The 36th Annual Tahoe Snowfest Polar Bear Swim at Gar Woods Lake Tahoe (@garwoodslaketahoe) will be held at 6,229 feet (1,898 meters) altitude on March 1st, 2025.

Catherine Turner of the Tahoe Restaurant Collection explains, “This event isn’t for the faint of heart – it’s cold, it’s wild, and it’s all about fun. Swimmers will take the plunge into the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe.

We love to see swimmers take on the challenge and show off their bravery. If jumping in the lake isn’t their thing, no worries—invite them to bundle up, come out, and cheer on the courageous souls taking the plunge. It’s always a blast and part of North Lake Tahoe SnowFest, the annual Mardi Gras in the Sierra Nevada mountains.”

1st place receives US$300, 2nd place receives US$150, 3rd place receives US$50, and last place receives a free hot drink with the maximum time in the water not to exceed 20 minutes for the 250-yard lake dip.

The Gar Woods Polar Bear Swim is one of the world’s longest running high-altitude swims that are defined as open water swims held at least 1,000 meters above sea level. National Geographic reported, “Lakes across the globe that once froze solid all winter are melting faster than ever before and, in some cases, are not freezing at all” after visiting 513 lakes throughout the Northern Hemisphere to assess how their patterns of freezing and thawing had changed since 1970.“

Researchers estimated that 15,000 lakes around the world already freeze less than they used to and lake ice could become scarce within the next generation. This trend could lead to canceling traditional winter activities such as ice skating and ice fishing – and increase the number of ice swimming and high-altitude swimming events, wild swims, and challenges.

© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming

“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“

A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.