Swinging Bridge Picnic Area — Attraction in Oakhurst

The Swinging Bridge Picnic Area is a beautiful location within Yosemite Valley. From here, you can enjoy picnics and walking through meadows with excellent valley views. This is where we found some of the most beautiful areas for photography in Yosemite National Park.

During our April visit, the Merced was flowing nicely creating fair sized body of water that acted as a perfect reflection lake, capturing the entire north side ridge of the valley. With blue skies, the views in the early morning were remarkable.

We particularly enjoyed the views from the Swinging bridge (mind you, it is a fixed bridge that doesn't swing). This is where we took our most memorable photographs in the direction of Yosemite Falls which was within perfect view from this location.

We also enjoyed walking around the trails in this area through meadows that ran along the Merced River. Just a truly beautiful area.

Note that there is a fair sized parking lot with toilet facilities that you can access from the Southside Drive. There was plenty of parking during our early morning visit. However, later in the day when we passed by again, the lot was full with numerous vehicles waiting for...

The main draw at this location is the bridge. The "Swinging Bridge" is a misnomer because the bridge does not actually swing. It's a sturdy wooden bridge, and word has it that it was actually a swinging bridge in the past. Other than some panoramic views of other Yosemite landmarks, there is not a whole lot else to see. You can take a small set of stairs down to a lake area. I did see people picnicking here and grilling food, which was nice to see. I counted four bathrooms, so this could serve as a nice bathroom run that also functions as a photo stop. Stop by if you have the time, but don't go out of your way if you're short on time and want to explore the more...

Family and I have been coming here since I was a little boy. I almost drowned here swimming so be careful the floor of the river changes drastically so make sure you know how to swim or life vest it. Despite almost dying this will be our go to place for day trips and bbq. If you get there early enough you can save yourself a table and grill and spend the day basking in the sun with the views of the waterfalls. Restroom located nearby. If you forget something you’re not too far from the general store to pick up whatever you need but try to not to forget anything as they...