Wawona Swinging Bridge: Easy Yosemite Hike & Swimming Hole

A rare quiet gem in Yosemite National Park, the Wawona Swinging Bridge spans the south fork of the Merced River, a beloved late-summer swimming hole. Amazingly, both options to reach it require minimal effort. In this guide, we detail exactly how to visit this Yosemite swinging bridge.

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Much lesser known than Yosemite’s other swinging bridge—the one near Yosemite Falls that hasn’t actually swung since 1965—the Wawona Swinging Bridge is an easy, beginner-friendly hike with a blissful lack of crowds. 

An exceedingly rare combination in this popular national park!

The 40-foot-long wooden swinging bridge spans the south fork of the Merced River, a bucket list-worthy, emerald green swimming hole come late summer. 

We’d call the bridge more bouncy than swing-y, but either way, it’s a blast to walk across, especially when the river is raging early in the season.

That’s why we were shocked at how little information there is about hiking to the Wawona Swinging Bridge. It’s fairly well-known as a local swimming spot, but not nearly so as a hiking trail.

We’ve done a LOT of hiking in Yosemite, from absolute beasts including Half Dome to many of the park’s shorter trails, and we absolutely loved the Wawona Swinging Bridge. Keep reading to find out why, along with everything else you need to know about this short hike.

Tip: In addition to details about the Wawona Swinging Bridge hike, we included a ton of extra info. How to get vehicle reservations for Yosemite, the best time of year, what to pack, and more! Use the Table of Contents below to jump directly to (or skip!) specific sections.

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Wawona Swinging Bridge Hike Highlights

• Location: Yosemite National Park, six miles from the South Entrance
• Distance: 0.8 miles or 1.4 miles out-and-back, or 4.8-mile loop
• Difficulty: Easy peasy
• Elevation: 40-70 feet
• Pets allowed? No
• Exact trailhead location: Forest Drive trailhead or Chilnualna Falls Road trailhead
• Detailed trail notes + directions

The scenery at Wawona Swinging Bridge honestly isn’t nearly as epic as, well, just about anywhere else in the park. 

However, getting to enjoy this Yosemite swinging bridge mostly to yourself (or any part of Yosemite mostly to yourself, for that matter) is an unforgettable experience. 

That’s especially true if you have the opportunity to swim in the river, something only safe to do late in the summer when the rapids slow and water levels come down. Then, you’ll find several shallow pools and huge, flat rocks perfect for sunbathing. 

Choose from two easy trails, both of them near the park’s South Entrance and accessible year-round (the South Entrance is one of only three open all year). 

Of course, summer is the most popular time at Wawona Swinging Bridge, but walking across as the rushing Merced River rages underneath in the springtime is quite an experience, too. For reference, most of the photos we included were taken in late April, near peak flow. 

Whether you want to swim in an off-the-beaten path natural swimming hole or you’re looking for an easy hike in Yosemite, Wawona Swinging Bridge is a can’t-miss.

What to Expect on the Trail

There are two different routes to the Wawona Swinging Bridge. Although one is nearly double the length of the other, they’re nearly identical otherwise. They’re both very easy, flat, and run parallel to the creek, with peek-a-boo views of the river through the trees. 

Option 1 (Shortest): Starting From Forest Drive

The shortest, easiest option to reach Wawona Swinging Bridge is starting from the end of Forest Drive. This hike is just shy of 0.8 miles round-trip. 

Note that this route oddly isn’t on AllTrails (which proves how much of a hidden gem it is!), but you can plug ‘Camp Wawona’ into your GPS and it’ll take you right to the trailhead. It’s just past the Seventh Day Adventist camp and less than 10 minutes from the Wawona Hotel. 

Quick note: the Wawona Hotel and General Store is a great spot to stop for drinks or snacks. It’s open most of the year, closing for just a few months from January through February. 

Once you turn onto Forest Drive, you’ll pass several private cabins, some logging equipment, and finally, Camp Wawona. The dirt parking lot here is a decent size, accommodating somewhere between 20-30 vehicles, and there’s a pit toilet available. 

Head toward the gate to the wide, flat trail. It’s a very short, easy walk to the swinging bridge, following the river’s south bank. Peek-a-boo views offer occasional glimpses of the river.

