Heading to the Yuba or American River for the Fourth? The Safety Advice to Know

There’s no better way to escape the summer heat than to head out to the Bay Area’s best swimming spots.

But if you’re planning to get out of town for the Fourth of July holiday weekend and take a dip in a popular river like the South Yuba River in Nevada County or the American River outside Sacramento, take extra caution. As beautiful as they are, these rivers are cold and fast-moving in some areas — and can even be deadly, experts warn.

Last year, two people drowned in the South Yuba River in a single day. Already this year, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District has performed four swift-water rescues and responded to one likely fatality after a woman was swept away by the Yuba waters over Memorial Day weekend, said Fire Chief Jason Robitaille.

“She still has not been found,” he said.

But these types of incidents are “very preventable,” Robitaille said, if visitors take a few important precautions when visiting the river. Read on for safety tips from him and other experts this summer.

Jump straight to:

• What should I know before I go to the river in summer 2025?
• How should I react in an emergency on the river?
• Which river spots could be safer for me and my family to visit this summer?

What should I know before I go to the river in summer 2025?

David Spencer, commander with the Sacramento County Regional Park Rangers, said he fully encourages people to come out and enjoy the American River this summer.

“We just ask them to be safe and know the rules,” he said.

That includes no alcohol at access beaches or on the river, he said. And anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket — no exceptions (PDF).

The South Yuba River, on the other hand, can be a truly dangerous place to swim this summer — just like last year and the year before.

“Our message is: Swimming in the river is never safe,” said Daniel Elkin, communications and engagement director for advocacy group the South Yuba River Citizens League.

So what makes the South Yuba so risky, even for strong swimmers? The flow of the river is aggressive and even if it’s warm outside, the water itself — which is mostly snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada mountains — is very cold. The earlier in the season, the more dangerous being in or near these waters can be, so if you’re hoping to swim, consider waiting until later this summer, Elkin said.

“I know the waters are enticing,” Robitaille said. “However, the flows are pretty volatile and can easily overtake an experienced swimmer.”

The safety tips experts recommend when going to the river

Always wear a life jacket, even if you’re a good swimmer, said Susan Hoek, District 4 supervisor for Nevada County. On both the South Yuba and American Rivers, free loaner life jackets are available at several locations nearby. And always swim with a buddy, Hoek said.

That’s because in addition to the cold and the rush of the water, rivers like the South Yuba — and the American, too — can have some unpredictable undercurrents, rocks or deep spots that may seem to come out of nowhere, Hoek said. Plus, rivers tend to get higher and faster later in the day when the most snow is melting higher upstream.

“Just because you can get in [the water] in the early morning doesn’t mean you can later in the day as well,” Elkin added.

Also, consider carpooling to the South Yuba — not just for safety in numbers, but also to cut down on the number of cars parked on the roadway that may be in the way of first responders.

“We have a problem with people parking along the river and having that limit the accessibility of emergency vehicles because people are parking illegally and emergency vehicles can’t get in,” Elkin said.

“Regardless, it will take a while for emergency personnel to be there if there is a problem,” he said. That’s because there’s no cell service in much of the South Yuba’s canyon — so be aware of your location.

“If you’re a mile up the river, the odds of your cell phone working are slim to none,” Hoek said.

Call boxes are positioned at various parking lots and road intersections along the South Yuba. Even so, response times from emergency personnel can range from 15 to 30 minutes, according to Robitaille, and help may be even further delayed depending on where the victim is located and what else the fire department is juggling at the same time.

“These calls are very labor-intensive,” Robitaille said. “It takes a lot of resources, especially in the height of fire season. That will dilute our response if there’s another incident.”

Robitaille said due to the steep terrain around the river and the wet, slippery rocks near the banks of the Yuba, “it’s easy for someone to lose their footing,” he said. Plus, hiking up and out of the steep canyon to use a call box or look for help can be treacherous.

In many areas along the South Yuba and the American River on holiday weekends in particular, alcohol is prohibited, and ”State Parks and law enforcement are strictly enforcing those types of regulations,” Robitaille said.

That’s because drinking can impair judgement and turn an already dangerous situation into a deadly one, Spencer said — plus a day out on the river can lead to dehydration quickly. Drink water instead, experts advise.

Spencer said the majority of water rescue calls his department receives are along the El Manto, also known as Clay Banks, area of the American River, where the water is deep and the currents can be tricky.

“The current runs in almost a circular motion and it can suck you down under the water,” he said. “That’s where we have most of our drownings.”

That’s also where the ranger boat is out on the weekends patrolling, and “if you have any concerns, you can wave them down,” he said.

To mitigate your impact on the South Yuba’s ecosystem, Elkin also asks visitors to wear reef-safe sunscreen to protect the waterway and pick up and pack out your trash. You should also be aware of fire safety, as a fire in the canyon would be “devastating,” he said.

“Know that the Yuba has been very impacted lately — there have been a lot of visitors to the state park,” he said. “So it’s not quite as calm and serene as it used to be.”

How to check the safety conditions on the river before you go

Before heading out to any local river, you can check websites Dreamflows and American Whitewater, which track the flow of any given river and offer weather and other condition reports for visitors.

You can also check Go Nevada County for travel alerts in the area and the regional parks website for Sacramento County. 

What should I do in an emergency on the river?

If you’re the one in trouble

If you do find yourself caught in the current, the best move is to float on your back and position your feet downstream, and “don’t try to fight it too much,” Elkin said. Then, attempt to paddle to one side of the river toward shore.

Yell for help if you can, and try to reach for any sort of flotation device or solid object like a branch or rock that may be nearby. Raising one hand straight over your head instead of two can both help you stay afloat and visible while signaling to others on shore that you are in need of rescue.

If you see someone else in trouble

It may seem counterintuitive, but if you see someone in the river struggling, experts warn against going in after them.

“A lot of people that go in the river to save somebody are the ones that don’t come out,” Hoek said.

Instead, immediately call 911 from your cellphone if you have signal, or from a nearby callbox, Robitaille said. “Don’t hesitate. Get us rolling,” he said.

If you can do so safely, try to toss a rope or flotation device into the water. But Robitaille said his crew and the California Highway Patrol are fully equipped to perform rescues once they’ve arrived.

Where should I go if I want the least dangerous swimming experience?

On the American River, some access points like the Watt Avenue or Howe River Access points may be shallower and more approachable for less confident swimmers, Spencer said.

Life jackets are available to rent at several locations on both the South Yuba and American Rivers, and are strongly recommended.

If you are set on swimming in the South Yuba, Elkin advised checking out the area around Bridgeport, where a family-friendly beach offers a bit more shelter and shallow waters.

For folks visiting Nevada County but reconsidering their South Yuba river plans, Hoek also suggested calmer nearby spots like Rollins Lake (although it’s looking a bit low this year, she said), which can be accessed via a hike from Memorial Park — or even the Grass Valley swimming pool for a family-friendly dip. For the Fourth of July weekend, there will also be a parade in downtown Grass Valley and all the local movie theaters will be open if you’re looking for a cool escape.

Or, if you want to enjoy the magnificent power of the Yuba without the danger, you can simply enjoy the view from shore.

“The Yuba is just the most magnificent thing to sit and watch,” Hoek said. “It’s crazy amazing, but on the same token, she’s unforgiving, she’s brutal.”

“And she doesn’t have the ability to spit you back out,” she warned.

This story contains reporting by KQED’s Nisa Khan and was originally published on June 21.