Step under the forest canopy and feel the cool air wash over you. Dip your toes in a refreshing mountain stream, float in a clear spring-fed pool, or splash at the base of a waterfall.

The cooling waters of our nation’s forests are closer than you think—seven in ten Americans live within a two-hour drive of a National Forest or Grassland. If you are looking for a reprieve from the city heat, a day trip to some of the most accessible and beautiful water destinations in Southern and Central California might just be what you need to recharge and reconnect with friends and family out in nature.

Note: Due to their accessibility and beauty, these destinations are very popular. Get there early, be respectful, and leave no trace.

Bass Lake

Sierra National Forest, California

1 hour drive from Fresno

Nestled among the pines at 3,400 feet, Bass Lake offers visitors stunning alpine scenery without the alpine chill. Dip your toe into the pleasantly warm waters and discover why this nearly five-mile-long lake tucked into the Central Sierras is such a popular destination for water sports. Take a boat out and try your hand at water-skiing and wakeboarding, or rent a paddleboard and explore one of the sheltered swimming coves that line the shore. You might even spot an eagle!

Learn more about Bass Lake

Pfeiffer Beach

Los Padres National Forest, California

2-hour drive from San Jose

Nothing quite beats the heat like a beach day in the rugged Big Sur region of the Central California coast. There are several beaches in Los Padres National Forest to choose from, but Pfeiffer Beach might be the most stunning of all. The beach itself is surrounded by towering rock formations including the iconic Keyhole Rock—the perfect frame to watch the sun set on a beautiful summer evening.

Stroll down the one-mile beach and you might catch sight of a patch of rare, purple sand, especially after the rain. The shore can be windy and the water cold, so bring layers.

Learn more about Pfeiffer Beach

Red Rock Pool

Los Padres National Forest, California

1 hour drive from Santa Barbara

Not far from the California coast, a series of pools along a bend in the Santa Ynez River offer swimmers warmer waters in a beautiful garden of giant, red rock boulders to play in. The most popular of these pools, Red Rock Pools, is a short half mile hike from the trailhead, although hikers can keep going to find more secluded pools upriver. When river flow is high, you can jump off the surrounding rock into the pool below, but there are plenty of options for those less adventurous to explore the boulders along the shore and take a dip in the refreshing waters.

Learn more about Red Rock Pool

West Fork Day Use Area

Angeles National Forest, California

1 hour drive from Los Angeles

Although this day use area along a slow-moving section of the San Gabriel River isn’t a classic swimming hole, the cooling waters it brings from higher elevations makes it the perfect escape from the summer heat. Splash in the shade of one of the largest stands of big-cone Douglas fir and canyon oak in the Angeles National Forest and enjoy the company of bountiful wildlife including turtles, toads, and many federally listed fish species.

You can find the day use area, including a picnic area and restrooms, off Highway 39 where the West Fork and North Fork of the San Gabriel River meet.

Learn more about the West Fork Day Use Area

Swimming in natural pools, rivers, and lakes can be dangerous. Familiarize yourself with water safety before you head out, especially if you are visiting with young children.

Cover photo of Three Sisters Falls on the Cleveland National Forest by Sabrina Claros