Swinging Bridge Trail

The Swinging Bridge Trail is a flat, 0.6-mile round trip in Wawona, in southern Yosemite, ending at a wooden suspension bridge that genuinely sways underfoot as you cross the South Fork Merced River. It's one of the easiest walks in the park — about 30 minutes round trip through shaded forest — and a good cool-down stop after a morning at nearby Mariposa Grove.

The Bridge and Swimming Hole

Unlike the fixed Swinging Bridge in Yosemite Valley, this one actually moves underfoot. Below it, the river slows into a popular swimming hole with rock ledges for sunning and wading pools that warm up through mid and late summer. Spring and early-summer flows run faster and colder, and Yosemite's rivers have a real history of drowning incidents, so check current conditions and keep close watch on kids near the bank before wading in.

Getting There

The Swinging Bridge Trailhead sits at the end of Forest Drive, about 2 miles past the historic Wawona Hotel and Wawona General Store. The Hotel's turnoff from Highway 41 is itself roughly 4.6 miles inside Yosemite's South Entrance, which puts the trailhead about 6.5 miles in altogether. Parking near the trailhead is limited, so arrive early on summer weekends.