Summer Swimming and Water Fun

North Fork of the North Fork Waterfall and Swimming Hole (NFNF)

Directions:

• Take the Emigrant Gap/Texas Hill Road back about 8 miles.  Stay on the paved road all the way.  The first campground you reach is the North Fork of the North Fork.  
• Park outside the campground off the road.  
• Walk to the back of the campground - there is a stone marked path that takes you about 1/2 mile further through trees and brush.  Eventually the path will get pretty steep as it leads you below the waterfall and into the gorge and swimming hole.  

This is a popular spot with no bathroom facilities and no trash cans (some people are bad and leave their trash behind).  The river is quite cold, very clear and very refreshing on a hot day.  Though some crazy people do, I do not recommend diving off the falls (there have been at least 2 fatalities of idiots doing this over the recent past).

Fulda Creek Little Swimming Hole

Directions

• Take the Emigrant Gap/Texas Hill Road back to the first bridge.  
• Park on the right before you cross the bridge 

Just below the bridge there is a little kid and dog swimming hole.  Bring the inner tubes so you can float around.  Fulda can get low by mid summer - but it is always worth a check and every easy to get to, quick and free.  It is a nice little place to cool off.

East Fork of the North Fork River (EFNF) Wading and Gold Panning

Directions

• Take the Emigrant Gap/Texas Hill Road back about 12 miles.  Stay on the paved road all the way. 
• Pass the North Fork Campground and Onion Valley and continue to Tunnel Mills campground.  
• Park outside the campground off the road.   

You will immediately see a bridge and the East Fork of the North Fork Wading area.  This is a nice place to get cool and maybe pan for gold.

Lake Valley Reservoir

Directions

• Take I-80 east to the Yuba Gap exit.  
• Turn right at the stop sign, then left to follow the paved road.  
• At the fork, veer right and follow the road to the Lake Valley signs.  
• Turn left on a dirt/gravel road to the day use area and follow it for about a mile.  Note:  This road is fine for all cars but can be a bit rutted.
• Turn right at the sign for the picnic area (and pay about $5.00 per car to park and use the kayak launch) or continue down the road until you come to a set of concrete portable barriers and hike down to the lake (this is a more primitive area - but less people).  

This is our favorite lake for swimming, kayaking and fishing.  At the day use there are bathroom facilities and picnic tables.  Other areas on the lake are primitive, so you have to lug your stuff in).

There is a campground at the lake if you continue on the paved road.  We have never stayed there - but it seems pretty nice.  There are also a pair of nesting eagles on the campground side of the lake and a summer camp - Sky Mountain.

Kelly Lake

Directions

• Take I-80 east to the Yuba Gap exit.  
• Turn right at the stop sign, then left to follow the paved road.  
• At the fork, veer left and follow the road to the Snowblower campgrounds.  Tell the guard at the gate that you are driving to Kelly lake and he will give you a day pass.  

In the back of Snowflower campground and down a pretty rugged road is Kelly Lake.  There is one picnic table there and some really clear water.  Not many people drive back to Kelly since the road is rough - but it is worth it.  A beautiful - but small alpine lake that is warm enough for swimming.  

Spaulding Lake

Directions

• Take I-80 east to highway 20 and continue toward Grass Valley.  
• Take highway 20 toward Grass Valley 
• Take a right hand turn for Spaulding Lake.  Follow the road to the lake and park in the lot (there is a parking and launching fee).

Spaulding is great for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and jet skiing/boating.  Take a sun shade because the sun can be quite intense on the shore area (there are no trees).  The bank of the lake is quite steep so be careful with little ones.  The water is cold - but not as cold as NFNF hole.

There are bathrooms and a very small picnic area.

Emerald Pool

Directions

• Take I-80 east to highway 20 exit 
• Take 20 and continue toward Grass Valley. 
• Take the right hand turn for Bowman Lake Road SR 18 (about 3.5 miles down 20).  
• Drive about 1.5 miles in,  where the road crosses the Yuba River Gorge, park across the bridge and follow the trail to the pools.  The trail is not marked but it is pretty obvious.   
• Hike back about 1/4 mile on the old wagon train road and finally across some river rock to get to the pools.  Bring Inner Tubes since it is a nice float area (the deeper you get in the water the colder it is).

Jim and Lynn hiked a bit up the river - but did not see any better pools than the main one you see on the trail.  We love this place for floating in the pool and the rock formations are gorgeous. Watch for poison oak on the trail. .

Fuller Lake

Directions

• Take I-80 east to highway 20 
• Follow highway 20 toward Grass Valley. 
• Take a right hand turn for Bowman Lake Road SR 18 (about 3.5 miles down 20). Drive up the main paved road, past Emerald Pools.  Continue Driving up the hill until you see the lake parking on the right (there is a $5.00 fee to park).

This lake is nice for floating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and wading.   I think it is a bit cold for swimming (and you know I like cold water!).  There are a pair of nesting bald eagles and fishing from the shore (most people seem to fish by the dam).

Washington and the Yuba River (Day Trip)

Directions

• Take I-80 East to Highway 20
• Follow Highway 20 about 15 miles to the Washington turnoff.  NOTE:  This is a steep road so if you are afraid of heights, think twice before heading here.

Once you get to the town of Washington, visit the old hotel and bar.  I love this place - it is full of character. There is also a blender or toaster museum in town (I can't remember which since it was closed the day we visited the town). 

Once in town you can either head toward Graniteville and park just past the bridge and swim in the Yuba River (there is a nice beach here) or head left on the Old Washington Road and go to the campgrounds (private).  We paid for a campsite for the day (which was fun) and went gold panning in the Yuba and inner tubing down the narrow part of the river which was like short version of tubing Cache Creek (probably class .05 rapids).  We did find gold in the river here which was so fun for the kids.  

There is a falls at Washington - but I have not been there yet.  
I wasn't sure if it was best to put this trip under swimming or day trips since it is both.  

Long Lake (Up by Soda Springs) 

Directions

Take 80 east to Donner Pass Rd exit. 

Turn right at the exit and follow the road 

Turn right on Soda Springs Rd 

Turn right on Pahatsi Rd (toward Royal Gorge Ski area)

Pahatsi Rd turns into Kidd Lake Rd and is DIRT

Follow the road to the Devils Peak parking area

If you have a low clearance vehicle, park there and follow the road to the end. 

If you have a high clearance vehicle, continue to the end of the road

Hike 3/4 of a mile on the Palisades Creek Trailhead crossing the dam at Cascade Lakes

Follow the trail until you see the turn off for Long Lake.  Stay on the right side of the lake. 

Long Lake is a natural lake up by Serene Lakes and Soda Springs.  There are no bathrooms and no garbage cans so tote in, tote out.  Weekends are busy.  Getting there is a bit of a challenge since you follow a dirt road for several miles, but on weekdays, a visit to the lake can be a refreshing and inspiring day trip. Nearby lakes in this area are private (which is a damn shame) but you can book a group campsite at Kidd lake.   The view of this lake and Devils Peak is stunning.  The water is clean. 

Falls

References for some of the many falls in the area:

https://sites.google.com/site/zbjohnsonadventures/waterfalls/california-nevada