Across the Lake Swim

Across the Lake Swim Experience the magic of open water swimming in breathtaking destinations. Includes Canada's longest running and largest open water swim event in Kelowna, BC.

Every year hundreds of swimmers challenge themselves to swim the 2.1km distance across pristine Okanagan Lake in Kelowna, BC Canada. Funds generated by the swim are directed to the YMCA Okanagan Swims program which is solely funded by the Across the Lake Swim Society. Each year we send over 1700 Grade 3 kids for FREE swimming lessons.

There's a unique feeling standing at the start line of the Kelowna swim.The nerves. The excitement. The final conversati...
05/31/2026

There's a unique feeling standing at the start line of the Kelowna swim.

The nerves. The excitement. The final conversations with friends. The last-minute goggle adjustments. Looking across the lake and realizing that in a few minutes, you'll be swimming to the other side.

For some, it's a yearly tradition. For others, it's a first-ever open water swim. But in that moment, everyone is standing together, sharing the same anticipation and the same goal.

Then the swim starts, the water fills with colour, and a journey that began weeks, months, or even years earlier finally gets underway.

The swim starts here.

🏊 July 18, 2026
📍 Across the Lake Swim Kelowna

Every swimmer has someone on the shore. 💙For many swimmers, crossing the finish line is only part of the story. The real...
05/31/2026

Every swimmer has someone on the shore. 💙

For many swimmers, crossing the finish line is only part of the story. The real memories often include the people who got up early, stood on the beach, and spent the morning cheering them on.

Whether you're swimming 1.5km or tackling a much longer challenge, there's something special about looking up and seeing someone there for you.

To all the family members, friends, supporters, and spectators who line our shores each summer, thank you for being part of the experience.

You help create the atmosphere that makes these events feel like so much more than a swim.

The best smiles on the beach belong to these folks. 💚Behind every swim is a crew of volunteers who show up early, stay l...
05/30/2026

The best smiles on the beach belong to these folks. 💚

Behind every swim is a crew of volunteers who show up early, stay late, and make the whole day run. They hand out caps, store your gear, cheer from the shore, and somehow keep their energy up from the first swimmer to the last.

Across the Lake Swim doesn't happen without them. Not the check-in, not the start line, not the finish. These are the people who turn a swim into an event, and a crowd into a community.

To every volunteer: thank you. We see everything you do, and we're grateful for every bit of it. 🙌

The calm before the crossing. 🚌🌞Hundreds of swimmers, lined up and waiting for the buses that'll carry them to the far s...
05/30/2026

The calm before the crossing. 🚌🌞

Hundreds of swimmers, lined up and waiting for the buses that'll carry them to the far shore. Then it's just them, the lake, and the swim way back.

You can see it on every face. A little focus, a few easy smiles, and the unmistakable buzz of a Kelowna morning that everyone here will be talking about for years.

This is the one. The oldest and largest open water swim in Canada, and the whole crew is ready.

This is the good part. 🌞That stretch before the start, wetsuits half on, nerves turning into grins, one more laugh befor...
05/29/2026

This is the good part. 🌞

That stretch before the start, wetsuits half on, nerves turning into grins, one more laugh before hitting the water.

You can feel it on the beach. A little excitement, a little "are we really doing this," and a whole lot of people glad they showed up.

That's the Across the Lake Swim morning.

To everyone lining up this season: we can't wait to share the shore with you!

There's a certain feeling at the start line that's hard to explain until you've been there.The moment where hundreds of ...
05/29/2026

There's a certain feeling at the start line that's hard to explain until you've been there.

The moment where hundreds of swimmers, all with different stories and goals, stand together looking out at the same lake.

Some are chasing a personal best.
Some are crossing a lake for the first time.
Some are just hoping to prove to themselves that they can do it.

Join us on July 18th for the Across the Lake Swim Kelowna, Canada's largest and longest-running open water swim.

1.5km and 2.1km distances available.

Learn more at acrossthelakeswim.com

It's the walk up the beach and the realization that you just crossed an entire section of Kalamalka Lake under your own ...
05/28/2026

It's the walk up the beach and the realization that you just crossed an entire section of Kalamalka Lake under your own power.

For some swimmers, it's a personal best. For others, it's their first open water event.
And for many, it's simply about proving to themselves they could do something hard.

That's what makes Kalamalka Lake special. The water is stunning, the backdrop feels unreal, and every swimmer arrives at that finish line carrying a different story.

You don't just leave with a finish time.
You leave with a memory tied to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

Some swims are about finish times. Osoyoos feels more like a summer experience that stays with you long after the day is...
05/28/2026

Some swims are about finish times. Osoyoos feels more like a summer experience that stays with you long after the day is over.

The morning starts with warm desert air, the lake stretching out in front of you. Some are chasing a new distance. Some are trying open water for the very first time.

And then there's the feeling of swimming in Osoyoos itself. Clear water. Warm temperatures. Mountains in every direction. The kind of setting that makes you slow down for a second and look around while you're swimming.

On July 5th, choose the distance that fits your day:
✅ 1.5km
✅ 3km
✅ 5km

Not because you have something to prove.
Because some experiences are worth saying yes to.

Some of the best moments in open water swimming happen before anyone even gets in the water.A quick huddle on the beach....
05/27/2026

Some of the best moments in open water swimming happen before anyone even gets in the water.

A quick huddle on the beach. Nervous smiles. Encouragement from coaches, parents, and new friends. For many young swimmers, this is where confidence starts to grow.

We love seeing kids support each other, challenge themselves, and discover that they're capable of more than they thought. These moments are about much more than swimming across a lake. They're about community, courage, and creating memories that stick long after the swim is over.

05/27/2026

There's nothing else quite like it. Calm water, glowing light, and a swim you'll be talking about all year.
Across the LakeSwim Starlight is July 29th, and registration is open.
Come see what open water feels like after dark.
🔗 acrossthelakeswim.com

Address

Kelowna, BC

Telephone

+12504700281

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