For the wild at coronary heart, California’s Gold Country beckons with rugged mountain surroundings and speeding rivers that make the lengthy, sandy seashores of Southern California appear a world away. Carving its manner by way of rocky canyons, the South Yuba River embodies the untamed — and at occasions harmful — fantastic thing about the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Its shiny emerald waters are inaccessible many of the yr on account of fast-flowing currents and shockingly chilly temps, however throughout a slender window in the summertime, hundreds of thousands of people descend upon the river. One swimming spot that must be on the high of your bucket checklist is Purdon Crossing.
Situated 25 minutes outdoors Nevada City, Purdon Crossing is a historic metallic bridge and likewise the entry level for a number of seasonal swimming holes. While Hoyt’s Crossing skilled unprecedented crowds and parking challenges in summer time 2026, Purdon Crossing is more durable to get to, so it typically attracts fewer individuals. However, those who make the journey shall be rewarded with crystal-clear water and unadulterated nature. You will not discover sandy seashores or cozy altering rooms. Instead, guests solar themselves on large boulders, describing Purdon Crossing on Google Reviews as a “magical spot” and “my favorite place in California.”
Although Purdon Crossing is a part of South Yuba River State Park, little official info is out there concerning the swimming spot, which can assist it fly considerably beneath the radar. To attain the bridge, you may have to drive 5.5 miles alongside a street that turns to gravel. There’s restricted parking, so you may have to arrive early. From the parking space, you possibly can stroll down the river till you discover an interesting pool.
How to securely swim at Purdon Crossing
Swimming in a river just like the South Yuba isn’t 100% protected, however some occasions are much less dangerous than others. During the late spring and early summer time (roughly April by way of June), snowmelt from the mountains swells the river with chilly, fast-moving water, making it an absolute no-go zone for swimmers or waders. In truth, you’ll even see signs reading “Stay Out, Stay Alive.”
But throughout the mid-to-late summer time, the circulation slows considerably, and the water warms up. This is the most secure time of yr to swim and by far the preferred — particularly on weekends. However, South Yuba River State Park nonetheless encourages warning: “Pick your spots carefully and avoid any place with even a modest current. Current combined with cold water temperatures can lead to disaster.” The state park offers several photos that may assist guests establish harmful rapids, however needless to say there are not any lifeguards on responsibility right here. In order to remain protected whereas swimming, guests must also verify the South Yuba River circulation fee through Dreamflows. If the circulation fee is under 100 cubic feet per second (cfs), swimming in a peaceful space could be protected, so long as you utilize warning and do not threat swimming alone.
In phrases of ambiance, Purdon Crossing is extra of an grownup hangout and has a clothes-optional tradition. You will not discover official pointers about nudity, however some hikers expressed shock after encountering bare individuals. For a kid-friendly outing, head to Family Beach’s sandy shore, a swimming spot additionally inside California’s iconic South Yuba River State Park.
Hike the South Yuba Trail and different routes from Purdon Crossing
Even should you’re not a swimmer, Purdon Crossing has lots to supply. It’s one of many essential entry factors for the South Yuba Trail, an roughly 20-mile route that begins in Tahoe National Forest and ends at Purdon Crossing. Hikers think about the route difficult, citing the overgrown paths (look ahead to poison oak) amongst different elements. “The South Yuba Trail cuts through the rocky cliffs and bluffs of the river canyon, winding up and down and around. Very little of the trail was flat terrain,” per the outside consultants behind Must Bring Snacks.
From Purdon Crossing, hikers can embark on a extra manageable part of the South Yuba Trail: The roughly 5-mile hike (one-way) to Edwards Crossing. This part is pretty shady and passes by fern-lined streams, rock formations, and woods. Some hikers begin the path from Edwards Crossing partially as a result of the street to the bridge is paved, however there isn’t any purpose you possibly can’t embark from Purdon Crossing so long as you comply with park ranger ideas for staying protected whereas mountaineering.
Alternatively, explorers can begin at Purdon Crossing and hike to the Round Mountain ridge. You’ll have to comply with the South Yuba Trail till it connects with the Round Mountain Trail. Measuring round 8 miles (there and again), the trail provides mountain views by way of the bushes, however regardless that the elevation achieve is about 1,600 toes, hikers on AllTrails describe the highest as “anticlimactic.” For a shorter hike and close by Sierra Nevada surroundings, attempt the simple Black Swan Trail with crowd-free birding.