Bear Lake Monster Swim
Saturday, July 18th 2026
The Bear Lake Monster swim consists of three separate events:
½ mile swim
1 mile swim
10K swim (solo and relay)
Venue: Bear Lake State Park Marina (940 North Bear Lake Boulevard,
Garden City, Utah 84028)
Park Access and Parking: If you own a Utah State Parks Pass, PLEASE USE IT. If you don’t and need access to the park, please print out the parking pass accompanying this document in your race packet email. You must print out this pass on your own and remember to bring it with you; otherwise, you will be responsible for purchasing your own day pass when you arrive at the gate. PLEASE only print out one pass per swimmer. Relay swimmers, please carpool as much as possible. Each pass costs us after the race, and we have tried our best to be as financially responsible with your entry fees. The parking pass is on the last page of this document.
Race location within the park: Just like last year, we will be congregating and starting the race at the south end of the marina. (See picture below for details)
Race Day Timeline:
7:00 am swimmers can start to check in
7:45 am Swimmer meeting for ½ mile and 1 mile swim
8:00 am ½ Mile and 1-mile swim race starts
8:30 - Check in for the 10K closes
8:45 - 10K Swimmer and support boat pre-race meeting
9:00 am - 10K Race starts
3:00 pm - 10K cut-off time
Swimmer Categories:
Unassisted - Only the following equipment is allowed
Swim cap – usually a single, porous silicone, latex, or fabric cap.
Goggles
Standard swimsuit – must be textile (not neoprene or rubber), not covering past the shoulders or below the knees.
Grease (like lanolin or petroleum jelly) – for chafing
Earplugs and nose clips – allowed for comfort, not performance.
Assisted - Any performance-enhancing equipment not listed above. Examples of additional equipment that would disqualify swimming in the unassisted category:
Wetsuits or neoprene suits
Fins, hand paddles, pull buoys, or kickboards
Buoyant aids like wetsuits or flotation devices
Full-body swimsuits or any material that traps air or adds buoyancy
Smart goggles which provide real-time visual feedback for pacing, navigation or metrics
MP3 Players music used to help swimmer with maintaining a rhythm or beat
Holding on to a boat will disqualify a swimmer and result in a DNF, however, if your safety requires it, please don’t risk your life.
½ Mile and 1 Mile Information
At 8:45 am all the ½ mile and 1 mile swimmers will meet at the south part of the marina, where we will have a quick meeting to explain the following swimming procedures:
Swimmers will start in the water approximately waist deep near the first green starting/finish buoy. Swimmers will swim towards the trampoline positioned south south east of the staring buoy, keeping the trampoline on your right. Once passing the trampoline head south towards the green buoy which is the turnaround point for the ½ mile swimmers. GO AROUND the buoy with the buoy on your right (clockwise). Then head back the same way you came, rounding the trampoline again on the way back, keeping the trampoline on your left and then return to the buoy you started from.
Mile swimmers will not turn around at the first green but continue on to the 2nd green buoy and turn around in the same manner, going all the way around the buoy in a clockwise direction and swim back to the start the same way you came. See the map above for details.
We will have several support vessels out on the water to help guide you and ensure your safety. There are no rules in regards to stroke, or style. So feel free to swim at your own pace, or to rest and float on your back, but if you find yourself overly exhausted and out of breath, please wave your hand at any support vessel for assistance.
As you return to the finish buoy please touch the buoy which will be the moment we stop the clock for you. The clock starts at the same time for everyone, but the finish will occur for you once you make contact with the buoy. Take your time getting out as there are large rocks at that point and we want to make sure you get out safely. You may want to have some water shoes available near the start to make it easier for you.
Please wear sunscreen as the time spent in the water for the 1 mile race may be long enough to burn.
Feel free to text any questions to Gordon (385-238-9294) or Joelle (435-225-3921)
10K Course (Relay and Solo)
Paddlers - Prior to the 10K we will be having the ½ and 1 mile race. We do this to encourage support from the 10K paddlers to help monitor the course during the earlier race. They don’t have to paddle the whole thing, just be out there to help monitor a small portion of the mile course. Any paddlers who volunteer to help with the mile course will be able to pick out a t-shirt from races we’ve had in the past out of the bin. Just inform us that you’ll help paddle for the mile race and pick out a shirt at check-in. We won’t be mailing out any shirts.
At 8:45 we will be holding the 10K swimmer/support meeting at the south end of the marina near the starting buoy. Each 10K swimmer will receive with their cap a ziplock bag with contact numbers for assistance and emergency procedures. Keep this paper available in this bag (also good to keep your phone dry), should you need it.
At 9:00am we will start the Relay swimmers first as a group together. Allowing them and their support boats to clear the area before we start the solo swimmers.
At 9:10am we will start the solo swimmers.
