01
Best overall pick
Sand Pond Day Use Area
Lakes Basin Recreation Area • Alpine Family Swim Beach • Best For Kids And Picnics
A shallow, sandy-edged alpine pond that feels made for low-key summer days with families and mixed-age groups.
Sand Pond is one of the few true sandy swim beaches in the high country above Goodyears Bar, with clear, relatively warm water in midsummer and a gentle slope that suits younger swimmers. A backdrop of granite and pines keeps it scenic while still feeling mellow and manageable. Bring a blanket, lunch, and water shoes and you can comfortably spend half a day here between swims and short strolls on nearby trails.
02
Classic river hangout
Union Flat Campground River Beach
North Yuba River Near Downieville • Shaded Riverside Beach And Pools • Classic River Day Spot
A mellow North Yuba River stretch with gravel bars, boulders, and calm pockets tucked just off Highway 49.
Downstream from Goodyears Bar, Union Flat offers easy river access with small gravel beaches and bouldery banks where you can slide into the current or stick to calmer pockets. The tall pines keep much of the area shaded, which is welcome on hot afternoons. It feels like a classic Sierra river day: simple, unbuilt, and close enough to the road that you don’t have to commit to a full-blown expedition.
03
Quiet local cool-off
Rocky Rest Campground River Access
North Yuba River West Of Goodyears Bar • Sunny Riverside Gravel Bar • Best For A Quick Dip
A low-key pull-off spot with short paths to sunny gravel bars and deeper channels on the North Yuba.
Rocky Rest feels like a local’s answer to a beach: you park, walk a short way down, and suddenly you’re on a wide gravel bar with clear, fast-moving water. There are usually a few deeper slots where you can fully dunk, plus shallower edges for just soaking your feet. It’s ideal when you want a refreshing swim stop on a Highway 49 drive without committing to camping or a long hike.
04
Most dramatic scenery
Lower Sardine Lake Shoreline
Lakes Basin Above Bassetts • High-Mountain Lake Shoreline • Scenic Alpine Escape
A clear, cold alpine lake with limited but lovely shoreline access and big views of the Sierra Buttes.
Lower Sardine Lake is more about the setting than spreading out on a wide sandy beach, but it’s hard to beat the feeling of slipping into water framed by the jagged Sierra Buttes. Shoreline pullouts and day-use spots give you just enough access to wade in or take a brisk swim close to the bank. Combine a dip here with a picnic and a short drive around the Lakes Basin for a classic high-country day from Goodyears Bar.
05
Best full-day outing
Cottage Creek Picnic Area, New Bullards Bar Reservoir
New Bullards Bar Reservoir • Warm Reservoir Cove Beach • Best All-Day Hangout
A sheltered cove on New Bullards Bar with a usable beach, picnic tables, and warmer water than the high lakes or the North Yuba.
When the river feels too chilly, Cottage Creek at New Bullards Bar is where locals go for longer, lazier swims and shoreline lounging. The cove’s gently sloping edge and typically warmer water make it comfortable for floating, paddling, or just bobbing around near shore. With picnic tables and room to spread out, it works well for groups who want to turn the swim into a full afternoon by the water.