Best Swimming Holes near Long Beach, CA

Q: What should I bring to a swimming hole near Long Beach?

Water shoes or sandals with good grip, at least 2–3 liters of water per person, sunscreen and a hat, snacks, an offline map downloaded via AllTrails or Gaia GPS, and your Adventure Pass. A light wetsuit top or rash guard is useful in May when mountain water temperatures are still in the 55–62°F range.

Long Beach sits at the southern edge of Greater Los Angeles, which puts it at the crossroads of three distinct mountain escapes: the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu coast to the northwest, the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, and the San Bernardino Mountains to the northeast. Each direction offers a different character of swimming hole within 60–90 minutes, and together they give Long Beach residents more options per square mile than almost any other major Southern California city.

The tradeoff is traffic. Heading north on the 605 or 210 toward the San Gabriels on a weekend morning means leaving before 7am or accepting the consequences. The I-10 east toward the San Bernardino Mountains is slightly more forgiving. The 405 north toward Malibu is — well, it's the 405. For Long Beach swimmers, the calculus usually comes down to: how early can you leave, and how long a hike are you willing to do at the other end?

The answer from most regulars is: leave very early, and the hiking is worth it. The Angeles National Forest's Big Tujunga Canyon and upper San Gabriel River drainages are genuinely spectacular — cold, granite-walled pools that reward the effort with the kind of solitude you'd never expect within 50 miles of downtown LA. For those wanting something shorter and more accessible, Malibu Creek's Rock Pool is a 45-minute drive from Long Beach via the 405 and offers a genuine natural swim just 2 miles from the parking lot.

TL;DR:

Long Beach is roughly 45–90 minutes from the best Southern California swimming holes — plan to beat traffic by leaving before 7am on weekends
Malibu Creek State Park (northwest) is the most accessible option with a short hike and no permit required
Heart Rock near Crestline is a 70-mile drive but delivers one of the most photogenic swimming holes in the state
An Adventure Pass is required at most Angeles and San Bernardino National Forest trailheads
Big Tujunga Canyon road conditions can be rough — check current status before heading out

Top 5 Swimming Holes Near Long Beach

[[Listing: MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK]] – About 45–50 minutes northwest of Long Beach via the 405 and 101 freeways to Las Virgenes Road, Malibu Creek's Rock Pool is one of the most accessible true swimming holes in Southern California. The 2-mile hike from the main parking area follows a shaded creek trail through the Santa Monica Mountains, arriving at a wide granite pool made famous by the original Planet of the Apes. Day-use parking is $12. Best in late spring before summer heat lowers water levels.
[[Listing: SWIMMING HOLE AT HEART ROCK]] – About 70 miles northeast of Long Beach near Crestline in the San Bernardino Mountains — approximately 75–85 minutes via I-10 East and Highway 138 — Heart Rock is a granite formation where Seeley Creek has carved a perfect heart shape into the rock face above a clear pool. The 3-mile round-trip hike through the San Bernardino National Forest is one of the most rewarding short hikes in the region. Best in April and May. Arrive early; the trailhead parking lot fills quickly on spring weekends.
[[Listing: BIG TUJUNGA CANYON]] – About 55–65 minutes north of Long Beach via the 605, 210, and Angeles Crest Highway, Big Tujunga Canyon offers a series of cold creek pools and small cascades in the Angeles National Forest. The canyon road itself has been impacted by recent fire seasons, so check current road conditions at fs.usda.gov/angeles before heading out. At its best in May and June, the pools are cold, clear, and framed by chaparral-covered canyon walls. An Adventure Pass is required.
[[Listing: ROSE VALLEY FALLS]] – About 90 minutes northwest of Long Beach near Ojai in the Los Padres National Forest, Rose Valley Falls is one of the most accessible waterfall swims in Southern California — less than a mile of hiking to a shaded pool at the base of a multi-tiered falls surrounded by big-cone Douglas fir. This is a great option for families or those who want a shorter approach. An Adventure Pass is required. Best from March through May; can be dry by midsummer.
[[Listing: SESPE HOT SPRINGS]] – For Long Beach residents willing to commit to a true backcountry adventure, Sespe Hot Springs in the Sespe Wilderness near Fillmore (about 90 minutes northwest) is the gold standard. The 8-mile one-way trail leads to natural hot springs alongside cold Sespe Creek — a combination unlike anything else in Southern California. Plan for an overnight; free wilderness permits are required and the trailhead fills early on spring weekends. The drive via Highway 126 and Fillmore is worth it.

