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Swimmin' Hole Travel: South Eel River

Taking a step outside of your normal life, packing a cooler full of cheap beer, donning some fun sunglasses and heading to a swimming hole might as well be followed by a cheeseburger, milkshake and slice of apple pie swaddled in an American flag. Make it happen at the South Eel River that runs through Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area in California.

Once you hang a right right off Highway 101 into the SRA, you're at the gateway to redwood country and hours from any bustling civilization. The formal "hole" in which to swim in is a quick three-tenths of a mile from the campground.

The South Eel is lined with tall steely colored granite that would make any geologist blush. The water runs true blue and will send a shiver up your spine early in the season.

If you go midweek, you may even get this place to yourself and when that cooler you brought is empty, the country store is right by the entrance to the park. You're just a campsite and a fire away from the American dream.

Related Stories:
· Standish-Hickey SRA [Official Site]
· Summer Travel coverage [Jaunted]