Summer is hot in most of the country, and cooling off by swimming or wading is a popular activity. While many head to the beach for that, others find aquatic ways to escape the heat in our majestic national parks.
The following have great options that you can drive right up to or which only require short hikes to reach. Have fun and be safe!
Hawaii Volcanoes, Hawaii
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Most people visit this park to witness live volcanic activity and landscapes shaped by previous lava flows. However, there are also miles and miles of beaches along the Pacific Ocean. Be careful of rough surf and strong currents; swimming here can be dangerous but isn’t illegal.
Olympic, Washington
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The days rarely get hot on the Washington coastline, but that doesn’t keep people out of the water. At beaches that are too rocky for swimming, check out tide pools at low tide to see a plethora of marine life.
Crater Lake, Oregon
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The deepest lake in the country is also one of its most beautiful, and despite the cold temperatures, people can’t resist swimming in its lovely waters. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to hold off on this one; swimming and boating on the lake are prohibited for the next two or three years as reconstruction of the access area takes place.
Redwood, California
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Summers along the coastal areas here are frequently foggy and chilly, but the call of the sea still sounds out strongly to visitors. If things get a little too chilly, you can usually drive a short distance inland to find sun and warmth.
Channel Islands, California
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Southern California is known for its abundance of beautiful beaches, but if you’re finding them too crowded for you, visit the Channel Islands. In addition to lonely coastal scenery, you can enjoy seeing the islands’ native flora and fauna, some of which is oly found here.
Yosemite, California
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Yosemite Valley can get very hot in the summer. Fortunately, the Merced River, which flows through the valley, stays cool, and beaches and other access points along it can provide welcome relief from sizzling temperatures. Another great option is Tenaya Lake in the Tuolumne Meadows area, where both the air and water temperatures will be even cooler.
Glacier, Montana
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Up here at the Canadian border, the lakes are frozen for much of the year and cold when they’re not. Still, it can be fun and refreshing to wade and swim in the shallows of large lakes like Lake McDonald, St. Mary Lake, Two Medicine Lake, and Swiftcurrent Lake. If you do the 4.5-mile hike to stunning Iceberg Lake, you may see some truly hardy souls swim out to floating icebergs and then leap back into the waters from them.
Yellowstone-Grand Teton, Wyoming
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These are two different parks, but they’re in close proximity to one another and often are visited together. Cold waters await those who can brave them at places like Yellowstone Lake, Lewis Lake, and Jackson Lake.
Isle Royale, Michigan
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Isle Royale is located out in Lake Superior and can only be accessed by boat or ferry. Once there, you can enjoy a dip in Superior’s chilly waters and also in some of the lakes on the island itself.
Big Bend, Texas
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A desert park might not sound like the place for a summer swim, but the Rio Grande forms the park’s border with Mexico. Two particularly good access areas are Santa Elena Canyon and Boquillas Canyon. Just be aware that if you cross the deepest part of the channel, you’re illegally entering Mexico. It’s unlikely anyone will care, but go informed.
Acadia, Maine
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The Atlantic Ocean is cold here, but Maine summers can be hot and muggy, so you might welcome the respite. While much of the coast here is rocky and rough, there are calmer beach areas that attract swimmers and sunbathers.
Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina-Tennessee) and Shenandoah (Virginia)
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Located hundreds of miles apart from each other though connected by the 470-mile Blue Ridge Parkway, these two Appalachian system parks are quite similar in topography. For swimming, good choices are clear rivers and streams (be careful about strong currents) and shaded pools at the bases of waterfalls.
Dry Tortugas, Florida
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You can only get to these islands well west of Key West by boat or seaplane, but that inconvenience also means you won’t find crowded beaches. For beautiful waters in a remote setting, it’s hard to beat this place.
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