When to Go

From Long Beach, the optimal window for inland swimming holes tracks closely with the broader Southern California season: late April through early July is the sweet spot for most destinations. During this period, the San Gabriel and Santa Ynez Mountains have shed most of their snowpack into creek flows, air temperatures in the hills are comfortable, and the landscape is at its greenest.

Malibu Creek is swimmable from roughly March through September, though summer water levels drop and the pool can feel underwhelming in August. Heart Rock and Big Tujunga are most impressive in April and May when flows are highest. Rose Valley Falls can be nearly dry by June in average rainfall years.

For Long Beach residents making the drive, combining a swimming hole visit with other activities — a stop in Ojai on the way to Rose Valley, a drive through the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway after Big Tujunga — makes the 90-minute commute feel worthwhile. Always check fire closures and road conditions at both the Angeles National Forest (fs.usda.gov/angeles) and Los Padres National Forest (fs.usda.gov/lpnf) websites before any trip.

Safety & Access Notes

Adventure Pass: Required at most Angeles National Forest and Los Padres National Forest trailheads. Day pass is $5, annual is $30. Available online or at local REI, REI Co-op locations, and National Forest district offices.
Traffic: From Long Beach, weekend freeway traffic to San Gabriel Mountains trailheads can be severe. Plan to arrive at trailheads before 8am on Saturdays and Sundays, especially from April through July.
Fire Closures: Both the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests have experienced significant fire activity in recent years. Check current closures before any trip — entire drainages can be closed for months after a fire.
Flash Floods: All canyon swimming areas are vulnerable to flash flooding, especially in spring rainstorms and summer monsoon thunderstorms (July–September). Do not enter canyons with rising water.
Rattlesnakes: Active on warm days throughout all of these mountain areas, especially from April through October. Watch where you step and never reach blindly into rock crevices or brush.
Water Quality: Avoid swimming at any creek site for 48–72 hours after heavy rainfall in the Los Angeles Basin. Malibu Creek in particular can have elevated bacteria levels after storms due to urban runoff from the Conejo Valley watershed.

FAQs

How far is the nearest swimming hole from downtown Long Beach?
Malibu Creek State Park's Rock Pool is the most accessible option, roughly 45–50 minutes from Long Beach under normal traffic conditions via the 405 North and 101 West to Las Virgenes Road. From there, it's a 2-mile flat hike to the Rock Pool. For the San Gabriel Mountains, plan on 55–65 minutes to Big Tujunga Canyon trailheads.

Is the water safe to swim in?
Generally yes, particularly at higher-elevation sites like Heart Rock and Rose Valley Falls where there's minimal upstream development. Malibu Creek is the most prone to bacteria spikes after rain due to upstream suburban runoff — check LA County's Beach and Creek Water Quality report if you've recently had significant rain. Mountain creek water should still be filtered if you plan to drink it.

Do I need a permit or pay fees?
Most Angeles and San Bernardino National Forest trailheads require an Adventure Pass ($5/day or $30/year). Malibu Creek State Park charges $12 for day-use parking. Sespe Wilderness trips require a free wilderness permit available online or at the Ojai Ranger District. Some heavily trafficked trailheads now require timed-entry reservations — check recreation.gov for current requirements.

What should I bring?
Water shoes or sandals with good grip for creek rock crossings, at least 2–3 liters of water per person (streams are not safe to drink without filtering), sunscreen and a hat (most trails have significant sun exposure), snacks, an offline map downloaded via AllTrails or Gaia GPS, and your Adventure Pass. A light wetsuit top or rash guard is useful in May when mountain water temperatures are still in the 55–62°F range.

Responsible Recreation

Long Beach sends a lot of visitors to the San Gabriel Mountains and Santa Monica Mountains on sunny spring weekends, and the pressure shows. Parking lots overflow, trails erode, and creek banks get trampled when too many people arrive at the same time. The best thing you can do — beyond leaving no trace — is to spread visits across the week, share lesser-known spots only with people who will treat them well, and contribute to trail maintenance through organizations like the Angeles National Forest volunteer program or the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. These public lands belong to all of us; their health depends on how we use them.