This Colorado swimming gap was named amongst greatest in US

• Outside Magazine ranked 9 prime swimming holes in nationwide parks, together with a Colorado spot.
• Sandbeach Lake affords a singular sandy seaside and scenic mountain views however requires a difficult hike.
• Ely Creek Falls, situated on the Utah facet of Dinosaur National Monument, offers a shallow pool for cooling off after a desert hike.

With summer season winding down, possibilities to get out and benefit from the nationwide parks in Colorado are dwindling.

And whereas the scenic hikes are all the time a spotlight, in addition they present some lovely spots for a refreshing swim.

Outside Magazine ranked the nine best swimming holes within the National Park System, together with one in Rocky Mountain National Park and one other on the Utah facet of Dinosaur National Monument.

“The array of protected landscapes throughout the national park system house some of the most pristine, jaw-dropping gorgeous swimming holes in the entire country. Think waterfalls with deep plunge pools and ice-cold backcountry lakes,” the publication stated.

Here’s what Outside cherished in regards to the swimming holes.

What is superb about Sandbeach Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park?

Swimming is allowed in most lakes of Rocky Mountain National Park, but it surely’s not the most well-liked exercise as a result of the glacier- and snowmelt-fed lakes keep fairly chilly.

But 16.5-acre Sandbeach Lake, ranked fifth by Outside, stands out partially due to the sandy seaside on its north shore that could be a rarity to seek out at such elevation. At the positioning, you have got views of Mount Copeland behind evergreens on the alternative facet of the lake, making a picturesque backdrop.

You’ll should work a bit to succeed in the lake. It’s within the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park’s Wild Basin space, requiring a 4.5-mile hike with a 2,000-foot elevation achieve from the beginning of the Sandbeach Lake Trailhead.

More: Looking for a superb swimming gap? Here are 9 choices within the Fort Collins space

What is superb about Ely Creek Falls in Dinosaur National Monument?

It’s a little bit of dishonest to rely this as a Colorado swimming gap since it’s on the Utah facet of Dinosaur National Monument, however we’ll rely it for the reason that monument straddles the border.

Ely Creek Falls, which ranked third on the listing, is a small waterfall created when the creek is funneled right into a notch earlier than dropping 15 toes over a sandstone cliff. The pool on the backside of the scenic spot is shallow, however you’ll be able to quiet down after mountain climbing by the desert.

Getting to Ely Creek Falls requires following the Jones Hole Trail for about two miles to the place Jones Creek and Ely Creek meet. Following Ely Creek 1 / 4 mile upstream takes you to the falls.

What are the perfect swimming holes within the nationwide parks throughout the US?

Outside discovered one thing to like in 9 parks throughout 11 states. (It listed parks in each state they’re in, not the place the swimming holes really are.) California and Colorado have been the one states represented twice.

1. Muir Rock, Kings Canyon National Park, California
2. Bass Lake, Point Reyes National Seashore, California
3. Ely Creek Falls, Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado and Utah
4. Firehole Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
5. Sandbeach Lake, Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado
6. Doubtful Lake, North Cascades National Park, Washington
7. Little Falls, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Alabama
8. Steel Creek Campground, Buffalo National River, Arkansas
9. Midnight Hole, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee

Nate Trela covers trending information in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.