The dirt trail splits 0.3 miles in, and you want to take a left to reach the trail’s namesake feature. Approaching from this direction, you’ll walk across a narrow manmade stone and concrete walkway to the end of the 40-foot bridge. 

Cross and stop in the middle to take in the spectacular views both up- and downriver. Depending on the time of year, the river may be rushing rapids or could be calm pools of emerald green. In late April, we experienced peak or very near peak flow. 

Unless you’re hiking the longer Swinging Bridge Loop Trail (detailed below), cross back over the bridge and retrace your steps to the parking lot. 

On your way back to the vehicle, there are several spots with large, flat boulders where you can get down close to the river and hang out. Later in the summer when the water levels are calmer, there are dozens of shallow pools for swimming.

Option 2 (More Scenic): From Chilnualna Falls Road

For this route to the Wawona Swinging Bridge, start out in a tiny parking area at the very end of Chilnualna Falls Road. Note this is the literal end of the road, 0.4 miles past the signed parking lot at Chilnualna Falls trailhead. Once you cross the bridge, the parking lot is .10 miles further.

From the small dirt lot, head toward the sign that says ‘Swinging Bridge .7 miles.’ You can’t miss it, as the path is lined with large rocks. 

Head slightly uphill on a wide trail that runs parallel to the creek on a mostly straightforward path through the forest. 

During rainy periods, you may have to cross a running stream almost immediately once you get on the trail (a strong sign of what’s to come at the river!). 

Some clearings along the trail offer views of Wawona Dome towering ahead, one of the main reasons some think this route to the Yosemite swinging bridge is more scenic.

The level trail has just a 70-foot elevation gain and gradually descends down to the river. When you emerge from the forest, you’ll be standing on its north side with just one-tenth of a mile left of your hike. Wawona Swinging Bridge comes into view quickly. 

Just like with the Forest Drive route, you can cross the bridge and hang out by the river before heading back. Go back the way you came, unless you’re hiking the loop. 

Option 3 (Not Recommended): Swinging Bridge Loop Trail

Technically, there’s a third, longer route for hiking to the Wawona Swinging Bridge, but we honestly don’t recommend it. 

The majority of the 4.75-mile loop follows paved roads through the Wawona neighborhood, and there are just SO many spectacular trails to explore elsewhere in Yosemite. 

The only real reason to hike this loop is to get more distance in with very minimal effort (if you have young kiddos or want a light day that still gets plenty of steps in). If you do it, park at the Wawona General Store, then hike 1.8 miles up Forest Drive to the trailhead. 

Once you cross the bridge, take a left on the trail and hike back along the opposite side of the river until you connect to a dirt road that eventually becomes Chilnualna Falls Road. 

Continue to the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, where you’ll pass through the pedestrian-only covered bridge and arrive back at the general store. 

Like the Forest Road trail, this loop isn’t listed on AllTrails. However, you’ll find it on the official Wawona Area Hiking Map, either on the NPS website or in your printed map when you enter the park.

Know Before You Go

Although hiking to this Yosemite swinging bridge is pretty straightforward, there are still several little details to take into consideration. 

Where in Yosemite is the Wawona Swinging Bridge?

Both trails to the Wawona Swinging Bridge are easily accessible from Yosemite’s South Entrance (coming from Oakhurst) or Yosemite Valley, and they’re very close to each other.

To get to the Forest Drive trailhead: take Highway 41 (Wawona Road) to the intersection with Forest Drive, where you’ll find the Wawona Hotel. This is 4.6 miles from the South Entrance (about 40 minutes from Oakhurst) and 28.2 miles from Yosemite Valley (one hour). 

At Forest Drive, head east for 1.8 miles to the dirt trailhead parking lot. You’ll pass through cabins and by signs for Camp Wawona on Forest Drive. 

To get to the Chilnualna Falls Road trailhead: again take Highway 41 (Wawona Road), but this time you’ll head east on Chilnualna Falls Road. It’s 4.8 miles north of the South Entrance and exactly 28 miles south of Yosemite Valley. 

