It’s hot out. Better go take a dunk. These spots—or whatever swimming hole is in your backyard—is calling.
It’s right around this sweltering point in the summer when I start implementing what my kids like to call the “daily dunkaroo.” In other words: Submerge yourself in some kind of cool body of water every single day. Especially in the late afternoon when temps feel unbearably hot unless your feet are underwater. On good days, that can mean multiple dunks in different bodies of water, be it a lake, a river, a pool, an ocean.
I don’t discriminate: I’ll take a shimmering blue alpine lake one day and a murky pond or hotel swimming pool the next. I’ll take a salty sea or a rocky creek—just get me underwater and fast. These are some of my all-time favorite swimming spots to plunge into. (Reminder: Use caution, leave no trace, and be responsible when visiting all of these treasured sites, but you know that already, right?) If you need the right clothes to make the swim happen, check out Flylow’s Water Collection for men and women, which is intended for all the varieties of adventures that end with a swim.
Devil’s Punchbowl, Aspen, Colorado
If you’re driving over Independence Pass in Colorado, it’s worth pulling over for a swim at Devil’s Punchbowl, a popular and stunningly beautiful swimming hole on the Roaring Fork River, about 10 miles outside of Aspen on Highway 82. Cliff jumpers like to plunge off the rocky cliffs into the water below. There’s limited parking on the side of the road and the pools are just a short walk from the highway. You’ll find several campgrounds along Independence Pass, as well as dispersed camping.
Bingham Falls, Stowe, Vermont
A gem of a Vermont waterfall located in Smugglers’ Notch State Park, you’ll get to Bingham Falls via a short, kid-friendly quarter-mile hike off Route 108 between the town of Stowe and Stowe Mountain Resort. You can swim at the base of the 40-foot falls or just admire the pretty view. Smugglers’ Notch State Park has a 34-site campground.
Edwards Crossing, Yuba River, Nevada City, California
There’s no swimming spot quite like the Yuba River. Giant granite boulders mix with clear emerald water on this designated section of Wild and Scenic River, just outside the Sierra foothills town of Nevada City. Park at the historic Edwards Crossing Bridge—you’ll want to get here early to snag a spot—and walk the South Yuba Trail downstream until you find a swimming hole you like. In town, post up at the Inn Town Campground, which has tent, van, and RV campsites as well as glamping tents.
Wallowa Lake, Joseph, Oregon
At the base of the Wallowa Mountains of eastern Oregon, you’ll find a striking lake just outside the town of Joseph called Wallowa Lake. This spot is popular with paddlers and anglers, but it makes for a great cold-water dip, too. Come for morel mushroom foraging, mountain biking, and hiking. Wallowa Lake State Park has camping and a marina. This makes for a great launching spot for adventures into the surrounding Eagle Cap Wilderness.
Donner Lake, Truckee, California
The best thing about Donner Lake, at the base of Donner Pass and just outside the town of Truckee, are the 37 public docks that dot the lake’s north shore. Get here on a sunny summer day and you can post up on the dock like your own stretch of lakefront. This alpine lake is a gem for swimming, paddling, fishing, and boating, plus there’s climbing, mountain biking, and trails galore, including the Pacific Crest Trail just a few miles up the road, all accessible from here. Donner Memorial State Park, on the east end of the lake, has a campground.
Snake River, Jackson, Wyoming
Most sections of the Snake River, which twists through the town of Jackson, have fast-moving water and current best suited for experienced paddlers and whitewater boats. But if you know where to go, there’s some mellow swimming holes that make for a great afternoon dipping spot. Stay at Snake River Cabins and you’re right on the river in a perfect spot for a swim.
Silver Lake, Eastern Sierra, California
You can pitch a tent right near the shores of Silver Lake, located on the scenic June Lake Loop outside the town of Mammoth Lakes. Stay at the Silver Lake Campground—or there’s the more developed Silver Lake Resort across the street—and you can swim in this high-alpine lake surrounded by the jagged peaks of the eastern Sierra. There are hiking trails right from camp.