Do you dare swim with the Bear Lake Monster?

Monster swim

The Bear Lake Monster Swim is a 10K point-to-point race across the width of Bear Lake (home of the Bear Lake Monster).  
The swim is open to solo swimmers and 2 to 6-person relay teams.  All solo swimmers must provide their own support paddler.  Relay teams are responsible for providing their own support craft, large enough to hold all team members. 

 Date: Saturday, July 19th 2025 

We will be starting at the Bear Lake Marina and finishing on the other side of the lake at Cisco Beach.  In the event of bad weather conditions, the course may be switched to laps of a marked course near the shore.

Different Events:

  1. 1/2 Mile Solo ($25) - Loop at Bear Lake Marina North Pavillion Beach and back
  2. 1 Mile Solo ($40) - Longer loop at Bear Lake Marina North Pavillion Beach and back
  3. Relay 10K Monster swim ($40 per swimmer) - Relay team of 2 to 6 people to swim across the lake to Cisco Beach - Must provide a support boat for the entire relay team.
  4. Solo 10K Monster swim ($80) - Solo swim from Bear Lake Marina North Pavillion Beach to Cisco Beach - Must provide own kayak and support paddler.

Swimmers will receive a parking pass via email that will need to be displayed in their vehicle.  If you have an annual parks pass, we encourage you to use that instead of the parking pass we will provide.  Annual parks passes are only $125 per year and are good for all State Parks in Utah.  
Swimmers will meet at the Bear Lake State Park Marina in Garden City for check-in, get your cap, and sign waiver.  We are not providing shirts unless your purchase one explicitely upon registration. We're trying to keep the event simple, and costs down.  However, you will receive a custom Bear Lake Monster finishers medal. (Limited to first 100 swimmers)
Please review the timeline below to be clear on when you need to check-in and get ready to swim.

Small Monster swim (1/2 Mile and 1 Mile)
The 1/2 and 1 Mile swims are loop courses starting from the beach north of the marina and ends at the starting beach right there at the check-in pavilion. The 1/2 mile swim will swim to the first turnaround buoy and the 1 mile swimmers will swim to the second turnaround buoy.  Swimmers participating in this distance do not have to provide their own paddlers, although it would be extremely helpful if they could provide a support paddler for the group of swimmers in this race.  
Please review the timeline below to be clear on when you need to check-in and get ready to swim.

Tentative Schedule of Events:

Saturday July 19th, 2025
Because we also have a 1 mile race starting at 8am the check-in time for the Monster swim is extended from 7:00am to 8:30am.  Please arrive as soon as possible so we don't have everyone show up at 8:30am.
7:00am - Swimmer check-in
7:45am - Pre-race meeting for 1/2 and 1 mile swim
8:00 am - Start of race for the 1/2 and 1 mile swim
8:30am - Swimmer check-in closes
8:45am - Pre-race meeting for Monster Swim
9:00am - Start of the race for Monster Swim
3:00pm - Event cut-off time for Monster Swim

Monster Swimmers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and leave a car at Cisco Beach or have someone pick them up.

Solo Swimmers (for Monster Swim):

All solo swimmers are responsible for providing their own support paddler or other support boat.  Swimmers who do not have a support boat will not be allowed to swim.

Wetsuits, paddles, fins, electronic aids of any kind are allowed for solo swimmers but they are considered as assistance and will be tracked separately from swimmers who swim with just a suit, goggles, and swim cap. During the course of the swim, when stopping for fuel or drink, the swimmer must tread water/float on their own and not touch a support vessel or receive any floatation support.  That is considered a completion/forfeit of the swim.  

Relay Teams (for Monster Swim):

Relay teams consist of two to six swimmers.  Relay teams will establish a swimming order and transition swimmers every 30 minutes until the swim is finished.  Each relay team is responsible for providing their own support craft (motorboats are recommended).

During transitions, an orange flag must be raised.  The new swimmer will enter the water from behind the current swimmer.  After the current swimmer has been passed, that swimmer may then board the support boat.  During transitions, motorboats must keep a safe distance and keep their engines in neutral until the swimmer being relieved has boarded the boat.

Relay teams are largely responsible for policing themselves with regard to following the transition rules.  Race directors will also be out on the water patrolling the course.  Reports of violations may be filed following the race and will be investigated by the race directors.

All swimmers who complete the course will receive a custom Bear Lake Monster finishers medal. 

Register now and secure your spot.  The race will be full at 80 total swimmers.

Register by filling out this form and making Venmo payment:  

Questons?  Email Gordon Gridley at:
ggridley@gmail.com 
or text 385-238-9294