To build visibility and awareness of Portland's Willamette River's revival, HAP formed an open water swimming team in 2012 – the River Huggers. In short, it’s a public advocacy swim group. All intermediate level swimmers are welcome and you should be able to swim a mile in a pool in 45 minutes without stopping.

The River Hugger Swim Team typically swims mid-June through mid-September. Stay tuned for the official starting date of the 2024 season!

For the 2024 season the River Huggers are anticipated to swim Monday-Friday at 7:00am and 7:45am, and on Saturday at 9am.  The weekday morning swims cross the Willamette River and back; advanced swimmers are welcome to take a second lap.  The Saturday swim heads to the Morrison Bridge and back. The Saturday swim is a slower paced and more relaxed swim. 

We will start the season by limiting groups to 25. That number includes two slots for a first time swimmer.  

The Huggers meet at the Station 21 Fire House on the Eastside Esplanade, near Hawthorne Bridge on time for a mandatory safety talk before swimming. It takes 25-30 minutes to swim across to the west side and back, 1/4 mile each direction.

SWIMMING IN A POD FOR AWARENESS AND SAFETY

River Huggers is not a competitive swim group, it’s a fun, intermediate level swim. 

We swim together as a pod to draw attention and create public awareness that it is safe to swim in the Willamette River. Safety paddlers accompany the group. Each swim is non refundable and costs $5. Whistles, swim buoys, goggles and bright caps are safety requirements. Ear plugs are not permitted to facilitate better hearing of any warnings from other swimmers or safety paddlers.

All first time participants must complete a chaperoned Angel Swim on their first swim with the team. The fee for first time River Huggers is $15, which includes the Angel Swimmer support, a River Hugger cap, and the use of a swim safety buoy if you don’t have one.  The first time swimmers will be given a loaner pink cap to distinguish first time swimmers for safety.  After your first swim please exchange the pink "Newbie" cap for the team green Hugger cap.

PORTLAND’S “OPEN WATER SWIMMING AMBASSADORS”

In July of 2018, a Mayoral proclamation was issued approving the “HAP River Huggers Swim Team as the City of Portland’s ambassadors for open water swimming safety and Official Open Water Swim Team.” In addition, July 11th was named River Hugger Swim Team Day in recognition of the work of the Human Access Project.

FACEBOOK

Follow us on Facebook at Human Access Project River Huggers swim team.  We usually post our pre-swim picture for each day. There may be last minute changes due to weather or water conditions and the River Hugger Facebook Page will be kept updated.