Public Swimming Holes in Yosemite

This post outlines several of my favorite swimming holes in Yosemite. These are either well known, or in an official National Park Service picnic area. I had posted about one of the swimming holes on Facebook but removed the location because of the concern that people would overcrowd and ruin the experience for those already in the know.

I debated about whether to take down the posts altogether and "gatekeep" these places. However, I decided to reveal the location for the following reasons:

1. Someone had commented with a link to a Reddit page where the swimming local location was already revealed. So it's not like the location cannot be found on the Internet if someone googled "swimming holds in Yosemite".
2. Another commented that the location cannot be "secret" as there already is parking, toilets and picnic tables so it is obvious the National Park Service expects and wants people to use it.
3. I had asked YOSE_Web_Manager@nps.gov about usage data for this picnic area compared to the others and they concurred that it did not seem as busy as some of the others.
4. The Yosemite ranger also confirmed that it is swimming in the Merced River within Yosemite National Park was allowed in all places except above the waterfalls. However, he emphasized the need for sound judgment. So in theory, as long as you were not above a waterfall or in freezing or swift/dangerous water, "any" spot on the Merced could be a legal swimming hold.
5. I received some comments that information should be "free" and people should decide. 

So here's my three favorite swimming holes in Yosemite:

• Housekeeping Camp where the bridge across the Merced River is located. This beach is the largest and nicest and the drop off from the shallow end to the deep end of the river is gradual. You can also see Half Dome or Yosemite Falls from parts of the river. There are calm parts of the river if you just want to float in the same place, and parts of the river where you can ride the current downstream. There are flush restrooms at Housekeeping Camp but parking is restricted only to Housekeeping Camp guests. Others will have to take the Valley Shuttle. There's no gatekeeping this as the swimming beach is one of the selling features.
  
  
• Swinging Bridge by Wawona. While this is not an official picnic area, it is well known and has been written up in the popular Yosemite Hikes website. Besides the bridge that actually swings (the bridge at the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area in Yosemite Valley does not actually swings), there is a shallow section of the river where kids love to slide down the granite. There is also a calm area of the river that looks just like an infinity pool. The downside? No restrooms and it requires a 15-20 minute hike to get to the swimming hole. 

• Cascades Picnic Area along SR 140. See my writeup on Facebook. This is a hidden gem maintained by the National Park Service and there's lots of picnic tables with grills that are underused.