Long Bridge Swim
About this race
The Long Bridge Swim is the Northwest's Premier open water swimming event! A beautiful 1.76 mile swim from the south end of Sandpoint's historic Long Bridge to the North end. Founded by local swimming enthusiast Eric Ridgway in 1995, the Long Bridge Swim has grown from the first group of 78 friends swimming across Lake Pend O'Reille to 705 swimmers in 2024. The Long Bridge Swim is always held the first Saturday in August. Spectators can easily watch their swimmers progress as they make their way across Lake Pend O'Reille.
Since 2010, the Long Bridge Swim has raised funds to support swim lessons for children and adults in the greater Sandpoint Area. We want everyone to be able to safely enjoy our beautiful Lake Pend O'Reille!
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Swimming
Long Bridge Swim
You must pick up your numbered swim cap and timing chip during one of the following packet pick up times: Friday, August 6, 2027 from 5:30-7 PM at Sandpoint High School Saturday, August 7, 2027 from 6:30-7:30 AM at Sandpoint High School *Note-the line gets considerably longer after 7:15 AM, so please plan accordingly. MANDATORY SAFETY MEETING for all swimmers will be held on Sandpoint High School's grassy quad at 8 AM. After the conclusion of the mandatory safety meeting, swimmers will be shuttled to the South end of the Long Bridge on school buses. Swimmers who want to start in the water will be given a blue swim cap and should board the first buses. Swimmers who would like a "mat start time" should board the later buses. Swim start is approximately 9 AM on Saturday, August 7, 2027. For those starting in the water, their time will start when the horn goes off. For those on land, your time will start when you cross the timing mat. If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ's at longbridgeswim.org or contact Karen at longbridgeswim@gmail.com. You will be given a numbered stuff sack into which you may place your towel, shoes, car keys, and anything you do not want to swim with. You will hand this bag to one of our friendly volunteers at the south end of the bridge and they will shuttle these bags to the north end of the bridge (where you will finish) and your bag will be waiting for you. The swim will proceed in all but lightning and severe wind/cold. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN IF CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER OR ANY OTHER REASON.
Aided Swim
You must pick up your numbered swim cap and timing chip during one of the following packet pick up times: Friday, July 31, 2026 from 5:30-7 PM at Sandpoint High School Saturday, August 1, 2026 from 6:30-7:30 AM at Sandpoint High School *Note-the line gets considerably longer after 7:15 AM, so please plan accordingly. MANDATORY SAFETY MEETING for all swimmers will be held on Sandpoint High School's grassy quad at 8 AM. After the conclusion of the mandatory safety meeting, swimmers will be shuttled to the South end of the Long Bridge on school buses. Swimmers who want to start in the water will be given a blue swim cap and should board the first buses. Swimmers who would like a "mat start time" should board the later buses. Swim start is approximately 9 AM on Saturday, August 1, 2026. For those starting in the water, their time will start when the horn goes off. For those on land, your time will start when you cross the timing mat. If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ's at longbridgeswim.org or contact Karen at longbridgeswim@gmail.com. You will be given a numbered stuff sack into which you may place your towel, shoes, car keys, and anything you do not want to swim with. You will hand this bag to one of our friendly volunteers at the south end of the bridge and they will shuttle these bags to the north end of the bridge (where you will finish) and your bag will be waiting for you. The swim will proceed in all but lightning and severe wind/cold. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN IF CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER OR ANY OTHER REASON.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 8 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Sandpoint, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 5:29 AM and sets at 8:14 PM local time (PDT) in Sandpoint on August 7, 2027 — 14h 44m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — Long Bridge Swim
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Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 13 Sandpoint events
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