Off the beaten path from the Yosemite National Park summer crowds is Carlon Falls and natural swimming pool. Mellow Wanderer discovered this refreshing resort like setting after an hour long hike off Evergreen Rd. just outside Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance. The hike is easy by Yosemite standards but not for those who lead a couch potato lifestyle. You have to be in reasonably good shape to ascend a rather steep portion of the trail near the falls. When you arrive, you'll marvel at the scenic beauty, and the emerald green pool of mountain water just begging you to dive in. MW did. Wow! What a rush of bone chilling cold! Not quite a brain freeze from sucking down a Slurpee, but close. You'll thrust your body skyward in delirious joy and then quickly swim back to shore and a warm towel. An outing at Carlon Falls will take most of the day, and the best part is it's free. Technically, it's outside Yosemite and part of the Stanislaus National Forest. Personally, you'll likely remember this as the highlight of your Yosemite visit.

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