Great place to play and float around in the water in the summer. The water is mostly calm and clear, aside from the occasionally swept up sand and mossy bits floating around. Theres a lot of families and kids here. The water is very shallow and plenty of rocks blocking/diverting each ends of the river so people won't get swept away or down the river. It's helpful to have water shoes on while in the river, the rocks can be very slippery due to the moss on them. There is a good amount of areas to set up tents on the sand, and even some shaded areas under trees. The sand is super dusty though, so anytime people walked by, the dust would get everywhere. The parking lot was already full when we arrived at 9am on a Sunday so we had to park on the side of the road. It wasn't too far of a walk to the river from the road, but was a struggle with all the stuff we had to carry down, especially without a wagon. The parking lot and restroom here is just a short walk to the river. The women's restroom has two stalls, sink, mirror, soap, and paper towels. There are picnic tables around, but no glass, bbq, or alcohol is allowed. read more

This seems to a park focused on picnicking & summer river time, rather than hiking (at least from prior reviews.) However, don't sleep on South Yuba River State Park for its hiking trails! I stopped by on a drizzly spring Saturday. The rain seemed to keep crowds away (I've heard weekends can be packed!) If you visit the Bridgeport area of the park, there are two lots. One is by the newly restored covered bridge and another less than a quarter mile down the road. Parking was self paid when I visited but they also accepted CA state parks pass. It's an interesting park from a history perspective but also has quite a display of spring wildflowers. I tried out 2 trails. First, I did the Point Defiance loop trail that was a moderate climb with woodlands, river views, hillsides with flowers and some small side paths down to the water. It is just under 3 miles but a fun adventure with a variety of landscapes. Second, was the Buttermilk Bend trail which is an out and back that is a fairly flat trail that follows along the river (but higher up with some amazing views.) The second trail was an out and back and about 2.5 miles total. I was really impressed with the quality of the trails -it's a well maintained park. There are several picnic areas and a visitor center (which I didn't get to check out this time.) I can't speak for summer time and swimming here but it's a great scenic hiking spot for river views and wildflowers. read more

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Took a peaceful trip to the South Yuba River in Penn Valley with my boyfriend and our pup, and it was everything we needed. Nature at its finest -- cool, clear water, smooth rocks to lounge on, and beauty in every direction. The air felt fresh, the vibe was mellow, and it was just one of those spots that reminds you how healing a little escape into nature can be. Perfect for a dip, a walk, or just soaking in the calm. Already dreaming of going back. read more

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What a cool place with so much history. Was so surprised and happy to see one of our favorite Park Rangers....Donna again!! We met her at Malakoff Diggins park awhile ago and was so surprised to see her here now! They really did a nice job with this park and the bridge. I sure with the volunteers would open up the visitor center sounds like it hasn't been open all season! read more

South Yuba River State Park - Parks Near Me - Penn Valley, California

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A great location to cool off during heat waves. Just make sure to wear your sunscreen! Mostly rocky. Not much space to set up any chairs or canopy. The water is mostly clear and is pretty shallow in this area. The current was steady but I would advise to still wear a life vest if you do not know how to swim. There is a steep climb to get down and back up from the river, but not impossible. Parking is somewhat a hassle on the side of the narrow dirt road. Overall I loved this location. read more

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RUDE and lazy workers. We wanted to visit the state park today, and didn't see anything online about it being closed. We drove out to the area and missed the turn to the park. So we drove past turned around and went in to where the GPS told up to, through an open gate. We drove up the dirt road and stopped to take a picture of the old Shell station, THEN we met a man in a truck. Looked like maybe a park ranger? He told me we couldn't be there and we missed the "3 signs" on the way in. I said we didn't see them and he very rudely said "maybe I need to make a 4th one". Maybe they should, or CLOSE THE GATE. We looked on the way out and saw that from the direction we came in, the 2 SIGNS were visible, on the OPEN gate, so it was a little misleading to a coupe of tourists. Especially if it was dangerous because of construction. Guy obviously didn't feel like getting out of his truck to close the fate after he drove through. Real nice. read more

South Yuba River State Park - Parks Near Me - Penn Valley, California

This has been my second home during this lockdown- South Yuba River I hope everyone finds a safe space to get some sunshine, fresh air and lots of nature to raise your immunity and keep the positive vibrations flowingThe virus DOES NOT live in nature and does not pose a threat as long as you are being smart. It DOES live on urban surfaces and spreads indoors so please get out and do not live in fear! read more

