| Natural Swimming
HolesTM |
Don't swim without a buddy!
|
Humboldt County
Copyright © 2003 Albert B. Miller. All rights are reserved. Reprinted
with permission of the author. |
Let? go swimming! - Most swimmers on the North Coast know where
community pools are located but not necessarily how to find proper swimming
holes in the forest. Listed below are links more than thirty natural swimming holes
located in the Mad River, Van Duzen River, Eel River, Bull
Creek and the South Fork Eel River. Five will cost you two or three dollars
to swim, the rest are totally free.
Swimming in Humboldt County rivers is usually best from June to October.
The size and depth of swimming holes depend on runoff from winter rains
and mountain snow packs, ground water absorption, silt deposits and other
factors.
For swimming-hole comfort, bring a beach towel, folding chair, umbrella
and a flotation device. Wear sandals or rubber shoes for walking over
rocks at the edge of swimming holes or when wading. Or just bring a swimming
suit and go swimming in the forest pioneer style. (See Cautions below.)
Here are some natural swimming holes to aim at in the Eel River Valley
(These documents require the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader):
Part 1: Swimming holes in the
Van Duzen River
Part 2: Swimming holes in the Eel River
Part 3: Swimming holes in Bull Creek
Part 4: Swimming holes in
the South Fork Eel River
Part 5: Swimming holes in the Mad River
Swimming Holes Update: - Reader inputs to this guide are welcome.
The guide will be updated periodically from inputs and from further field
work. For swimming holes, which are not described in the present guide,
please send a description of the swimming hole and exact directions for
finding it.
Needed in the guide are swimming holes in the Eel River south of Dyerville
Overlook, and in the South Fork Eel River between Burlington Campground
and Redway.
Inputs about swimming holes in other rivers, streams, creeks and hard-to-find
grottos, including nude and clothing-optional swimming holes, will also
be added. Your inputs and comments are thoroughly appreciated. Albert
Miller
Cautions:
Never dive into a swimming hole until you have personally
gone down and determined the depth and underwater condition where you
plan to dive (i.e., not just a "look before you leap" check). Good swimmers
have suffered serious head and spinal chord injuries by not being prudent
about this. A subsurface stump, bolder or protruding logs are not always
visible from the surface.
If you are not a good swimmer, don't go to swimming holes in a
river. River conditions change and flow rates can be unpredictable, especially
after above-average winter rains and with heavy mountain snow packs. If
the water is flowing fast, don't go in. If you get into a fast-moving
river, don't try to swim out across the current. Swim only with the current,
then aim yourself gradually toward the shoreline further downstream. Above
all for safety, don't swim without a buddy.
