The Kings River flows along the western edge of Reedley, and in summer it is the town's best asset. The water runs cold and clear — fed by snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada — and the stretch near Reedley is calm enough for swimming and leisurely tubing. Locals treat the river as an informal park on hot valley days, and it is easy to see why: temperatures in the Central Valley regularly top 100°F in July and August, and the river provides relief that no air conditioner can match.
Access the river from the parks along Reed Avenue. There are no lifeguards, and water levels vary with snowmelt — check conditions before swimming and keep children supervised. The river can run faster than it looks.