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This was recommended by the owners of the Inn I stayed in. It was just the right amount of nature and hiking. The Buttermilk bend trail was gorgeous! When you get there, make sure you have cash or a CC, the ranger station in the lot has little envelopes and pencils to fill out in a little spot by the back door- it's $5! I was there for a couple of hours and really thought it was so scenic- the old covered bridge by the overpass is being remodeled so I couldn't cross it (pity) read more

South Yuba River State Park - Parks Near Me - Penn Valley, California

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This is our favorite swimming hole! How often can you swim in water filled with fishes without having to spend $$$$ on airfare and hotel? This has been our favorite destination every summer and it's a popular hangout for many locals. Over the years, we have seen an influx of visitors from the bay and as far as Europe and South Africa. Pretty cool! Many of the European visitors camp at the Nevada campgrounds and trek over here to take a dip. It gets pretty crowded here so I suggest you either come early or later in the day. Once you find parking there is a narrow stairway you walk down and then about 50 feet down, you climb and walk over boulders and large rocks to the endless pool of cold, refreshing, pristine water. Once you're in the water, there are a number of huge boulders in which you can dive into and lots of natural water slides on slabs of natural granite. One thing my family likes doing is swimming upstream to even more beautiful swimming sites. In years past, there used to be a park ranger patrolling the area, he's usually on the lookout for people with glass bottles or alcohol. I like this rule because one thing you don't want is broken glass bottles or people being drunk and falling down one of the steep embankments. To my dismay, we haven't seen a park ranger this year. Pack an ice chest with refreshments and plan on staying here for several hours because once you get here, you're not gonna wanna leave! Side note: This park covers over 20 miles and this swimming hole is closer to the Independence Trail portion and although you don't need $ to park here, you will need luck in finding a spot! read more

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My friends and I did the Independence Trail at South Yuba River SP off Hwy 49. Free parking along the Hwy 49 and the trailhead has 2 pit toilets up at the beginning of the trail. We hiked the West End of the Independence Trail to the Waterfall. They have a wheelchair trail which is wider on the lower left side, and a hikers trail on the Top (right). The Top one doesn't all continue, so you have to go down lower on the wheelchair trail. All the bridges are called Flumes there. They have a very cool switchback Flumes and then there is a spot to see the waterfall. It's not a huge waterfall but you get a nice view of it. Then you can go back the same way or continue on the trail. Tons of poison oak everywhere. You'll get to a dirt fireroad if you go further. Don't go on a skinny ass trail that my friend said to see the Ravine. No view there, and then their was a point where there was a tick on the right, and poison oak on the left..oh hell no! Run screaming is what I did. After the dirt road, you pass a bridge where cool ppl go hang out by the South Yuba River. I'm tired and just want to get back. But, then there is the .4 mi of Hell to get back up!! Strenuous .4 is hell in warm weather and straight up trail. We survive and get back up and to the car. My pics above. website here: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=496 read more

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Road is crazy. Parking is crap. A lot of tourists. Not for families sensitive to nudity. Nice river and lots of little fish that aren't too shy. Lots of fast moving areas swim at your own risk. read more

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Such an awesome place to getaway. You can camp on the river for 14days! Just make sure you get here early because parking is limited read more

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I dont usually write reviews, but the park ranger that was patrolling the area with his truck, was so rude, not helpful, and giving sarcastic replies that made us super uncomfortable. All of the park rangers that I have ever come across are friendly, knowledgeable, and respectful. But this man-child, he was something else. It was our first time there, and it was one of the busiest weekend. The parking lot was at it's full capacity. So we had to look for parking on the sides of the road. We found a spot across the main parking lot near the bridge. We didnt see "no parking" sign on this side of the road. So we parked there. We assumed it was okay to park there because we saw 4 cars parked at the same side. I told my partner we can always go up to the person at the main entrance gate, and ask if it was okay to park there. If parking there was not allowed then we can always move and find parking somewhere else. However we didnt get a chance to do that because the park ranger immediately parked in front of us. Our first thoughts was "Cool, he can help us figure out if we can park here". A couple that parked on the same side as us saw him as well, and asked him the burning question that was on everybody's mind. "Can we park here?" his reply to that was "I dont know, can you?" Then he slowly took out his parking citation pad, and said "Which one is your car? I can do your car last". At that point, the couple quickly went to their car. I was confused because what kind of reply and attitude was that? I needed a clearer answer from him, so I went up to him and asked a similiar question. "Are we able to park here? Yes or no?" His reply was "There is no 'no parking' sign here, so can we park here?" I responded back to him,"Its a simple question to answer, can you at least tell us if it is or not?" His reply, "If it's a simple question then you should know the answer." Oh my LORD....am I even talking to an adult? This conversation was making me fraustrated. So I asked him another question "Why are you being SARCASTIC?" He responded," I'm not being sarcastic." I looked at him and said,"I asked you a question, and you replied back with a QUESTION." Then he started talking and defending himself that he is not being sarcastic. His voice while defending himself (or making excuses) was low, and quiet and it became a mumbling response that I dont understand what he was saying. Talking to him was a waste of time. Why ask or get any information from a park ranger that didnt even want to help you? So we immediately got back into our car and went to look for a legal parking space somewhere else. This park ranger was not informative, reasonable, or cooperative. We were very polite , unfamiliar with the area, and we needed help to figure out what was a legal parking spot in the area. We wanted a clear answer to why we cant park there when there is "no parking sign". Instead, I witnessed a park ranger using his power to intimidate and mock people who are new to the area with parking citations. With an experience like that I would give this place 1 star, but I gave it 3 stars because this place is BEAUTIFUL, DOG FRIENDLY, and I met 2 park rangers near the trail who was able to help me. They recommend me to look for signs that says "no parking" and that I can legally park 50ft of a distance away from the sign. The sign may face a direction that we cant see, so we just gotta look around closely for those signs (Which I wanted the sarcastic park ranger to help us understand where it was, but he failed to do so) The empty gap of where you cant park, is for emergency cars only. I thank them, and expressed my earlier experience with a park ranger with the same uniform, who didnt want to help us answer our questions. They took my complaint and apologize for his rude behavior. In conclusion, I highly recommend people to come to this river! You can walk in the middle of the river and the water is up to your waist/shoulder and be okay. If you go up further down the river, the current can get aggressive. Its a beautiful river and it's worth the drive. Just be aware that the weekend is VERY busy for the SUMMER. And that you might possibly get a shitty park ranger who will use his position in power to not help you and make things more complicated than it really is. Get there super early! read more

-Off the beaten path -Crystal clear water -Plenty of parking ($5) -Lots of mini trails for low key hikes from what I experienced -Visitor center with a semi clean bathroom, pinic tables and vending machines not too far from the covered bridge Never knew this place exsisted and I'm super glad to have discovered it. Can't wait to come back. read more

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The many properties in South Yuba River State Park provide many opportunities for affordable fun throughout the year. I usually head up highway 49 past Nevada City to the bridge. There is plenty of parking (except on certain summer days when you might have a walk) but you have to pay in the main area to support the park. The river is right there, where most people go to chill, especially the younger set. Or you can take a walk further up the canyon into BLM land, but beware of nudists (clothing is the norm though now). The water is quite cold from the sierras, so it is best for getting in during the summer and fall. It gets pretty huge during the winter and spring, so be aware of the flow. There are tons of wildflowers in the spring. I recommend you take the independence trail east, since it is covered in native plants, and includes portions suspended above the canyons. Further down the river, you can pan for gold at the covered bridge and learn more about the area at the station. There is also a nice beach down there to relax and enjoy the foothills. Come out to this park next time you want to get outdoors and try something new. read more

We had such a great time here !! Beautiful clean and clear river .. Excellent swimming hole and dog friendly ! Not a lot of sand or flat areas to picnic .. You just pick a rock and plop yourself down ... So it's like rock climbing and swimming in one trip hehe ... When you see the bridge you found the acesss point ... Pretty cool vibes .. Few miles away from dt Nevada city .. Love love loved it here and want to go visit again like now !! read more

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I have been to the Independence Trail a couple times. Both times I have done the portion west of the trail head near the waterfall. It's a pretty unique experience with the flumes. It's about a mile hike to the main flume. My 6 year old made it quite easily. Went there in June and there were plenty of bugs, lizards and flowers. The pool and waterfall/cascades were an added bonus. I plan on going back to explore some more. Just be warned, parking is tricky along Highway 49. Don't forget your camera, sunscreen, bug spray, water shoes. read more

South Yuba River State Park - Independence Trail Flume - Parks Near Me - Penn Valley, California

Went for the day beautiful scenery great little towns Nevada City/Grass Valley. Best swim hole I've ever been to. Do NOT bring beers or Alcohol be very discrete there are police with Binoculars only thing bad about place. There's portable bathrooms, read more

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Very pleasant scenery great for day trips when you're trying to get out of town with friends and family find a spot and don't move from it cause navigating around a bunch of smoldering hot rocks gets annoying real fast. Also mind the naked people read more

