Hike to the Jumping Rock on the Bear River

Though lesser known than its neighbors the Yuba and the American, the Bear River still features fantastic hiking, swimming, river-raft, tubing, and rock-jumping but without the crowds.

A local favorite spot, the "Jumping Rock" near the Dog Bar Crossing, provides an excellent hike with several swimming holes along the way. 

To get there you can either take Dog Bar Road from Grass Valley if you're coming from the northwest, or Combie Road to Magnolia Road if you're coming from Auburn on Highway 49. If taking this route be sure to hang a hard right on Dog Bar Road, taking you down into the canyon.

An alternative route is to take I-80 to the South Auburn / Placer Hills Road exit near Colfax. Go left (south) on Placer Hills Road approximately a mile, then right on Dog Bar Road down into the canyon.

Parking is available on both sides of the single-lane bridge, but the trailhead begins on the west side of the river, where it heads north along the true right of the river (the right side of the river if you're facing downstream).

The use trail is obvious but not marked, and continues till it flattens out on top of the "Jumping Rock", the clear and pronounced rock overhang above a large, deep section of the river, just before a series of rapids.

Kayaking is best during winter and spring, with swimming and tubing generally best during the late spring and summer, when the current is weaker and the water warmer.

There are no facilities, so be sure to leave no trace and pack out what you pack in.