge because it leads to Elk Creek Road. You'll need to turn right and when the road forks less than a mile from the bridge, take the left fork. That puts you directly on Elk Creek Road. Follow that road five miles to Five Mile Bridge. There, just before the bridge, you can go straight onto a dirt road which leads to a New 49er mining claim. There's a small swimming hole area at the first turn-off. There's an even better swimming hole area at the next turn-off.
But don't stop there. If you want something really challenging and fun, go another seven miles down the road (turning left, turning left) to Sulphur Springs Campground, a forest-service hosted oasis. There's a small hot spring there you can get into for your health and relaxation. Cross the foot bridge and turn right to get to the hot spring area. Or turn left and head down the Elk Creek Trail toward the Marble Mountains.
Before long you'll come to an amazing, deep swimming hole surrounded by huge boulders. This is a great place to swim, and the rocks are there for jumping off of. It is so very beautiful! But one warning - to get out of this swimming hole can be difficult, and if you're not in great shape, you might have trouble. I recommend this one for the youthful, athletic types. The rest of us can sit on the boulders, enjoy the water-fallish rapids just above the swimming hole, and relax. Oh, and one more warning... a bit of insect repellent would come in handy.
Swimming Holes of California: Day Trips With a Splash
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 07/04/2009)
Southern Oregon
Swimming Holes
The Illinois River
...outstanding swimming holes in Southern Oregon.
During the summer we love to go over the hill to Southern Oregon. They have some of the most beautiful swimming holes I've ever seen. To find some easily accessible swimming holes in the Illinois River, go north from Selma (you'll have to ask locals there for directions) along the river. There are many places to get out to swim, some developed and some not. This gives an exceptional swimming experience for the whole family. 
Oregon's Best Swimming Holes
Amazon Price: (as of 07/04/2009)
Illinois River, Southern Oregon
Day Trips with a Splash: Swimming Holes of the Southwest
Amazon Price: $12.58 (as of 07/04/2009)
Where do you swim?
... just a poll to let us know what people like best.
Day Trips with a Splash: Northeastern Swimming Holes (Day Trips With a Splash)
Amazon Price: $14.21 (as of 07/04/2009)
Swimming Accessories
...and don't forget the sun tan oil...
Speedo Vanquisher Plus Mirrored Swim Goggle
Amazon Price: (as of 07/04/2009)
Speedo Contoured Swim Paddles
Amazon Price: (as of 07/04/2009)
Speedo Aqua Fit Training Swim Gloves
Amazon Price: (as of 07/04/2009)
Speedo Silicone Swim Cap
Amazon Price: (as of 07/04/2009)
Speedo Women's Vanquisher Swim Goggle
Amazon Price: (as of 07/04/2009)
Beach Towels to Dry Off With
Tommy Hilfiger Beach Towel, Fire Island Fish
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 07/04/2009)
Lightload Beach Towels(36x60")
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/04/2009)
Port and Company - Beach Towel, Royal
Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 07/04/2009)
Beach Towel - Seahorse Multi by Cotton Craft 100% Pure Cotton Towels
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/04/2009)
Lightload Towels Beach Towel (36" x 60")
Amazon Price: $9.50 (as of 07/04/2009)
Day Trips with a Splash: Southeastern Swimming Holes
Amazon Price: $18.57 (as of 07/04/2009)
Don't you wish you were swimming?
... I can't wait to jump in!
Blue hill and green...
View of the green wa...
American Magazine, c...
swimming hole fun
Midnight Hole
The Blowholes &...
Cangilones de Gualac...
El rio Esti and the...
Cangilones de Gualac...
On the way to the Ca...
Cangilones de Gualac...
Cangilones de Gualac...
A homemade swimming...
A homemade swimming...
A homemade swimming...
A homemade swimming...
A homemade swimming...
A homemade swimming...
A homemade swimming...
142 Swiming hole
Your Swimming Hole Stories
...where do you swim?
Please tell us a little about swimming holes you know about.
brucedeuce wrote
No swimming holes around here that don't have alligators in them, so I go to the ocean. Too bad. I love waterfalls!
Posted June 29, 2009
Ramkitten wrote...
I much prefer swimming holes to the beach or pools. Around here, though (Northern Arizona), we really have to work to get to (and from) them most of the time, meaning a hot hike in and out. But it's worth it!
Posted May 18, 2009
sittonbull wrote...
I grew up learning to swim in a farm pond which was our primo swimming hole. When it rained it would get muddy with silt and we shared it with the cows, but it was heaven to us...muddy or clear. We also found great swimming holes in the rivers and creeks... especially the Chatooga River (where "Deliverance" was filmed and it is the NWestern border between SC, NC and Ga ) and the Whitewater River in Western NC. After my tour of duty in the Army, my pard & I bathed and swam in many rivers, lakes and hot springs as we made our way via 750 Honda's on our 3 month Easy Rider trip back home from Ft. Lewis, Washington to Chicago and to SC. Hard to beat a cool dip in the creek after a hot day or 2 of hard riding. Loved this lens with stars and a fav.
Posted May 01, 2009
Dr. E wrote...
Breath-taking spots! I'd be glad to spend a day in one of those places. Thanks for sharing.
* Get two bottles of cellulite cream for FREE from Cellulite Creams Review Panel.
Posted March 27, 2009
James43302 wrote...
hello, when I was growing up I mostly swam in swimming holes. We swam in lakes, rivers, ponds. Some was made for swimming like a campground but others wasn't. I mostly don't like to swim in swimming holes anymore because of the rocks, especially big rocks. But by the time I was a teen most of the swimming holes was blocked off. Either from private owners or city becuase of dangers or becuase of people parting and leaving messes. We never did, in fact we have cleaned up other peoples messes and then we left we allways left it clean.
II wonder how many times swimming holes has been blocked off. Maybe this could be your nest poll. Also how many people clean up can be a poll too.
I gave you 5 stars. Good luck! :)
Posted November 19, 2008
RufusQuail wrote...
I've actually been to Happy Camp, but I didn't swim. I saw a baseball game. There's nothin' like a good swimming hole. The water's always fresh.
Posted November 14, 2008
naturegirl7 wrote...
I loved your lens. I grew up in the country and still love to swim in natural bodies of water. Please consider joining my new (and first) group Naturally Native Squids. The Naturally Native Squids group welcomes lenses about nature, animals (both wild and rescued), native plants, gardening (especially ecologically healthy gardening), green living including recycling and all things natural.
Posted October 25, 2008
susannaduffy wrote...
You're not afraid of anything in the water? It's quite safe? No crocodiles? I do hope not 5* for such a cheeful lens that evokes memories as well as giving useful information on finding swimming holes. I want to jump in one now.
Posted September 22, 2008
EverythingMouse wrote...
You have a great collection of lenses. Keep going to get to 50!
You have been Blessed by a Squid Angel
Posted September 11, 2008
Thanks for reading this lens...
I'm really glad you came by. If you rated my lens, I thank you for that. I've enjoyed, even loved, the swimming holes of Siskiyou County in Northern California, and invite you to visit the Klamath River Valley with swimwear in hand.
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