Watch CBS News

Best Outdoor Swimming Spots In Los Angeles

indoor pool 610
(credit: Passakorn sakulphan/shutterstock)

Outdoor private and public pools are staples of Los Angeles living, but sometimes certain Southlanders want to discover other territory where water is for swimming. Enter the many lake, pond and ocean spots waiting for those who want to indulge in this cool activity. With that said, go back to nature to experience this passion at any of the following five top outdoor swimming spots in the City of Angeles.

Malibu Creek State Park
Photo Credit: malibucreekstatepark.org

Malibu Creek State Park

A favorite hiking spot in the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu Creek State Park hosts the legendary Rock Pool, located a short jaunt from the parking lot and very popular on the weekends. To stay away from that fray, visit on a weekday so you qnot only avoid bumping into other swimmers as you try out your best strokes in these waters, but you also avoid adventurers who tend to climb the very present volcanic rock formations before randomly jumping into the cool waters below.

Will rogers state beach
(credit: Keith G./yelp)

Will Rogers State Beach

Along with surfing and volleyball, swimming is a favorite activity at Will Rogers State Beach, located at the north end of a six-mile stretch of sublime sand that starts in Santa Monica. Lifeguards are on duty at this particular spot on the Pacific, as are a handy snack shack and a full-blown restaurant just waiting to feed hungry athletes after enjoying the atmosphere as well as the natural facilities including enticing water that does not include chlorine but does include salt. How refreshing!

eaton canyon natural area
(credit: Elica Y./yelp)

Eaton Canyon Natural Area
1750 N Altadena Drive
Pasadena, CA 91107
626-398-5420
www.ecnca.org

Hot and haggard while hiking? Choose to trudge the trails of Eaton Canyon and expect to swim in the small watering holes and in the wonderful waterfall that populate this treasure trove of nature. In particular, the waterfall is a windfall for trailblazers who want to wade into the waist deep pool at the bottom after taking on the three-and-half mile loop to get there by way of the Eaton Wash and by moving from bank to bank along a winding creek. 

Related:  Best Public Pools In Los Angeles

People walk along the beach at Santa Monica
(Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)

Santa Monica Beach

If you're looking for a cold plunge, choose Santa Monica Beach's swimming area. In fact, you might want to wear a wetsuit if you're wanting to paddle in this Los Angles area hot spot which is often crowded with friendly folks of like minds during the warmer months of the year. That said, avoid this particular swimming spot after the rain because there is typically sewage build-up and rip currents can run rampant when the clouds burst open, which is not often.

Hansen Dam pool in Sylmar
(credit: Amy Johnson)

Hansen Dam Aquatic Center
1798 Foothill Blvd
Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
(818) 899-3779
www.laparks.org

This is the perfect place to swim because Hansen Dam Aquatic Center means you are privy to a whopping 40-acre water recreation center that includes a nine-acre recreation lake and a one-and-a-half-acre swimming lake. The facility, located in Lake View Terrace about 25 miles north of downtown Los Angles, holds true to strict dress codes. Be sure to wear a proper bathing suit -- which, alternatively, means no cut-offs, no bike shorts and no street shorts either.

Related: Best Community Gardens In Los Angeles

Freelance travel writer Jane Lasky, contributes to publications such as Travel + Leisure, Vogue and Esquire. Her weekly sojourning column ran in 40 newspapers for 20 years. Jane is anything but an accidental tourist and always travels with her pillow. Check out her articles on Examiner.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.