Best Swimming Holes on the West Coast: 12 Spots Worth Getting Wet
The West Coast has no shortage of ways to get in the water. But beaches are one thing. Swimming holes are something else entirely.
We’re talking hidden river gorges, volcanic plunge pools, glacially carved alpine lakes, and waterfall-fed basins tucked into old-growth forest where the water is so clear you can see the bottom from 20 feet up. These are the spots locals actually go to escape summer heat — and most of them are a fraction as crowded as the coast.
From the Olympic Peninsula down through Oregon and into Northern California, here are 15 of the best swimming holes on the West Coast.
Table of Contents
Washington
1. Lake Crescent — Olympic National Park
Lake Crescent is one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the entire Pacific Northwest — a glacially carved lake buried inside Olympic National Park, rimmed by old-growth forest and jagged peaks. The water clarity is extraordinary — visibility drops to 60+ feet on a calm day, giving it a blue-green color that doesn’t look real.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
East Beach and Fairholme are the main swim spots. The water is cold year-round but swimmable in July and August. One of the most visually stunning places you’ll ever take a dip, anywhere.
Location: Olympic National Park, WA. Olympic NP pass required ($30/7-day vehicle).
2. Cooper River Swimming Hole — Cle Elum Area
Tucked near Salmon La Sac Campground on the edge of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, the Cooper River Swimming Hole is a Cascade classic. Teal water slides over smooth granite boulders into a deep emerald pool surrounded by Douglas fir forest. Eight feet deep at the main pool, rope swing included, Cascade mountain views all around.
About 15 miles north of Roslyn on Highway 903 — easy to find, and one of the most photogenic swimming holes in the state. Water is cold. Jump in anyway.
Location: Near Cle Elum, WA. Northwest Forest Pass required for parking.
3. Franklin Falls — Snoqualmie Pass
Franklin Falls is one of the most accessible waterfall hikes near Seattle — a flat 2-mile round trip through old-growth forest to a gorgeous 70-foot curtain falls crashing into a cold plunge pool. The pool is swimmable and popular for wading and splashing in summer.
45 minutes east of Seattle off I-90, paved trail, family-friendly, and genuinely spectacular. The cold water in the middle of a hot summer day feels like a superpower.
Location: Near North Bend, WA, off I-90.
4. Dougan Falls — Washougal River
Down in southwest Washington near the Columbia River Gorge, Dougan Falls is a wide 19-foot cascade pouring into a deep pool on the Washougal River — one of the best swimming spots in the southern part of the state. Sandy beach below the bridge, flat rocks for sunbathing, picnic tables on site.
Locals from both sides of the Columbia River know about this one. Go mid-week to avoid the weekend crowds. Naked Falls, just up the road, adds cliff jumping to the mix if you want to level things up.
Location: Near Washougal, WA, at the end of Washougal River Road.
5. Rocky Brook Falls — Olympic Peninsula
Rocky Brook Falls near Brinnon is one of those spots that stops you in your tracks. A 230-foot horsetail waterfall crashes down into a shallow, crystal-clear pool surrounded by dense rainforest — and the whole thing is accessible via a 200-yard walk from a roadside pullout near Highway 101.
One of the most accessible dramatic waterfall swim spots in Washington. Great for families. The setting is extraordinary and the pool is refreshing even on the warmest days.
Location: Near Brinnon, WA, off Highway 101 on the Olympic Peninsula.
Oregon
6. Tamolitch Blue Pool — McKenzie River
The Tamolitch Blue Pool is the crown jewel of Oregon swimming holes and one of the most striking natural features in the entire Pacific Northwest. A 4-mile round trip hike along the McKenzie River leads to this electric-blue pool fed by underground volcanic springs — the water so vivid it looks like someone photoshopped it.
The water is shockingly cold (it emerges from underground springs, not surface melt) and brave swimmers come from across the region to take the plunge. Worth every step of the hike.
Location: Near McKenzie Bridge, OR, in Willamette National Forest.
