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Best Swimming Holes In Madera County & Yosemite

CENTRAL SIERRA – It is the start of August and the temperature is still telling us that dipping our bodies in cool water and eating watermelon is on the menu.

Many locals and vacationers are looking for a cool retreat and Visit Yosemite Madera Country provides some great swimming places to beat the heat:

Paddleboarding on Bass Lake - photo Visit Yosemite Madera County

Paddleboarding on Bass Lake – photo courtesy Visit Yosemite Madera County

Explore the many water activities on Bass Lake

Named by Sunset Magazine as one of “The West’s Best Lakes,” Bass Lake is renowned for excellent fishing, hiking trails, and warm waters.

Wakeboarders flock to Bass Lake throughout the spring and summer as do boaters, water skiers, paddle boarders, wave runner enthusiasts and more.

Rafting in Yosemite - photo credit Visit Yosemite Madera County

Rafting in Yosemite – photo credit Visit Yosemite Madera County

Float the Merced River in Yosemite Valley

Spend the afternoon rafting in Yosemite, you’ll have tons of fun while cooling off and taking in some amazing views. Your trip will include a 3-mile float down the Merced River in a raft that holds 2 – 4 people.

The Yosemite rafting season varies from year to year and depends on factors such as the depth of the rivers, the temperature of the water and the seasonal snowmelt. With a good snow pack year, the season can last anywhere from the middle of July to the end of August.

Splash around at the eastern edge of the Merced River

Take A Dip — No summer vacation would be complete without a refreshing dip in the sparkling water. Yosemite National Park offers a range of swimming opportunities—from rivers and lakes to our family-friendly pools, which are the only swimming places in Yosemite with lifeguards. River and lake swimming is at-your-own-risk. Life jackets are strongly recommended—especially for children.

River & Lake Swimming

A favorite for swimmers of all ages, the Merced River at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley offers soft, sandy beaches which is perfect for spending an afternoon sunning and splashing. Tuolumne Meadows and the Park’s High Sierra Camps also have some wonderful, secluded swimming areas.

Book a Merced River rafting trip

Zephyr Whitewater - photo courtesy Yosemite Sierra Visitor's Bureau

Zephyr Whitewater – photo courtesy Yosemite Sierra Visitor’s Bureau

Rafting trips launch on both the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers are just outside Yosemite National Park. A whitewater rafting trip down either or both of these rivers can easily be combined with a visit to Yosemite.

Chilnualna Falls and Swimming Holes

Chilnualna Falls - photo by Ben Lane

Chilnualna Falls – photo by Ben Lane

Chilnualna (pronounced “chill-na-wall-na” if you’re wondering) Falls is a series of waterfalls located on the Chilnualna Creek.

The complete hike is 8.2 miles roundtrip. It is a favorite hike for many because it offers stunning views, water holes to splash around in and your choice of picturesque lunch spots year in and year out.

About Visit Yosemite Madera County

The Southern Yosemite Visitors Bureau was formed in 1985. It has been operating at The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau for 30 years. The Bureau was established by a group from the Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce with a vision of the growing potential for drawing the millions of visitors to Yosemite National Park to the many businesses and attractions in Madera County. Recently the visitor’s bureau changed its name to Visit Yosemite | Madera County to more accurately reflect its mission to promote all there is to see and do in Yosemite and Madera County.

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