Portland Bridge Swim

Swim 11 Miles Through Downtown Portland

Main Content

12 Bridges

11 Miles

100 Swimmers

~ 70 Degrees

Welcome

The Portland Bridge Swim will be on July 9, 2023. Registration is open until July 2 at 5:00 PM.

We are proud to be hosting the 2023 USMS Ultramarathon Distance National Championship race!

Things to know before you register:

  • Solo swimmers will need to be full members of USMS to compete; relay swimmers can still purchase a one-event USMS membership.
  • Get your qualifying swim done before you register!  Solo swimmers must complete a 5000 m/5500 yd  swim in 1:40 or less within the last 3 years. Relay swimmers must complete a 1500 m/1650 yd swim in 35 minutes or less within the last 3 years.  Pool or still-water open water (not current-assisted) swims will be accepted. Have your swim time and location ready when you enter.
  • If you are a solo swimmer coming from out of the area, you can request a volunteer local escort when you register.

Access registration here.

Registration

The 2023 race is scheduled for Sunday July 9, 2023.

Registration is open until 4:59 PM on Sunday July 2, 2023. You can access it here.

We hope to see you in the river!

Get Our News

The Course

Start: Sellwood Riverfront Park
Finish: Cathedral Park

The Portland Bridge Swim course is approximately 11 miles (17 km) with the current. Swimmers will enter the water at Sellwood Riverfront Park (SE 7th Ave & Miller St, Portland), swim South under the Sellwood Bridge, pass around the bridge pylons and swim North along the East side of the river. The course runs under all 12 of Portland’s Willamette River bridges, through downtown and beyond. Swimmers will pass under the St. John’s bridge and exit the water via the boat ramp in Cathedral Park (N Edison & Pittsburg Ave, Portland).

Safety

The nuts and bolts of our safety plan: To ensure that entrants are capable of completing the swim safely, a qualifying swim will be required upon entry. Swimmers must show that they have completed a 5000 m or 5500 yd swim within 1 hour, 40 minutes. The swim can be in a pool or still (ie. no current assist) open water. Time must be verified by an observer but it does not have to be an organized swim. The number of entrants will be capped at 100 so that organizers can safely track swimmers. The Portland Bridge Swim will be held in the Willamette River. The Swim will begin at Sellwood …

see more about Safety

Registration