Скачать или смотреть River Hugger Swim Team | Human Access Project | Portland, Oregon

To build visibility and awareness of Portland, Oregon's Willamette River's revival, Human Access Project (HAP) formed an open water swimming team in 2012 – the River Hugger Swim Team. In short, it’s a public advocacy swim group. All intermediate level swimmers are welcome meaning you should be able to swim a mile in a pool in 45 minutes without stopping.

The River Hugger Swim Team typically swims mid-June through mid-September.

The "Huggers" meet at the Station 21 Fire House on the Eastside Esplanade, near Hawthorne Bridge on time for a mandatory safety talk before swimming.


SWIMMING IN A POD FOR AWARENESS AND SAFETY
River Huggers is not a competitive swim group, it’s a fun, intermediate level swim.

We swim together as a pod to draw attention and create public awareness that it is safe to swim in the Willamette River. Safety paddlers accompany the group. Each swim is non refundable and costs $6 (as of 2025). Whistles, swim buoys, goggles and bright caps are safety requirements.

All first time participants must complete a chaperoned Newbie Swim on their first swim with the team. The fee for first time River Huggers is $20 (as of 2025), which includes the Angel Swimmer support, a River Hugger cap, and the use of a swim safety buoy if you don’t have one. The first time swimmers will be given a loaner pink cap to distinguish first time swimmers for safety. After your first swim please exchange the pink "Newbie" cap for the team green Hugger cap.

PORTLAND’S “OPEN WATER SWIMMING AMBASSADORS”
In July of 2018, a Mayoral proclamation was issued approving the “HAP River Huggers Swim Team as the City of Portland’s ambassadors for open water swimming safety and Official Open Water Swim Team.” In addition, July 11th was named River Hugger Swim Team Day in recognition of the work of the Human Access Project.

Drone video provided by Patrick Sherman and Rosewell Flight Crew.