Wawona Swinging Bridge Parking

The Forest Drive lot accommodates 20-30 vehicles, while the Chilnualna Falls Road dirt parking area fits about 10. 

Cell Service

In general, don’t count on having cell service in Yosemite. Across several visits and with all the major cell providers, we’ve only ever consistently gotten reception in Yosemite Valley or at Tunnel View, and even then, it’s spotty at best. 

Elsewhere in the park, you may randomly get service, but don’t rely on it. 

How Hard is the Wawona Swinging Bridge Trail?

Both trails to this swinging bridge in Yosemite are about as easy as hiking gets. The paths are wide, flat, and have very little elevation gain, making this a perfect hike for families and folks with limited mobility.

The trail is dirt and while it’s quite level, whether or not it’s suitable for wheelchairs or strollers is very subjective. We recommend looking closely at several photos of the trail to determine this.

How Long Does it Take to Get to the Wawona Swinging Bridge?

You could easily complete the round trip hike to the bridge in under an hour (both routes). 

The hike from Forest Drive is only 0.75 miles round-trip, with negligible elevation gain. The hike from Chilnualna Falls is 1.4 miles round-trip and has 70-80 feet of elevation change. 

Of course, if you plan to spend time swimming or just enjoying the river, factor in more time. 

Best Time of Year to Go to the Wawona Swinging Bridge

Unlike many other parts of Yosemite, the Wawona Swinging Bridge is accessible year-round. With that said, we’d visit between mid-April and mid-September. 

April and May, and maybe into early summer, offer amazing river scenery, when the water is at peak flow. If you want to swim in the Merced’s signature calm, shallow pools, plan your trip for late summer, no earlier than mid-July to be safe. 

If you plan to visit Yosemite between April and early June, be aware that spring floods can be problematic. As snowmelt causes the rivers to swell, flooding sometimes causes temporary closures—of trails, campgrounds, or even the entire park.

The Bathroom Situation

There is a vault toilet in the Forest Drive parking lot, but no restrooms if you start from Chilnualna Falls. However, if you do need it, you can walk to a pit toilet 0.4 miles away at the official Chilnualna Falls parking area. 

When we used the toilet in the Forest Drive trailhead parking lot in late April, it was extremely clean and well-stocked. Also, you’ll find ‘real’ restrooms at the Wawona Store. 

Tips for Hiking to the Yosemite Swinging Bridge

• Wear grippy hiking shoes. Even though the trail is easy and pretty flat, it can get slippery crossing the bridge and definitely exploring down by the water.
• Heed posted warnings about river conditions. When the river is especially high (typically in early spring, at the peak of runoff), it’s especially dangerous. If there are any signs posted at the trailheads about deadly river conditions, listen to them.
• Stop into the Wawona General Store. Perfect stop for snacks, camping supplies, fishing gear, and even wine. This is also the closest ‘real’ bathroom.
• Fuel up before heading to the swinging bridge. Wawona has a gas station with pumps open year-round, but it’s expensive…even by California standards. It’s right near the hotel and store.

Where to Stay Near the Wawona Swinging Bridge

Yosemite is truly massive, so you should really let your overall itinerary dictate the best place to stay. With that said, if you’re specifically interested in staying on the southern edge of Yosemite, there are several great options. 

This area is where you’ll find the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and staying here also offers easy access to Yosemite Valley and the town of Oakhurst.

• Tenaya at Yosemite: Gorgeous, upscale mountain resort juuust outside the park boundary (two miles), with lodge rooms and standalone cottages
• Wawona Campground: The closest campground to the Yosemite swinging bridge, located along the river and open year-round. Reservable mid-April through September 30; otherwise first-come, first-served.
• Wawona Hotel: Historic hotel built in 1856, with traditional guest rooms, an onsite restaurant, and a seasonal swimming pool and 9-hole golf course
• Oakhurst hotels: If you prefer a traditional hotel and more restaurant options, consider staying just outside the park in Oakhurst. The only downside is the drive to and from Yosemite Valley, but it’s manageable (plus you save money over staying in the park!). 
• Fish Camp vacation rentals: Literally sitting at the South Entrance, the teeny town of Fish Camp has tons of private cabins, tiny homes, and other vacation rentals.

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