California Official Visitor's Guide 2024 - 49

And though it's a near-impossible
choice, we do have some favorites.
We could write a whole book on the
Yuba River and its various forks. From
Emerald Pools, near the Sierra crest,
down to Buttermilk Bend at the edge of
the Sacramento Valley, the shimmering
South Fork contains some of California's
most stunning swimming holes, with
miles of smooth granite boulders and
intensely green water.
Just outside of Nevada City, one place
stands apart. Highway 49 Crossing is
a popular locals' spot and the de-facto
public square. The historic arched
bridge perfectly frames a sprawling pool
of deep, clear water. There's plenty of
space here, and seen from above, the
colorful towels, umbrellas, and infl atable
rings create a sumptuous summer
scene. About a mile upstream is Hoyt's
Crossing, a broad pebble beach set in
a half-pipe of polished granite walls.
Butterfl ies dance around the water,
willow trees shade sandy beaches, and
unclad sunbakers lie on smooth boulders
(it's Nevada City's unoffi cial nudist
beach). There is something here for
everyone.
In stark contrast, another one of our
favorite places was the town of Tecopa,
a bizarre desert outpost sitting virtually
alone in the southeast corner of the state,
just outside of Death Valley National Park.
Here, the sublime, otherworldly beauty
of the Mojave Desert is a mineral palette
saturated by the winter sun. Chloride
green rocks, yellow sulfur hills, and black
mountains with white borax scars serve
as the backdrop to abundant hot springs.
Clusters of tall palms are scattered
among natural thermal pools, a
Japanese sento-style bathhouse, and
a simple resort where kitschy classical
busts, friezes, and fountains adorn the
common areas like a post-apocalyptic
Caesars Palace. Artists, brewers, and
chefs have found their way to this
frontier community of eccentrics and
nonconformists. There are a couple of
breweries, a barbecue joint, a fi ve-table
steakhouse, and a café. The best part: no
cell phone service.
California is dense, and six months of
travel fl ew by. Our trip didn't always go as
planned, but we woke up each morning
with a sense of wonder and curiosity for
the next adventure around the corner.
We were buoyed by the many people who
helped guide our adventures, by sharing
their own experiences and advice. The
kind strangers who fed us and gave us
a place to park. Mechanics who got us
back on the road as quickly as possible.
Our friends and family who joined us
throughout the journey. All of them
helped us to capture the California that
we know and love.
Most importantly, we found the answer
to our question: What makes California
so special? It gives us permission to be
small. To be dwarfed by places that are
so much greater than us and feel awe at
being part of it all. Being in nature, and
better yet being alone in nature, allows
us to unburden our cluttered minds and
become totally engrossed in the present.
It's an increasingly rare gift to be able
to focus our senses, whether in the
concentrated eff ort of hiking up a steep
hill or in the crushing exhilaration of cold
water squeezing the air from your lungs.
These moments make us feel truly alive.
Our book is a reminder that the best
of what our world has to off er lies in the
things we cannot make. Enjoy these
precious, beautiful places. Take care of
them and protect them. Drink them in
with joy and share them with the people
you love.
Dillon Seitchik-Reardon and Caroline
Clements are the authors of Places We
Swim California, a guide to the state's
best rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaches,
gorges, and hot springs. The book is
published by Hardie Grant Travel and will
be available in bookstores in April 2024.
Follow their journey on Instagram
@placesweswim.
MOST SECLUDED
SWIMMING SPOTS
MOST SECLUDED
Quiet swimming spots are ones that people
cherish and even pride themselves on
knowing about. There is a sense that having a
place to yourself is the highlight of the swim.
If that is you, then you will enjoy these out-ofthe-way
locations, whether high in the hills or
down in a valley. Some require a hike to get
to, but they are all worth the mission.
Tule
River
Shadow Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park
A prized lake in the shadow of an active
volcano
Minaret Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness
An immaculate glacial lake beneath jagged,
otherworldly peaks
Upper Salmon Creek Falls, Big Sur
Secluded hike and waterfall on Big Sur's
southern coast
Devil's Elbow, Trinity River
The Trinity Alps' hidden paradise
Middle Fork Tule River Falls,
Sequoia National Forest
Cascades, waterfalls, and deep pools in
the southern Sierra Nevada foothills
BEST RIVER SWIMS
BE T RIVER
Probably the hardest list to whittle down, but
for that reason the strongest. These rivers
hold some of the most pristine water in the
world. In our opinion, rivers are the best
places to swim in California.
Smith River Confl uence,
Six Rivers National Forest
Iridescent water and pebble beaches along
California's most wild and scenic river
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Highway 49, Yuba River South Fork
Deep clear pools under a historic highway
bridge, and a famous nude swimming spot
upstream
Carlon Falls, Tuolumne River South Fork
A glistening waterfall and emerald-clear pools
create a natural water park
Big Sur River Gorge, Big Sur
A glassy freshwater pool along Big Sur River
Gualala River Redwood Park, Gualala
A secluded redwood swimming hole with
summer-camp vibes
VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 49
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California Official Visitor's Guide 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2024
