When the Sacramento heat passes 100 degrees, it’s time to cool off.  About an hour’s drive from town is this beautiful spot on the middle fork of the Cosumnes River.  The water is crystal clear, widening and slowing before splashing over rapids below, then calming again under the bridge. It’s a good old-fashioned swimming hole that even has a rope swing. 

I didn’t try the rope, not knowing how long it had been there, (or its tensile strength). I was happy just floating downstream on the current from beneath the old stone bridge, where I could see swirling swallows and their nests. They and the chameleons probably accounted for the lack of mosquitoes you’d normally find around water. I was sure to pull over before the rapids just below this spot. On such a hot weekend you’d expect a crowd, but the only other folks around while we were swimming were downstream under the road bridge, apparently getting ready for some tubing. You can just make out a tuber in the lower left of this photo, which gives you a sense of the river’s scale.
This is a do-it-yourself place accessed from public land. There’s no risk manager to make sure you are safe at all times. That’s fine with me. I like being responsible for myself, scouting upstream and down, and enjoying a swimming hole without lifeguards or crowds. I’ll do that every time, since the water levels change. I love discovering a place where there’s even a cave too deep for me to see the back wall, and deciding not to bother any animal that might live inside. The private land across the creek is marked “no trespassing.” But there are plenty of places like this on public land. I’ll post a few.

Directions: from 50 east, we took exit 44A, Missouri Flat Road, then turned left where it T’s into Pleasant Valley Road. After driving through Diamond Springs we turned south on Bucks Bar Road. (Just over 5 miles from Pleasant Valley Road) We followed this to the E16 intersection, also known as Mt. Aukum Road, where you find the Somerset Store and Gold Vine Grill. We turned south (right) on E16/Mt. Aukum Road. We followed this to the bridge over the Cosumnes River, then turned left into the parking area behind the left side guard rail. You can walk along the road until you see the path down to the river. We did a quick visual scout from above, then cooled off in the river.