OUTDOORS
Splish Splash
Snorkeling off the Trinity River.
Taking a dip in Humboldt County’s swimming holes
I
grew up in the Midwest, where the preferred swimming holes were made of concrete and dotted with diving boards. So I had to adjust to swimming outside in Humboldt County. Sure, diving into North Coast rivers Story by Rees Hughes and ocean waters qualifies one for Photos by “Polar Bear Club” Christian Pennington membership, but even when the marine layer has made July feel like December along the coast, there are places warm enough to swim all over the county. Swimming where you may see a salmon or an osprey or an otter, where you can stretch out on warm boulders or sandy beaches, away from crowds … well, that was not a difficult adjustment. This list of local swimming holes is hardly complete, and some of the best spots are on private land. Fortunately, there are plenty of public options. Summer 2014
County Parks Beginning with the closest to Humboldt Bay, just 7 miles east of Eureka, is Freshwater County Park. Each summer from mid-June to shortly after Labor Day for generations now, Humboldt County Parks has dammed Freshwater Creek to create a pleasant swimming hole that complements the day-use picnic tables and fire rings. There is a $5 per car fee and no dogs permitted. Like all of the swimming holes described here, there is no lifeguard. Several other county parks feature great summer swimming and allow camping for a fun extended experience. Twelve miles east of Highway 101 on State Route 36, Swimmer’s Delight ($5 for day use) and nearby Pamplin Grove (free day use), are two of several locations on the Van Duzen River,
tend to escape the coastal chill and have swimming holes with minimal current. Similarly, A.W. Way County Park ($3 for day use), located about 6 miles east of Petrolia on a bend in the Mattole River, offers warm days and family-friendly wading and swimming. At the other end of the county, 7 miles north of Trinidad, is Big Lagoon County Park ($2 fee), which Mike Orr, County Parks Supervisor, says is overlooked. “People don’t realize how pleasant the water in the day use area at Big Lagoon can be,” he observes. The lagoon, that is — the nearby ocean is cold and rough with a forbiddingly steep beach. These parks all have restroom facilities and other amenities that can make things a little more convenient, especially for families. continued
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