Squamish Polar Bear Swim

Squamish celebrates New Year’s Day with a polar bear swim on January 1st at Sp’akw’us Feather Park. In past recent years it has been at Porteau Cove.

A number of Polar Bear Swims happen in the Lower Mainland on the first day of January each year. They include events in Vancouver, Delta, Fort Langley, North Vancouver, Port Moody and White Rock.

Continue reading to learn about the polar bear swim in BC’s Sea-to-Sky Region.

Squamish Polar Bear Swims (Past and Present)

Years ago the Squamish Polar Bear Swim took place annually at Sp’akw’us Feather Park on January 1st. Between the era of COVID and 2024, however, that wasn’t possible. First it couldn’t happen because of the pandemic. Then, after that, it couldn’t because of construction in the area. For the past couple of years the event has instead, consequently, been at Porteau Cove Provincial Park which is about a 20-minute drive away.

In 2025, instead of taking place at Porteau Cove, the community’s main polar bear event takes place once again at Sp’akw’us Feather Park in Squamish. The swim is fairly informal, free to attend and you don’t have to register for it in advance.

With this swim, you can also just show up. There is no need to register in advance. It’s also free, and there is no formal element to the event (i.e. there are no prizes).

2025 Polar Bear Swim at Sp’akw’us Feather Park

This year the Squamish Polar Bear Swim celebrates its 14th year. It happens at Sp’akw’us Feather Park on Wednesday, January 1st. The park’s address is 37321 Galbraith Avenue and the plunge happens at noon.

It’s hard to tell how many people will show up to swim this year. Probably quite a few. Last year the Swim Wild Squamish swim club invited members of the public to join their New Year’s Day dip in the ocean at nearby Xwu’nekw Park. About 20 people swam at that event. About the same number went to watch. Somewhere between around 70 and 100 people also swam at last year’s January 1st swim at Porteau Cove, and more than another hundred attended as spectators. Because the event is once again close to town, after so many years of being away, we expect even more people in the water in 2025.

The Squamish Polar Bear Swim is fast and sweet. Within about five minutes pretty much everyone is out of the water. After drying off, people either get into their cars and head home or go to a nearby coffee shop for hot drinks. It’s a fun event (for crazy people), but also lots of fun.

A few people still dress up event, at least a little bit, and Squamish Search & Rescue is on-site just in case anyone gets hurt or suffers a heart attack because of the cold.

Porteau Cove Polar Bear Swim (in past recent years)

The Squamish Polar Bear Swim has been happening for 14 years. For the past three years it happened at Porteau Cove because the beach at Sp’akw’us Feather Park wasn’t accessible. The event at the provincial park was fairly large. A good number of people attended it.

The event at Porteau Cove was just the swim. There wasn’t a contest, live music, bonfire or anything else. There was a washroom at the park where you could change in and out of your swimsuit. There weren’t, however, any coffee shops in the area.

At the last January 1st swim last year, close to 100 participants were in the water. In total, there are around 200 people at the event including supportive family members, friends and other onlookers.

The event at Porteau Cove Provincial Park took place at the boat launch which is right by the parking lot and the wharf near the entrance to the park.

Porteau Cove is about 20 km south of Squamish and 25 km north of Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. It’s also about 8.5 km south of Britannia Beach (which is home to the Britannia Mine Museum which is well worth checking out).

Squamish Polar Bear Swim at Porteau Cove — Polar Bear Swim at Porteau Cove

Tips & Advice

Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your polar bear swim experiences in the Sea-to-Sky Region.

TIP #1: Costumes are fun and encouraged. Wearing footwear in the water is also recommended.

TIP #2: If you want to do other things while in the area, either before or after your swim, there are a number of options. Shannon Falls Provincial Park is nearby, and Alice Lake isn’t too far either. Both are nice places to explore. The Britannia Mine Museum is also a very interesting place, and you pass right by it on your way to and from Vancouver. There is also the Sea-to-Sky Gondola and Porteau Cove.

Xwu'nekw Park in Squamish — Xwu’nekw Park in Squamish on Jan. 1st in 2024

Swim Wild Squamish Polar Bear Swim

Swim Wild Squamish is a swim club for adults who want to swim in area rivers, lakes and the ocean. It’s for people of all swimming abilities who want to swim in the “wild” as opposed to in swimming pools. Most of the club’s events are for members only.

The swim club had a polar beer swim on January 1st last year in Mamquam Blind Channel at the beach at Xwu’nekw Park. Prior to that, every year, they joined Squamish’s main event, either at Porteau Cove or Sp’akw’us Feather Park.