7. Eagle Creek — Columbia River Gorge
Eagle Creek Trail is one of the most celebrated hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, and it delivers swimming hole after swimming hole along the way. The showstopper is Punchbowl Falls — a gorgeous green plunge pool that’s been drawing swimmers for over a century.
Check trail conditions before you go — sections have been impacted by fire damage and storm closures in recent years. When it’s open, it’s one of the best hike-to-swim experiences on the entire West Coast.
Location: Columbia River Gorge, OR. Northwest Forest Pass required.
8. Sweet Creek Falls — Siuslaw National Forest
Sweet Creek Falls is a short, gorgeous trail that passes a series of swimming holes and waterfalls along Sweet Creek. The water is clear and green, the trail is easy, and the whole area feels genuinely tucked away. Great for families and for anyone who wants a mellow swim with beautiful surroundings.
Near the Oregon Coast, making it a natural add-on to a coastal road trip.
Location: Near Mapleton, OR, off Highway 126.
9. Alsea Falls — Benton County
Alsea Falls is a local favorite that flies completely under the radar. The falls drop into a gorgeous swimming hole surrounded by Coast Range forest, and the campground right on site makes it a perfect overnight trip.
Low crowds, beautiful setting, easy access, free. Classic Oregon hidden gem.
Location: Near Monroe, OR, in the Coast Range foothills.
Northern California
10. McCloud River Falls — Mount Shasta Area
The McCloud River near Mount Shasta delivers three swimming holes in one visit — Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls — each totally different in character. Lower Falls has a jumping platform and wide pool. Middle Falls is the dramatic showstopper. Upper Falls is the quiet, shaded escape.
All three are spring-fed and cold. All three are stunning. The Three Falls hike connecting them is one of the best short hikes in Northern California.
Location: Near McCloud, CA, east of Mount Shasta on Highway 89.
11. Emerald Pools — South Yuba River
The Emerald Pools along the South Yuba River in Tahoe National Forest are exactly as named — crystal-clear, genuinely emerald-green pools flowing through polished granite in old-growth pine forest near the Nevada City area.
Upper Pools and Lower Pools are both accessible via short, flat trails from the Lang Crossing trailhead off Highway 20. About 1.5–2 hours from Sacramento, which means it gets busy on summer weekends. Go early or mid-week.
Location: Near Nevada City, CA, off Highway 20 via Bowman Lake Road. Free access.
12. South Yuba River — Highway 49 Crossing
The Highway 49 Crossing on the South Yuba River is one of the most classic Sierra foothills swimming holes — polished, house-sized granite boulders, enticing emerald pools, and the lingering charm of Gold Country all in one spot. This stretch within South Yuba River State Park has been a summer destination for locals from Nevada City and Grass Valley for generations.
If the main crossing is too crowded, drive a few miles south on Highway 49 to Oregon Creek Day Use Area for a quieter stretch of the same gorgeous river.
Location: Off Highway 49 between Nevada City and Downieville, CA. Day use fee applies.
Tips for West Coast Swimming Holes
Cold water is the norm everywhere. Washington and Oregon rivers are glacier and snowmelt fed. Northern California is similar in the Sierra. Even in August, these pools are bracing — ease in, your body adjusts.
July–September is the sweet spot. Spring means high, fast, dangerous water from snowmelt. Late summer delivers the calm, swimmable pools and lower water levels you want.
Go mid-week. The best spots near Seattle, Portland, and the Bay Area fill their parking lots by 9–10am on summer weekends. Mid-week visits are dramatically more relaxed.
Water shoes are non-negotiable. Wet granite and basalt are genuinely treacherous. Shoes with grip save trips, ankles, and dignity.
Check conditions before driving. Fire closures, road washouts, and seasonal gates affect access throughout the West Coast. A quick search before you leave saves a wasted drive.
More West Coast Adventures
For more on exploring the best of the West Coast, check out our guides to the best hikes in the PNW, the best beaches in the PNW, and the most photogenic waterfalls in the PNW for more inspiration.
Happy swimming, friend!
