Oregon is home to some of the most exquisite swimming holes. From turquoise lakeside pools, hidden in majestic forests, to serene rivers tucked away between mountain peaks – opt for one of these top 10 swimming spots and take a dip into nature’s backyard!
Best Swimming Holes in Oregon
Hood River Waterfront Park
- Address: Riverfront Park, 650 Portway Ave, Hood River, OR 97031, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (1180)
- Phone: +1 541-387-5201
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: Open 24 hoursTuesday: Open 24 hoursWednesday: Open 24 hoursThursday: Open 24 hoursFriday: Open 24 hoursSaturday: Open 24 hoursSunday: Open 24 hours
5 Replies to These 12 swimming holes in Oregon are pure magic
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Top 12 Most Popular Swimming Holes in Oregon
Tamolitch Falls (Blue Pool)
- Address: National Forest Road 2672-655, McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (1038)
- Phone: +1 541-822-3381
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: Open 24 hoursTuesday: Open 24 hoursWednesday: Open 24 hoursThursday: Open 24 hoursFriday: Open 24 hoursSaturday: Open 24 hoursSunday: Open 24 hours
- Reviews:
Well… the details to this hike can be confusing. The pool itself is beautiful. The problem I had was with all the conflicting info. But it makes sense if you evaluate it all.
I thought this was a short hike. But the problem is when you are on the ground. I ended up going to the McKenzie River Trail head and parking there. That’s where I started. Beautiful hike from there. The tree coverage is just magical and there are two foot bridge crossings. This took us up to the cliff over looking the pool. But it is NOT a short hike. I thought I was doing a 15 min out and back. Apparently that is NF 470 – which you won’t see on Google and some of the reviewers on All Trails seem to be describing this shorter hike. But All Trails points you to the parking lot. This really frustrated me.
But, who cares. It was still a great hike. And the pool was beautiful. There was no “water fall” at the blue pool when I was there that I see in everyone else’s photos. So… maybe I just looked in the wrong place. No idea.
By Mike Key (4 months ago)Breathtaking! Fall and Spring are the prettiest times to go and get the full spectrum of colors, the blue pool included. The hike is 2.25 miles one way and very easy to follow. The trail in is the same one you use out and although it is maintained it is a bit rough in sections. I went during times where there was still snow and slush on the entire trail and didn’t have hiking gear or shoes. The trail is not an ideal hike with people who have walking issues. The views are amazing!By Gerardo Morales (Gerry) (3 months ago)Beautiful, turquoise blue pool/ ‘dry fall’ which I had to Google after not seeing an actual waterfall. Very interesting and cool to see! We went around 10am on a Saturday and there were other hikers but it wasn’t too packed. There is a large downed tree that people seem to be stacking rocks on the exposed roots so add yours as you go by!By Trista Chandler (2 months ago)Easy/moderate hike up to the blue pool, well marked easy to follow. Lots of lava rock and muddy in spots so best to wear hiking boots if ya got ’em. Its kind of a scramble down to the pool, but don’t have to you can just hike or picnic along the top. Great views, dog friendly! So so blue and so so cold!By Courtney B (6 months ago)2 routes to this amazing blue(turquoise) pool. 1 has a board that says blue pool and parking is right next to the road(NFD 740), which takes ~15 minutes to get to the base of the pool(a little over a mile). This trail starts gradual but gets incredibly steep but doable if it’s dry. Another trailhead is the one that can be found in All Trails which is 3.6 out and back which end at the cliff around the pool, but you can walk across to the base. This pool although being 30 feet deep is so clear that you can view the bottom clearly.By Shalin Rathi (5 months ago)High Rocks Park
- Address: 25 82nd Dr, Gladstone, OR 97027, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (780)
- Phone: +1 503-557-2769
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
Incredibly beautiful spot. Just not accessible due to all the huge rocks. Definitely not a place to go after a couple drinks.By General Cherry (6 months ago)nice crowd, yet not all are competent swimmers. cops on a boat came up and busted this guy and made him open, and pour out, into the river, 22 beers. which i guess is pretty liberal, being underage. the out come would likely be the same, had he been 21.
but he did have that look…that mix of young and dumb and full of beer and might not know how to swim very well.By Axel Oberg (5 months ago)Loved it water isn’t as cold bit kids have yo have life jacket cause there are currents everywhere and rocks under water hit my knee fell not best place to take kids too lots of teenagers on weekends and lifeguards are there till 7pm and life jackets available for borrowing!By Katerina O/K (Katie) (4 months ago)Water is nice and cold. Bring river shoes. Swift moving current. Sand and rocks.By Jesse Pharo (5 months ago)The place itself is decent. Everyone enjoying themselves there were super chill, and it’s cool they have lifeguards by the higher jump offs. Parking BLOWS and getting in & out of the water is not very easily accessible. There’s 100s of spots just like it that aren’t under a freeway.By Arla (5 months ago)Dodge Park
- Address: 11021 SE Lusted Rd, Sandy, OR 97055, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (667)
- Phone: +1 503-823-7503
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Reviews:
Loved it… Gorgeous scenery, picnic tables, able to have your dogs 🐾🐾…
Cost nothing to enter the park…
A good time here and we will visit again..
