21 natural swimming spots across Oregon —
River Swims,
spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools and hidden creek spots.
7 of 21 are free to visit.
21
Swimming Holes
7
Free Entry
8
Regions
🌲
Oregon
21 holes listed
Type:
Swimming in Oregon
Oregon has 21 documented natural swimming spots
ranging from spring-fed pools to waterfall plunge pools and river swims.
7 of them are free to visit. Browse by region below or use the filters above to find the right type of swim for you.
Central Oregon
9 spots
🏖️
Cultus Lake
📍 Cascade Lakes Highway, west of Bend, Deschutes County
Lake🟢 EasyNorthwest Forest Pass ($5/day) required
A family-friendly Cascade Lakes Highway lake with shallow water and a sandy beach at its day-use area, plus a nearby resort for refreshments.
Deschutes River (Bend — Farewell Bend Park to Drake Park)
📍 Bend, Deschutes County
River🟢 EasyFree Entry⚠️ Safety Note
A gentle, steady-flowing stretch of the Deschutes running right through downtown Bend, popular for floating, tubing, and casual swimming between Farewell Bend Park and Drake Park.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Floaters need to take out before the Bend Whitewater Park's constructed rapids unless experienced in whitewater — this is a real, signed hazard distinct from the calm upstream sections.
A 72-mile-shoreline reservoir framed by 400-foot rimrock cliffs where three rivers converge; developed day-use areas offer sandy beaches and floating docks, while boats reach more secluded coves and Kettle Falls.
One of Oregon's most pristine spring-fed rivers, running a constant, icy temperature year-round near the small community of Camp Sherman — beautiful, but genuinely strong-flowing.
⚠️ Safety Notice
The Metolius is a federally protected Wild & Scenic river known for strong, cold currents even in calm-looking stretches — treat any swimming here as cold-water-immersion risk, not a casual dip.
Two scenic lakes sitting inside the caldera of Newberry Volcano — still technically active — ringed by forest and lava flows, both with lodge marinas offering rentals.
📍 Crooked River Ranch (near Terrebonne), Deschutes / Jefferson County
Pool🟢 EasyFree Entry⚠️ Safety Note
A short, easy hike leads to a scenic waterfall on the Deschutes River where jumping from a 25-foot cliff into deep green water is a popular but genuinely risky activity.
⚠️ Safety Notice
This is an active, popular cliff-jumping spot — water levels and submerged rock positions shift, so depth must be reassessed on every visit, not assumed safe because it was fine last time.
One of the most iconic swimming holes in the Pacific Northwest — a 36-foot waterfall dropping into a deep, bowl-shaped pool along the scenic Eagle Creek Trail, though CLIFF DIVING IS EXPLICITLY ILLEGAL here per regional guides.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Cliff diving is explicitly illegal at this location per regional guides. The trail itself has extremely narrow, exposed sections, and the broader Eagle Creek Fire area has seen rolling USFS closure orders on nearby trails for years — confirm the CURRENT status of the main trail (not just historical pre-2017 information) before publishing.
A large, easy-access sandy beach on the Columbia River about 30 minutes east of Portland — note this park includes an officially designated clothing-optional beach area at its east end, distinct from the main family beach.
⚠️ Safety Notice
This is a large river with real current and boat-traffic considerations, not a calm swimming pool — also note the park includes a separate, officially designated clothing-optional section, which is worth flagging clearly if this listing is aimed at a general family audience.
💧 Cool, large-river water — can have currents/boat traffic
A Columbia River beach on Sauvie Island close to downtown Portland — worth noting this specific beach (unlike others on the island) has a long-standing informal clothing-optional association, which is relevant context for a general-audience directory.
⚠️ Safety Notice
This specific beach on Sauvie Island has a long-standing informal clothing-optional association, distinct from other family-oriented beaches on the island — important context to include accurately rather than presenting it as an identical family beach.
A popular, close-to-Portland (under an hour) river swimming spot on the Clackamas River known for multiple cliff-jumping heights of varying difficulty.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Multiple cliff-jumping heights are available here — depth and submerged hazards should be reassessed each visit rather than assumed safe.
A classic Southern Oregon river swimming and tubing destination in its calmer lower stretches near Grants Pass — the same river has serious whitewater further upstream, so stick to the known calm sections for casual swimming.
⚠️ Safety Notice
The Rogue River has genuinely serious whitewater sections upstream from the calm swimming areas — make sure any listing is specific about which stretch is being described, since 'the Rogue River' covers vastly different risk profiles along its length.
A series of natural, terraced hot spring pools overlooking the North Umpqua River — a warm-soak destination rather than a cold 'swimming hole,' worth including as a bonus for a directory but functionally distinct from the rest of this list.
River🟡 Moderate$5 day-use fee or Northwest…⚠️ Safety Note
One of the best family swimming destinations in the state, a series of clear, deep pools along the Little North Santiam River near the Opal Creek area.
⚠️ Safety Notice
The Santiam river system is known for currents that can shift quickly with upstream conditions — check current flow/any advisories before swimming, especially with kids.
A pristine, exceptionally clear lake formed roughly 3,000 years ago by a lava flow that dammed the McKenzie River — famous for visibility so good you can see a preserved submerged forest, but the water is extremely cold.
Downstream sibling to Sahalie Falls on the same loop trail — another powerful, scenic McKenzie River waterfall best treated as a viewing destination rather than a swim spot.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Same as Sahalie Falls — official framing is scenic viewpoint, not swim destination, given the McKenzie's forceful year-round flow at this location.
A powerful 100-foot cascade over an ancient lava dam on the upper McKenzie River — a premier scenic viewpoint (wheelchair-accessible from the main lot) rather than a swimming destination given the river's forceful, cold, year-round flow.
⚠️ Safety Notice
This is presented by official sources as a scenic viewpoint, not a swimming destination — the McKenzie 'runs hard year-round thanks to underground springs.' Do not present this as a swim spot without further confirmation.
7 of the 21 swimming holes in our Oregon guide are completely free to visit.
Others charge a small entry fee, typically $5–15 per person.
Use the "Free Entry" filter above to see only the free spots.
When is the best time to visit swimming holes in Oregon?
Late spring through early fall is generally the best season — typically May through September.
Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends, especially at popular spots.
Spring-fed holes maintain consistent water temperatures year-round, making them swimmable even outside peak season.
Is it safe to swim in natural swimming holes in Oregon?
Natural swimming holes are generally safe when you check conditions before visiting.
Always check water levels after heavy rain, watch for blue-green algae in warm still water,
never swim alone in remote locations, and heed any posted closure signs.
Spots with known safety concerns are marked with warning badges in our listings.
What should I bring to a swimming hole in Oregon?
Essentials: dry bag for your phone and keys, water shoes for rocky creek beds,
reef-safe sunscreen, plenty of drinking water, and a microfibre towel.
If visiting a remote spot, bring more water than you think you need and let someone
know where you're going before you leave.