South Yuba River State Park

Wild river canyon with swimming holes and suspension bridges below the Gold Country hills

Address 17660 Pleasant Valley Rd, Penn Valley, CA

South Yuba River State Park stretches along a stretch of wild river canyon about 15 miles south of Nevada City. The main access point at Bridgeport has a dramatic covered bridge built in 1862, rocky swimming holes along the river, and a trail system that follows the canyon through oak woodland and chaparral.

The swimming here is excellent in summer — the river is clear and cold, fed by snowmelt from the Sierra, and the granite boulders create natural pools at various levels. The Independence Trail, accessible near the Bridgeport area, was built as a flume for hydraulic mining equipment and is now one of the first wheelchair-accessible wilderness trails in the United States, following the old water channel through the canyon.

Allow half a day for the drive, a swim, and a short hike. The park is free but parking fills up on summer weekends — arrive before 10am or go on a weekday.

things to do nature outdoor
A story
The South Yuba River at Bridgeport has the longest single-span covered bridge in the world that can still carry vehicles — a 251-foot wooden covered bridge built in 1862 that was used to drive cattle across the river. It was saved from demolition in 1971 by a group of local activists and is now the centrepiece of the park.