The South Yuba River runs through the western Sierra Nevada foothills of Nevada County, California, forming a series of clear, emerald-tinted swimming holes along a rugged granite canyon. The river is fed by snowmelt, which keeps it cold even in summer — but on hot days when temperatures regularly climb above 90°F in the foothills, that cold water is part of the appeal. Most of the main access points fall within South Yuba River State Park, a 20-mile corridor managed jointly by California State Parks, the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service. All of the spots below are within easy driving distance of Nevada City.
A few general cautions apply across all locations. Poison oak grows along many of the paths — the standard field guide is “leaves of three, let them be.” Deer ticks are present throughout the region; check carefully after any time in the brush. Alcohol and glass containers are prohibited in all areas of the park. Dogs must be on leash. No camping or fires are permitted at the day-use swimming areas, though the South Yuba Campground (BLM) near Edwards Crossing has 16 campsites with tables, fire rings, and pit toilets.
1. Hoyt Trail — South Yuba River State Park
The Hoyt Trail begins at the north end of the old Highway 49 bridge, just outside Nevada City. The trail runs upstream along the river for approximately 1.2 miles to Hoyt’s Crossing, a former river ford with a good-sized swimming hole and an expansive sandy beach. Along the way, numerous side paths branch off toward the river, leading to water-sculpted granite outcroppings, deep pockets suitable for jumping, and quieter sections away from the main entry area. The water tends to be a touch warmer than at more exposed sections upriver, since the canyon shelters it from wind.
Near Hoyt’s Crossing itself, look for the Miners Tunnel, where a hole was blasted through solid granite during the Gold Rush to divert the river and expose the riverbed for gold panning. Hoyt’s Crossing is also well known as a clothing-optional spot. Designated parking spaces are available along the road near the old bridge, and a small lot sits beside the pedestrian bridge. Overflow parking requires walking further up the road — park well off the pavement.
2. Emerald Pools
Emerald Pools is one of the most popular swimming destinations on the South Yuba River. A wide, level trail of roughly a quarter mile leads from the trailhead to the main pool, which sits in a narrow granite gorge where the water takes on an unusually vivid green-blue color. The main pool is large enough for open swimming and supports cliff jumping from various rock heights. A small dirt parking area sits before the bridge along the road at the trailhead. On busy days — particularly summer weekends — police do patrol and ticket vehicles that are partially blocking the road, so park fully off the pavement.
If the main area is crowded, hiking upriver through the stony gorges reveals smaller, shallower secondary pools that tend to stay less trafficked through the day. The gorge walls make the emerald color particularly striking from within.
3. Bridgeport — South Yuba River State Park
The Bridgeport section of South Yuba River State Park is the most family-accessible entry point on the river, with a shallow Family Beach and Kneebone Beach suitable for children, picnic facilities, restrooms, and a visitor center with gold panning demonstrations on summer weekends. The centerpiece of this section is the Bridgeport Covered Bridge, built in 1862 by the Virginia Turnpike Company as part of a 14-mile toll road connecting the California mining camps with the Nevada Comstock Lode. With a clear span of approximately 230 feet, it is the longest surviving single-span wooden covered bridge in the world. The bridge closed due to structural damage in 2011 and reopened to pedestrian use on November 4, 2021, following a $6.9 million restoration. It is listed as both a California State Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark.
Parking is available on both the north and south sides of the river. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, the fee is $10 per vehicle; the remainder of the year it is $5. The California State Parks pass covers parking. Free parking is also available at the Cemetery lot and along Pleasant Valley Road — check posted signs carefully. The park headquarters is at 17660 Pleasant Valley Road, Penn Valley, CA 95946, accessible from Highway 20 west of Grass Valley or Highway 49 north of Nevada City.
4. Edwards Crossing
Edwards Crossing sits on the eastern end of the 5-mile South Yuba River Trail, about 10 miles northeast of Nevada City via Highway 49 and North Bloomfield Road. The single-lane bridge at the crossing has a 4-ton weight limit. The river here is broad, and late-afternoon sun warms the water enough that by evening the water and air temperatures are noticeably closer together than at shaded upstream spots — this makes it one of the better end-of-day destinations on the river.
A short half-mile hike from the bridge via the Spring Creek Trail (on the north side) leads to Spring Creek waterfall, which feeds into the South Yuba. Downstream of Highway 49 Crossing, fishing is open year-round; upstream of that point, the season runs late April through mid-November. Parking is limited to small dirt areas on each side of the bridge. Signs prohibit roadside parking a short distance from the bridge — cars parked past the signs have been ticketed. Overnight parking is permitted at Edwards Crossing, though no overnight camping is allowed.
5. Purdon Crossing
Purdon Crossing sits at the western end of the South Yuba River Trail, accessible from Nevada City via Highway 49 to North Bloomfield Road, then left on Lake Vera/Purdon Road — the last portion is unpaved and drops steeply into the canyon. The Purdon Crossing Bridge, built in 1895, is a half-through truss structure — reportedly the only one of its type in California.
The trail here is a 3.5-mile out-and-back route. It follows the river closely for the first three-quarters of a mile, with several spots where short side paths drop to the water. Like Hoyt’s Crossing, Purdon is widely understood to be clothing-optional. Limited parking is available in a small lot just before the bridge; daytime parking is permitted along the road unless a sign says otherwise. Overnight parking is permitted at Purdon Crossing as well, making it a reasonable base for those using the South Yuba Campground nearby.
Practical Notes
All five spots are day-use areas — no camping or fires are allowed at the swimming access points themselves, though the BLM’s South Yuba Campground near Edwards Crossing offers 16 campsites (some ADA-accessible) with bear-proof food lockers. The South Yuba River Citizens League monitors water quality at several crossing points, including Purdon’s Crossing, from June through August; current water quality status is available at theswimguide.org.
River safety is worth treating seriously. The South Yuba carries significant current and cold water well into summer, and conditions can change quickly. Never jump into water without first confirming depth, never dive, and never swim alone. Life vests are recommended, particularly for children.
Nevada City is the natural base for a multi-day visit. For more on California river swimming and the broader region, see the site’s guides to kayaking in California, dispersed camping in California, and camping near river corridors. Visitors combining the Yuba with a longer Northern California trip may also find the Feather River camping guide useful, as the Feather River canyon lies immediately north.
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