south yuba river state park

We love to take a drive to the South Yuba River bridge and just watch and listen to the water. In summer it's a fun swimming area, though a bit hairy getting down to the water through the rocky hillside. Was easier when I was younger. The views from the bridge are breathtaking. You can also enjoy the river further south from the Bridgeport bridge area. It's much more shallow and better suited for families.

We visit SYRSP every spring for the wildflower walks. You can either walk on you own or go on a walk with a knowledgeable docent.

Very nice river setting, with deep pool perfect for playing fetch....when the area is not crowded....does not take many to fill the place up....like most every place else in California...but if you can catch it in off season and on a week day you might have a quite peaceful cummune with a nice piece of nature.

The South Yuba River Park is a great place to visit any time of the year. The swimming is great but be careful of the steep trails down to the river. This is probably not the place for small children due to the steep trails and swift current. In the off season, the trail along the river (Buttermilk Bend) is an easy one mile hike to the end of the trail. It overlooks the river the entire way so bring your camera. When the water is high, you will see why it is called Buttermilk Bend. The river is so fast and rough that it looks like buttermilk, which is very cool. If you find yourself hiking here in the summer, bring your hat and sun screen as shade is limited. In the spring, the wild flowers are all blooming and have been labeled for your convenience. No matter when you visit, there is always something to do at the park. There is a $4 parking fee.

This is a gorgeous river with lots of great swimming holes, rocks to climb and jump off, and spots to relax. That being said, the trails down to the river are very steep and it can be difficult to climb over the boulders to get to the river itself. There are also spots where the current is swift and can pull you over rocky waterfalls. If you visit, you should wear water shoes and be prepared for hiking/bouldering. There is also a lot of poison oak along the trails so watch out! Overall we had an amazing time but some of our group had a rough go of it because they weren't prepared. Unfortunately, there is a lot of trash that people leave at the river too, so when you go pack everything out!

My wife and I are visiting my son in California and we decided to start our visit in the foothills of The Sierra Nevada Mountains. We drove around the country side for awhile and came upon the South Yuba River at Bridgeport. We hiked a few trails along the river and then came upon The Kneebone Beach (swimming hole) by walking of The Buttermilk Trail and heading down toward the river. What an awesome swimming hole , and we even got to go swimming in it , which I THOROUGHLY enjoyed , especially at this time of the year ! BUT , be careful of the rattlesnakes - they are pretty plentiful at the park - plenty of rocks and crevices for them to thrive among. What a beautiful river . . . we didn't want to leave , until the Sun dipped below the mountain horizon.

South Yuba River State Park is located about 20 miles north west of Grass Valley. It is in an area called Bridgeport where a covered toll bridge was built over the Yuba River along the Virginia Highway. The Virginia Highway was a trail built to move freight from Marysville to Virginia City during the gold and silver mining era in the late 1800’s. At the Park there is a trail call the Buttermilk Bend Trail (#4) The trail is about 1.5 long (3 miles out and back) Trail head is on the side of the new bridge not where the visitor center is. It is a dirt trail about 4 feet wide that is essentially flat the entire length. The trail runs along a stunning section of the Yuba River with granite rocks, sandy pools and accessible swimming beaches. During the spring, the park docents run wildflower walks along the trail. The California Natural Plan Society has placed little signs with pictures near wildflowers as well to help you identify them so if you are not on a docent walk, you can find many without help. The docents run bird and nature walks too so see the park calendar online for the schedule. In the summer daily and on most weekends in the warm weather they offer gold panning for the kids near the visitor center. I have lived in the area for years and this is the best trail I have seen for families with children and the elderly who want to see a wild river and get a taste of the gold rush. It is so beautiful and accessible. If you come plan to spend the day and bring a picnic. There a tables around the park. Parking is $5.00. If you come in the summer, bring your swim suit. You will be able to swim in aquamarine waters that most people only see in photos.

20 miles of protected wild and scenic river with state park designation on some parts. Trails, swimming holes, sandy beaches, polished granite boulders and so much more.

Bridgeport is our family favorite. I invite friends up from Sacramento to spend the day in the river, it is a great spot for very young children because there is very little current. Lots of sandy beaches, pic-nic tables and full service bathroom. During the spring you can see all the wild flowers in bloom.

This state park is outstanding with good exhibits, spring flower hike and the Yuba river to swim in.

If you visit in July-Sept, the swimming is awesome. The rest of the year you will just enjoy the views and the wonderful hiking trails. Don't go in if the river is running high; it kills people every year.

But beautiful as always. I am hoping that the more people who come here the more appreciation we have for our scenic and wild rivers, and more of an interest in keeping them that way. Parking can be an issue, but you might appreciate a little exercise. There are some nice trails in the area.

Ok, I hate to even say how great it is because I hate when to many people come here from of of our area, but it's just so wonderful that words can no do it justice.

Such a beautiful location, with spectacular views, and great, if cold (!) swimming.(: Hiked a ways up away from the throngs of people near the parking area on a beautiful weekend day to find that the further one hikes, the quieter and nicer it gets. Hope that people are able to respect such a place and take care of it so the good vibes and relaxing, old-fashioned, Sunday afternoon at a terrific swimming hole can continue......

I've been a regular at these swimming holes for 30 years now and I've seen a lot of changes. People must be respectful and take out what they bring in. Don't leave your garbage for someone else to pick up and be respectful of someone's space. I hate hiking back to a swimming hole only to have a group of disrespectful people come in and basically camp out on top of me while I'm trying to relax and enjoy nature's beauty. It's not the same place it used to be at all. I wish it was the same as the 1980's--that was the best time to come here.