Swimming Safely in National Parks: Life Jackets, Currents, Tides and Water Watchers

Swimming in natural water — streams, rivers, lakes and oceans — is very different from swimming in a pool:

• currents can tire you out and sweep you away;
• distances over water are greater than they look;
• cold water can shock your body and make swimming hard;
• the depth can suddenly drop above your chin;
• underwater hazards such as trees and rocks can trap you.

Swimming in a life jacket at Baker Lake, North Cascades National Park. NPS/Karlie Roland

Before you go

• Find out whether swimming is allowed — check the park's "Plan Your Visit" page or contact the park about water rules and safety.
• Leave a trip plan with a friend or family member.
• Don't swim alone.
• Check the forecast at weather.gov and any park alerts or closures. A sunny day can quickly turn into a thunderstorm with lightning, strong currents and flash floods — watch the sky and be ready to get back to shore.

In the water

Wear a life jacket — always. Use a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket. Rafts, swim rings and water wings are not substitutes, especially for children and weak swimmers. Even strong, experienced swimmers get caught in currents, tire or get hurt, and rescuers can take time to arrive. Some parks have free loaner life jackets — ask. (Boating rules: vessel safety.)

Learn to swim — and know your limits. Lessons teach water survival skills, not just strokes. Be realistic about your ability, your experience in natural water, and that of everyone with you.

Name a Water Watcher. A Water Watcher supervises children, inexperienced swimmers and non-swimmers — more than one for a big group. Even with a lifeguard present, children and inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets and stay within arm's reach of an adult. A moment's distraction can lead to drowning.

Swim where it's designated. Find out where and when lifeguards are on duty, and obey all signs and flags.

Don't drink or use drugs. They impair judgment, coordination and swimming, endangering you and others.

Currents

Currents are hard to see: rip currents in oceans and lakes, and river currents, can look calm on top while moving fast underneath. They're stronger than they look — even wading in shallow water can knock you off your feet. Stand well back from moving water so a slip on wet rocks doesn't drop you in.

If a current catches you:

• don't fight it;
• in a rip current, swim parallel to shore;
• in a strong river current, swim across it toward shore.

More: river and stream safety.

Tides

Oceans, estuaries and the streams that feed them are tidal; tides reverse about every six hours.

• High tide can hide sandbars, seaweed and rocks, cut you off on a rock or sandbar you reached at low tide, and flood caves you walked into.
• At low tide you may be swimming far from shore, facing a long swim back when the tide turns.

Check tide tables before swimming or exploring beaches, especially below cliffs, and watch the water when you arrive. If an incoming tide traps you, get to higher ground and call for help.

If you don't know, don't swim

Don't swim in natural water if you don't know the park's rules, don't know the hazards, or don't have a Coast Guard–approved life jacket.

Plan with the NPS Trip Planning Guide and Junior Ranger Park Explorer. More: health and safety in parks · severe weather · top water hazards.

Sources

Based on "Go for a Swim in a Park," National Park Service; a work of the United States government in the public domain.