Here is the course to take for the 10K. You will swim east towards Black Mountain (see below). The finish is a little south of a straight line to black mountain. Please pass the following on to your 10K paddler:
10K Soloist Kayakers should be familiar with and experienced in their craft. You as the swimmer’s support, should know you have 3 primary jobs:
Safety - Ensure the swimmer is safe. You cannot do this if you are more than 10 yards from your swimmer. You need to keep an eye on them at all times. Every kayaker should be wearing a PFD and have one stowed for your swimmer should they need to board your craft. Any aborted swims should be called in immediately.
Positional Guidance - You should try to stay at the swimmer’s 3 o'clock, or 9 o'clock position to guide the swimmer and keep them pointed directly towards the finish. The more time the swimmer is swimming of course due to lack of guidance can extend the 10K to a much longer distance unnecessarily.
You should ensure the bow of your craft is pointed directly to where the finish line is located (based on the directions you are given at the safety meeting, and until you can actually visibly see the finish arch). When your swimmer takes a breath, they should see the angle your boat is heading and take corrective actions accordingly so that they stay parallel to your boat. YOU are the guide, not the swimmer. So be sure to keep your boat pointed toward the finish and that you are positioned so that the swimmer can clearly see you.
Providing feeds - On a predetermined schedule you decide with your swimmer, you should be providing drinks and solid food. It is very important to stay hydrated and properly energized. You will cramp up if you don’t. Swimmers should not be hanging on to the boat for food or drink. They can be handed a drink or food by hand, but they should not be stopping and holding on to any flotation for assistance. That is considered an aborted swim.
Swimmers, trust your support crew. They should try to keep their bow directed right toward the finish. If you try to sight instead of trust their abilities, you will waste energy and time getting to the finish. Their job is to get you there. Your job is to swim alongside them.
10K Finish (Cisco Beach Campground Entrance)
Full Course
From the marina, when you look to the east, you should see top of Black Mountain. It looks like this:
Here is the view of Black Mountain from the marina:
From the marina, the heading you want is approximately 96 degrees.
Support boat tips:
Stay positive and upbeat for the swimmer, and take care of yourself too. Paddling a 10K is not easy either. Be sure to stay hydrated yourself and protected from the sun.
Be sure to keep your phone charged and safe, should you need it in case of an emergency.
Emergency Procedures (if needed): This will also be provided at the race check-in
If you need help, call
Safety Director: Gordon Gridley 385-238-9294
Utah State Parks: 435-946-3343
Race Director: Joelle Brown-Beard 435-225-3921
Sheriff Dispatch: 435-946-3210
If you have a real emergency:
1) Give your swimmer and PFD and try to get them in your boat
2) call 911
Tell the dispatcher you are accompanying a swimmer across Bear Lake and provide the following
Your location (Bear Lake between Cisco Beach on east side, and Utah State Marina on west side) It is best to have a GPS with you and give them your coordinates!
The nature of your emergency.
Your boat color/size
Swimmer’s name/Kayaker's name and swimmer’s race number
10K Finish procedures:
As you get nearer to Cisco beach you will see a blow up arch. That is the finish arch. Right before the arch is a Finish buoy which you will need to touch. As you get closer to that buoy have your kayaker loudly shout out your number to the timing volunteers so they know which swimmer to end the time for.
Once you get close to the green finish buoy, the support person should yell loudly out the swimmer's number to the timing crew. They will then make note of the time once the swimmer makes contact with the finish buoy, which will be very close to shore. There are large boulders and rocks on this beach. We will NOT have a beach finish as it is dangerous for swimmers to rush out of the water and fall on rocks. The finish will be accomplished by touching the buoy. Please take your time getting out and avoid slipping. We will have a finisher's medal there for you as you exit the water.
Swimmers and support crew are responsible for their own transportation back to the start.
10K Relay swimmers, if you are receiving this email, please ensure this is forwarded on to all swimmers in your relay. We want to ensure everyone has access to this information and may not have all the relay swimmers' email address.
Results:
Results will be posted as soon as possible to the event website:
https://bearlakemonsterswim.blogspot.com/
For your information, here are the current records:
10K Solo record (Unassisted): Deni Cullom (2:19:47) on 7/19/2014
10K Solo record (Assisted): Brandon Darrington (2:39:15) on 7/19/2025
10K Relay record (Unassisted): 2:48:59 on 7/18/2015
10K Relay record (Assisted): 2:54:52 on 7/19/2014
1 Mile record (Unassisted): Connor Moore (18:54) on 7/18/2020
1 Mile record (Assisted): Anna Forrest (23:21) on 7/17/2021
½ Mile record (Unassisted): Taryn Heggen (12:13) on 7/17/2021
½ Mile record (Assisted): Jonah Miller (16:39) on 7/13/2019
Please print this out and display it on your dashboard:
