Continue straight through the town of Westfir onto North Fork Road for 5.5 miles to find this truly tiny and inconspicuous swimming hole. Note that, because none of the pullouts along NF-19 are signed, visitors should reset their odometer at the covered bridge in Westfir to be sure of the distance. At 5.5 miles you’ll see a very small pullout on the left; blink and you’ll miss it. There is only room for one car here, so if it is taken, move on. From this pullout the trail drops quickly down to the water. While clearly well established, this access is steep and loose, so use caution as a fall here could be serious. The pool at the bottom of the trail is visible the entire time, but it isn’t until you reach the water that that the intimacy of this spot gets real.
A small rapid empties into this deep and narrow section of river, and cliffs on the opposite side loom over the dark green pool. There is very little room on the trail side of the riverbank, really just enough for a few people, but it is just enough. Swimming to the other side is easy enough, but climbing the boulders may be a bit of a trick. This section of the river is quite narrow, so partial shade is inevitable here. That said, on 90-degree days, this may not be a bad thing.
Rivers like this are unusual and uniquely vulnerable to damage from inconsiderate users. Please do your part to protect this place; as you’re packing out what you pack in, grab any other litter you see lying around, and stick to established trails to avoid damaging the soil and vegetation.
If this area is a little too busy when you arrive or you are looking for more swimming opportunities, check out
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