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20 miles of beautiful river, trails, bridges, and waterfalls... like god drug his finger across this part of the earth, and heaven followed. It's well over 20 miles of heaven, but I'm not divulging my favorite spots. Plus, my spots are hard to get to, which makes getting there even more fun. Be prepared to hike and swim, so bring those good water/hiking shoes, and a backpack full of whatever you want to enjoy for a few hours. My spots don't have any bathrooms, but there are a few spots along with permanent bathrooms, and some port-a-potties. Unless you want to really explore and test your spidey-skills, ya'll just enjoy those "civiliized" areas, and let me have Eden to myself... you don't really wanna do all that work anyway. read more

Arrived before 10 am and parked on the side of the road because the lot was full. Short hike down to the river. There were portable toilets and trash bins on the trail but none close to where you can picnic. I think any other day, 10 am would've been good. But it was a holiday weekend so almost all prime spots to set up your sunshade/umbrella/picnic chair closest to the river were already taken. Either way, it was a great place to hang out and swim (or just float around). read more

Hidden gem ! Invest in annual pass and come as often. Check the intranet for details. Plan your day picnic tables no fires but cold sodas and some sam-a-Ches and ur set! Do not forget sunscreen and what you pack in pack out. There are enough litter Jack Weeds to screw up a good thing! read more

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Sweet baby jesus, is there anything better than swimming in this river on a hot summer day? I don't think so. That is why even though I live over two hours away I'll drive up here to get my fix repeatedly during the summer. Bring a sandwich, snacks, plenty of water and you're good for the day. Cool and clear emerald pools, granite rocks, and surrounded by plenty o' trees. Sigh... Of course, I'm not telling you where my preferred swimming hole is. Sorry! But if you ask around town, they might tell you a few good ones to get you started :) read more

Definitely recommended for the Independence Trail. Parking along Highway 49 is free, but its hard to come by during the busy summer months! Beware, the water in the river can be hazardous to your health. Be sure to check with the local State Parks web site to check for bacteria counts, as some years its not safe to swim there. read more

This place is heaven on earth on a hot summer day. Sheer rocks, cool water, deep pools... Heaven. There's some places that I won't mention here ('cause people will kill me if I do) that are about as ideal as that place that God supposively created for Adam and Eve. I'm not talking about the places just off of any of the roads there, but the places that are tougher to find and are technically just outside of the State Park, and weed out those with less desire to reach Nirvana. When some of them bible-thumpers claim that you must work hard to reach your place in Heaven, I think I know what they mean. However, once you find your little slice of the pie, you'll remark on how worth the effort to get there was. read more

Hot day for a hike we find ourselves on a admirable and beautiful scenery. As we hiked close to the river we felt the cold from the water. We couldn't help ourselves but dip in our feet. It was ice cold but it felt good since it was 100° degrees outside. Sitting on a rock looking around seeing mountains and listening to the river flow. Relaxation was going through my mind as I took it all in. This place is more of a picnic and a dip in the water as long as you know how to swim because the river flows pretty fast. You also pay for parking. I plan to go back an this time take some sandwiches to enjoy the place a little more. read more

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Now the online website states that this state park stretches from Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park to Bridgeport, but the part that I visited was right off Highway 49 after Nevada City and before North San Juan. Smack dab in the middle of Highway 49 is a hairpin turn bridge with a State Park turn off for parking. It's about less than half a mile after the start of Independence Trail. There's a fair sized parking lot to leave your car as you set off on a couple of hikes and trails that take you right along the South Yuba River. But what I made me happy was the little stairway down right to the river. It's before the pedestrian bridge, look to your left or you might miss it. It's quite a rocky climb down but just take your time and you won't kill yourself. Lots of people go there to sunbathe on the rocks or swim in the river. I went to relax on a rock in the middle of the river and read a book. It's a million times better than sitting at some grass park somewhere because, at least for me, the sound of running water is so soothing. It's so peaceful out there and since there are other people around (some families) it's quite safe. I could spend every weekend there just hanging out in the middle of the river with the water rushing around me. That's how I recharge from the hectic city life and stress. read more

Second year coming to this hidden gem. We all have a lot of fun here, swimming, relaxing, and jumping in the water from the boulders. The water is a little bit cold but not too cold (you get used to it). Very clear water and many little places to explore and hang out at. Bring your lunch, water inflatables, water shoes, lots of sunscreen, a camera (the scenery is great) and you are set. Will be back for sure. $5.00 parking fee is well worth it. read more