Also portable toilets availableBy KATIE STEVENS (5 months ago)It was a peaceful day with my dog out there! So pretty and clean.By karen Yazzolino King (4 months ago)Good Sandy beach in spots… Great for kids to play in the water! Lots of parking but you may want to get there semi early because it does fill up on nice days! 😎 They have some picnic tables and grills but you may want to bring chairs to sit by the water. Also, in some spots there isn’t much shade so you may want to bring a shade tent or something of that nature. Great park… We absolutely love it! ❤By Kristi Seng (5 months ago)This is my favorite River of all times I grew up going here Catching crawdads, If you got a Snorkel and goggles, and like crawdads I highly recommend putting a piece of chicken down near the fish trap and watching them go at it.By joshua peck (3 months ago)I was not able to stay as overnight camping has been discontinued but the young lady serving as Camp Host could not have been more congenial or helpful. She was a delight in solving my sleeping problem tonight. The park itself is well maintained and appears quite clean. A really enjoyable visit for myself and Izzy my 3lb guard dogBy Steve Rahm (4 months ago)White River Falls State Park
- Address: White River Rd, Maupin, OR 97037, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (651)
- Phone: +1 800-551-6949
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PMTuesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PMWednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PMThursday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PMFriday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PMSaturday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PMSunday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
Gorgeous set of waterfalls that seem to appear out of nowhere. I visited in July, and if going in the warmer months definitely bring lots of water with you as the hike back up is steep. Worth the adventure!!By Bella Override (11 months ago)Just a random stop as we were driving by but turned out to be well worth it for the spectacular falls view. The wide falls are a fun change from the “usual” falls running straight down from a narrow river. A trail leads down into the valley to an old power plant where you can get great views of another fall that is somewhat hidden if you only go to the upper overlook.By charlie sliwoski (7 months ago)It’s pretty dry and warm during the summer, but still pretty to watch. It is a stretch of barren land you drive across, about at least a couple of hours from Portland. The waterfall is pretty and falls in 2 different stages. There is an abandoned hydroelectric power plant which gives the feels. You can also see the creek that the water falls into.By Gagan N Kangovi (2 months ago)The falls are beautiful we went 7 3 22 but only went halfway down the trail it’s more rugged than mentioned in other poast too rugged and steep for older folks we are in our mid 50s and had a hard tome getting down and back up although a great view I’m not sure if it was worth a 2and a half hour drive one way too seeBy M W (6 months ago)What a great place. There are a few picnic tables to have lunch. Walk from parking to falls has crushed stone and paved. It is a very short walk. Those that want can traverse a steep climb down to see the falls from a different angle. But it still is enjoyable by everyone if you don’t want to do that.By Hai C (9 months ago)
McKercher Park
- Address: 37860 OR-228, Brownsville, OR 97327, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (402)
Crowfoot Falls
- Address: Crowfoot Rd, Trail, OR 97541, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (240)
Steelhead Falls
- Address: Deschutes River, Oregon, Terrebonne, OR 97760, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (170)
Three Pools Day Use Area
- Address: NF-2207, Gates, OR 97346, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (156)
Lake Creek Falls
- Address: Blachly, OR 97412, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (133)
Perry Swimming Hole
- Address: 62096 Lower Perry Loop, La Grande, OR 97850, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (83)
Salmon Creek Falls Day Use Area
- Address: Oakridge, OR 97463, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (63)
Mosier Falls
- Address: 207 3rd Ave, Mosier, OR 97040, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (53)
Best swimming holes in Oregon That’s it for our list of the best swimming holes in Oregon! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers. And don’t forget to check out some of the other posts on our blog for more travel inspiration. Happy beachcombing!
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Excellent little walking park right on the Columbia River with a great playground for the kiddos and even a Sandy beach for water access during the warmer months. Great place to relax and enjoy all the views of the Gorge!
This is our third time stopping in Hood River just for the playground. It is so beautiful!! Also the beach, wading are is great, the view are gorgeous. My kids also always meet such nice kids when we play there.
Amazing river front park . The Water body , mountains ,clouds and strong winds makes the whole experience heavenly . Occasionally you can see the Amtrak at the far end . One can sit and watch people doing various water sports, Kite surfing / Kite boarding . Lots of activity for kids . Love this place !
We had so much fun visiting this park. To the left is a small beach to chill out and cool off! But watching all of the wind sports going on was a great time! Restaurants across the street to make a whole day out of it. Absolutely loved it!
Love this park. We went for a low-key family bday party in early August and we’re able to snag a picnic table in a covered area. The bathroom was a short walk away and the play equipment (including gravity spin toys and a rock wall!) just on the other side of the sheltered area. The weather was beautiful, the other visitors courteous and pleasant, and the roped-off waterfront play area a welcome relief from the heat. The sides of the beach are rocky, but the middle is very comfortable for bare feet making their way into the water. Lots of green grass and small hills which lend themselves to families and friends picnicking on a blanket with others doing the same but no one feeling like they’re sitting on each other’s lap. Across the street was a gelato and sorbet truck, and a few doors down a coffee shop. Next door a beer haven which also has kombucha and cold brew in case you miss the coffee shop hours 😉 On the water are windsurfers, kite surfers and stand-up paddlers (not sure the price of the first two but some of our party did SUP by renting a board for $25/hr). Great place for a relaxing, leisurely, pleasant day on the water.