Sandy beach
No
Cliff jumping
Yes
Hike-in Required
No
Sensitive Habitat
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Those who commute on Oregon’s Highway 22 between Salem and the Cascades may be familiar with Idanha as a small town with a few houses and a country store along the highway just southeast of Detroit. If you are in the area in the summer, Idanha is where you start to lose the crowds of campers, boaters, and swimmers that flock to Detroit Lake in the summer. Sure, you may find a few that are staying at campgrounds a little farther up the road such as Whispering Falls or Riverside, but most of the people looking to escape the summer heat stay close to the banks of the reservoir, which suits this local swimming hole just fine.

The Snyder Bridge crosses the North Santiam River and unites Idanha to New Idanha, a more residential section of the town. Beneath it the North Santiam collects into a deep pool that is surrounded by 15-foot rock faces, forming an absolutely stunning respite from summer temperatures. Access to and from the water can be a challenge because there is little in the way of a riverbank unless you move farther downstream. A little climbing and ingenuity will get swimmers to back up, however, and there is plenty of room to lay out on the rocks on a hot day. This pool is a great opportunity to catch a little of the North Santiam River before it collects into the more crowded and popular Detroit Lake.

Logistics + Planning

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Easy to find. Deep, beautiful water.

Cons

Cliffs along the water make access a challenge. Small river bank area. Parking is limited.

Location

Comments

08/18/2021
One of the photos listed as parking for this area (parking at the end of the bridge is actually private property and has no trespassing signs. Would you please update this post and remove the photo? Many people try to access this swimming hole from the south side of the bridge which is also private property and is fenced. It is a beautiful spot for swimming if you can access it from the highway side. (-:
Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.