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Spent a good three hours sitting in the shade, chatting with a friend while we watched the others in our group play in the 'ole swimming hole. We parked in the Visitor Center parking lot, then hiked the 1/4 mile of so trail upriver to a lovely spot. There were a good amount of people who had already staked out their claim in the shade near the water by the time we arrived. Be aware there are LOTS of yellow jackets around down near the water. We sat a bit uphill from the water and were not bothered by them. There also are large families of ground squirrels that thrive here. They've grown accustomed to the picnic baskets that return each day (kind of like Yogi Bear @ Jellystone Park!) Best part of our visit was watching an 11 year old in our group work up the nerve to jump off the 'big' rock into the river where his Grandpa waited for him down below. As for the actual Visitor Center, it was closed, despite the posted hours saying it should be open. We did enjoy sitting out in the grassy area eating a late lunch. (more yellow jackets here) There are clean restrooms out back. A cool covered bridge to walk across and imagine the days of horse & buggy. read more

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Easiest Hikes around and the most pleasant. Parking is free and the trail is only about 2.5 miles with very mild elevation gains. This is more of a straight away. You also get to enjoy a pleasant drive there off Highway 49. Oh yea, Dogs welcome! read more

Came here with the family during our vacation in the Nevada City area. We went to the day use area near the covered bridge. During the heavy run off early summer this year, you couldn't find a lot of safe spots to swim but this was safe enough for the kids. From my son (11 years): you could do the same things as at the beach like make sand castles, but it was a river! Beautiful spot, and clean bathrooms Only complaint was that it would have been nice if it was a little larger. Also the bridge was currently closed for restoration. read more

Great, easy going trail for the area.... It was clean, smooth path, shaded, plenty of sights to see.. It ended up at a nice waterfall... We were able to bring our 6 month along in his stroller with zero issues. It took us about 25 minutes or so to get to the falls, wading pool area.... They have some picnic tables along the trail as well, no garbage cans that we could see. We will be back... Oh yeah, weather was great. read more

Note: this review is for the buttermilk trail portion of the park. Being a Grass Valley native I'm used to seeing people along highway 20 and other random places around town just getting out of their cars and wandering around amidst the trees. And while pretty much everywhere in the ol GV is pretty enough to do that, it's always nice to find an actual path every now and again. Friends, let me tell you, this is your path. It's perfect because the trail is super easy (less than 200 feet in elevation change), wide enough for two people to walk side by side (most of the trail) and has arguably some of the most gorgeous views you can ask for while hiking. Beware: this trail is NOT for those afraid of heights, as it is you walking along a mountain side looking down over the deep blue Yuba river. But I would argue that just about anyone who can walk on their two feet (even if they need assistance from walking poles or need to take it slow) can do this trail and enjoy it too! Warning: also don't go on this trail if you don't like adorable dogs and friendly people saying hello as they walk by (GV people are kind like that). read more

The water levels are high right now which means strong currents! Apparently the visitor center is closed on Wednesday? Either way, I didn't get to swim since the river was too high, but this park was very quiet and peaceful. I would definitely come with something to eat because there aren't too many shops nearby. Next time I'd come for a camping trip! -Overall: secluded & serene place to relax with the family. read more

In love with this place!! My kids didn't want to leave. Water was so clear and clean. Wish we was there alittle longer. read more

the address on yelp will take you to a different part of the river. the roads are unpaved and small and it will be too hard to make u-turn once you're in that side of the bridge. pls pls pls check your maps read more

Really good water hole, not a lot of traffic like some of the other ones around. The water was nice and cool so you're able to get right in. Nice calm water, took my five year old and she didn't float away haha. Easy to get to just have to go down a few stairs, definitely give it a try! read more

Hadn't been here in a few years. Got slapped with a 71.50 parking ticket in February in the off season. No one in the booth to accept other forms of payment. Ruined my day. This is killing tourism in our area. Man the booth or don't write tickets for those that don't gave cash/checks on them!! 4 officers running around giving out ticket, no one in the booth. Do your job much? read more

Unfortunately, this beautiful state park is on the list of closures. I'm not sure if that means they'll close off public access or just not maintain it. Either way, its a shame because this is an absolutely beautiful area to hike and hang out in the river. I recommend checking it out. http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/712/files/2011ParkClosures_attachments20110513.pdf read more

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Beautiful park when operating. Apparently closed for the season. Covered bridge closed for maintenance, water level way down from past years, visitor center closed at 3pm or for season. Old wagons museum self guided was closed. Not much to see as compared to past visits to this park. read more

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