Registration Open for the Iconic Columbia River Cross Channel Swim: 81st Annual Event Set for Aug. 30

Apr 7

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From Visit Hood River:

By Katie Kadlub

Cascade Locks, Ore., April 7, 2025 — Registration is now open for one of the nation's longest-running and most iconic open water swimming events, the Columbia River Cross Channel Swim.

Proudly returning for its 81st year on Saturday, Aug. 30, the beloved Labor Day tradition held along the picturesque banks of the Columbia River dates back to the 1940s, when Hood River local Roy Webster first began swimming the river with his family.

For more than eight decades, enthusiasts have congregated along the Columbia River's shores, with recent years seeing the event hosted at the Sternwheeler paddleboat dock in Cascade Locks. Swimmers board the historic Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler and are ferried across the channel to Washington's shore. Upon a signal, participants leap from the decks into the river, commencing a 1.1-mile open water swim toward the Columbia River's south (Oregon) shore. While not timed, participants must complete the swim within an hour or be picked up by a safety boat. The swimmers have a dedicated swim lane, flanked by volunteers on sailboats, kayaks, and paddleboards, ensuring guidance, encouragement, and safety.

This year, the longstanding event introduces a new safety measure: swimmers will now be required to use a tow buoy. This added precaution aims to enhance safety by improving visibility and providing participants a more efficient way to rest during the event if needed.

“The mighty Columbia River is the lifeblood of Hood River and the Pacific Northwest, and the Cross Channel Swim is a spectacular celebration of its power and beauty,” said Katie Kadlub, CEO of Visit Hood River. “There’s no better way to honor this iconic river than through the passion, community spirit, and camaraderie shared by swimmers, volunteers, event organizers, and residents alike.”

To register for the Columbia River Cross Channel Swim, visit columbiariverswim.com.

For more information on Visit Hood River and the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, or to book your stay, visit visithoodriver.com.

For official event photos CLICK HERE, credit to Visit Hood River.

About Hood River:

Located at the crossroads of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the magnificent Cascade Range and just an hour from Portland, Hood River offers outdoor recreation, dramatic vistas, historic landmarks, bountiful fruit, and fantastic food, wine, beer, and cider. With accommodations ranging from luxury hotels to historic B&Bs, Hood River is a four-season destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts, weddings, corporate events, and more. It was named a Best Adventure and Explorations Town by the 2023 Sunset Travel Awards and Nature Lovers Destination in the 2022 Sunset Travel Awards, a Top 10 Wine Destination for 2017 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and 2015 Best Adventure Town in the West by Sunset magazine. Visit Hood River supports economic development, community development, and destination marketing for Hood River, Cascade Locks, Mosier, Odell, Parkdale, Pine Grove, and Mount Hood. For more information, call 800-366-3530 or visit visithoodriver.com.