Growing up in Southern Oregon meant lots of time spent on the water in the summers. Both Jay and I have memories of secret swimming holes all around Grants Pass.
And while these secret swimming holes in southern Oregon used to be a true secret before the days of the interwebs, they are “true” secrets no longer. So we want to share them with you!
Below are seven secret creek side swimming holes in Southern Oregon.
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Secret Spots = Secret Rules
Before we continue on in this post, if you choose to read more about these secret swimming holes in Southern Oregon, please agree to the following simple be a good human rules.
- Take out all trash with you… including your used toilet paper and cigarette butts!
- Follow proper pooping + peeing outdoors etiquette. Don’t know it? Read about it here.
- Stick to the already made trails and parking areas.
- Be aware of local fire restrictions. Fire season means no open flames and no charcoal grills.
7 Secret Swimming Holes in Southern Oregon
- Taylor Creek
- Shan Creek
- Williams Creek
- Powell Creek
- Rough and Ready Creek
- Jumpoff Joe Creek
- Josephine Creek
Creekside Swimming Holes Map
1. Taylor Creek Swimming Hole
Small Swimming Hole With Jumping Rocks
Location | 42.46789, -123.60729
Facilities | none
Hiking Distance | steep scramble down rock
Taylor Creek Swimming Hole is a place both Jason and I have fond memories of when we were younger. This Southern Oregon swimming hole is just far enough outside of Grants Pass to keep the crowds away.
It’s also the perfect place for smaller groups as the parking is very limited.
There are a couple of different swimming holes up Taylor Creek, the main one being what’s pictured above. As you can see in the photos, it’s quite a steep climb down to the actual swimming hole.
The rock jumping here is GREAT. Jay’s standing in the place you jump from in one photo, and I’m down at the base and smaller jumping rocks in the second one.
**Always double and triple-check there are no hidden rocks before you jump. We like to throw on some goggles and swim around first.
While Taylor Creek Falls is the more popular swimming hole, there are other great swimming spots along Taylor Creek like pictured above.
The beachy area along the creek offers perfect creekside escapes for families with little ones.
2. Shan Creek Swimming Hole
Deep Swimming Hole with Small Jumping Rocks
Location | 42.456474, -123.522345
Facilities | none
Hiking Distance | .15 walk downhill having to use trees to stabilize in some places
Tucked up the mountain from Griffin Park in Grants Pass, this secret swimming hole in Southern Oregon is a perfect escape near town.
Shan Creek Swimming Hole has a very small “beach” area for your belongings as you enjoy the water. There’s a sketchy rope swing and some good jumping rocks, but lots of large rocks underwater to watch out for too.
Bring your goggles here, as there are fish and it’s really cool to see underwater as it’s so clear.
The hike down to the swimming hole starts super easy, just watch for poison oak. The last part of the hike is the technical part which can be slippery and dangerous. Use your best judgment here.
Like all other secret swimming holes of Souther Oregon in this post, pack out what you pack in! Leave the place better than you found it.
3. Williams Creek Swimming Hole
Calm Creek, Great for Kids
Location | 42.29366, -123.23942
Facilities | none
Hiking Distance | short walk just a handful of steps from parking
Williams Creek is a place out in the Applegate Valley that always has people parked right at the bridge.
We’ve heard stories of great deep swimming holes along the creek, this is not that!
The photo above of Williams Creek is right along the road with a short walk to it.. closer to Williams than the spot below that’s closer to Provolt and the Applegate River.
You can sit and have a nice BBQ along the creek, or shoot, even have a crawdad fry, as there are loads of crawdads in Williams Creek.
Williams Creek fluctuates tremendously with the water flow, so don’t always expect the waterfall spot to look as it does in the picture above.
4. Powell Creek Swimming Hole
Small + Intimate Swimming Hole in Southern Oregon
Location | 42.26392, -123.30884
Facilities | none
Hiking Distance | short steep walk lined with poison oak
We stumbled across Powell Creek Swimming Hole when we lived only three miles from it. It became our secret, quick escape from the Southern Oregon heat.
This swimming hole is perfect for a small amount of people, and there are even more places to dip in along the creek if it’s too crowded here.
Watch out for poison oak along the trail, as a lot of the greenery in the image above is actually poison oak! And if you’re interested, this is all on BLM land.. so free camping is right at your fingertips here!
Find other swimming spots near here in our complete guide to Applegate River Swimming Holes.
5. Rough and Ready Creek
The BEST Secret Swimming Hole in Southern Oregon
Location | 42.09294, -123.71327
Facilities | none
Hiking Distance | no hike if you have high clearance vehicle
I’ve lived a lot of my life in Southern Oregon, and have never heard of this swimming hole. Jay had been here many times, visiting when there used to be diving boards here.
Rough and Ready Creek is a true hidden gem in Southern Oregon. It is beautiful.
Accessing this creek can be done by a short, 1/4 mile hike/bush-whacking experience when parking here, 42.096167, -123.709391, for those with low clearance.
Alternatively, these are the coordinates, 42.098701, -123.698825, for turning off down a .8 mile rough dirt road. High(ish) clearance is recommended for this road.
6. Jump Off Joe Swimming Hole
Really Shallow, More to Just Hang in Water
Location | 42.56886, -123.36184
Facilities | none
Hiking Distance | none
The actual swimming hole with a small waterfall along Jump Off Joe Creek is near the KOA. However, the creek has a few other access points that make great places to hang out to escape the heat.
This place is great for people with younger kiddos as there’s a good mix of shade and sun, there is plenty of beachy areas to hang out on, and is a short walk from the parking area.
There’s also no swift current here, and it’s pretty shallow, so perfect for just a simple dip!
7. Josephine Creek Swimming Hole
Right Along the Illinois River
Location | 42.24237, -123.68625
Facilities | bathrooms at campground, pack out trash
Hiking Distance | short hike down dirt road
Josephine Creek Swimming Hole is kind of joined with swimming holes on the Illinois River, as where you park and hike in is right at the river too.
This is a place I’ve been before with friends, but couldn’t remember exactly where it was. When we were looking for new places to add to our Illinois River Swimming Post, we found this place, and I about cried!
This is a great little swimming area, and also a great place to camp for free right at the Josephine Creek Campground!
Secret Swimmings Holes in Southern Oregon Recap
Growing up in Southern Oregon, finding good places to swim was the only way to escape the summertime heat. It’s been so fun to go back to places we both have great memories of and photograph them while collecting all the current information on them too.
Please remember, that these places are all open to the public because people have respected them by cleaning up after themselves, and not overstaying their welcome. Please do the same.
Remember you’re going out in nature to enjoy nature, and people coming in behind you want to do the same. They don’t want to show up to your trash and unburied fecal matter, or dog poop. Please use the bathroom responsibly in nature, and pack out everything you pack in.
Snag Flights To Southern Oregon Here
Have you booked your flights yet? We always use Momondo to book our flights, and it never fails to have the best deals on flights all across the globe.
Book a flight to Portland and take the Oregon Coast down to Southern Oregon, or fly into Medford, where you’ll be the closest to these swimming holes.
More On Oregon!
We are both Oregonians and have spent more time in Oregon than anywhere else in the world. We’ve got loads to share about the beauty Oregon offers.
Oregon Coast | The Cutest Oregon Coastal Towns to See
Southern Oregon | Things to Do + See in Southern Oregon
Swimming Holes | Rogue River Swimming Holes
Swimming Holes | Swimming Places Along the Illinois River
Recommended Gear For Oregon
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