Portland Bridge Swim

The Portland Bridge Swim is an ultra-marathon open-water swim held in July in Portland, Oregon. It runs from Sellwood Riverfront Park to Cathedral Park. Participants swim just over 11 miles on the Willamette River, passing under all 12 of Portland’s river bridges. The course navigates a tidal river, unlike a still lake or pool. The event is limited to 100 swimmers, making it a focused competition rather than a large, casual race. Solo swimmers must be adults and demonstrate the ability to swim 5000 meters or 5500 yards in under 1 hour and 40 minutes. Those who swim open water more slowly are advised against entering. The course proceeds up the east side of the Willamette through downtown Portland. Water temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit, with a strict afternoon cutoff for all participants to exit the water.