Now that the summer crowds are thinning out and the temperatures are peaking in the 80s instead of past the century mark, it is a good time to visit Caswell State Park.It’s the coolest spot in the Manteca-Ripon area without the aid of air conditioning. It can be found along the Stanislaus River at the southern end of Austin Road in one of the few remaining stands of riparian woodland in the Central Valley.Not only does the thick canopy of oaks drop the temperature by 10 degrees but when the evening Delta breezes kick in Caswell Memorial State Park becomes even cooler.And if you’re looking for a good old-fashioned dip in a river with very clear water, Caswell has two popular beaches — Willow Beach and Salmon Bend Camp Beach.Willow Beach is by far the main attraction. Ironically you’ll often find more Bay Area folks taking advantage of the natural swimming along the Stanislaus River at Caswell than you will nearby residents.You will not find another beach-river combo in the region as pleasant with a definite lazy feel although the Stanislaus between Knights Ferry and Caswell have some pleasant access points where you can have shaded water play such as McHenry Recreation Area south of Escalon off River Road.