California Polar Plunges

Polar Plunge events can be exhilarating, but they also may offer challenges due to the extreme cold conditions you may subject your body to. Here are some tips for preparing for this time-honored event.

AVALON: Polar Plunge January 1, 2026, 11:30 a.m.
Presented by City of Avalon
Middle Beach, The Green Pier
Avalon, CA
All ages & abilities welcome! family fun - just plunge or swim the pier with us. Hot chocolate & light refreshments served. Please contact the City of Avalon Recreation Department for more details: cityofavalon.com

AVALON: Polar Bear Intermediate to Advanced 1 Mile Swim  January 1, 2026, 7:30 a.m.
Presented by City of Avalon at Casino Point Drive
1 Casino Way
Avalon, CA
cityofavalon.gov/ 1451/ Polar-Plunge

AVILA BEACH: Avila Beach Polar Bear Plunge January 1, 2026, 11:30 a.m. Meet on the South side of the Avila Beach pier at 11:30 a.m. for pictures and encouragement from fellow plungers for the 12 p.m. event. Free, visitavilabeach.com

BAKERSFIELD: Polar Plunge January 1, 2026, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

CAYUCOS: Cayucos Pier January 1, 2026
more info

HUNTINGTON BEACH: Huntington Beach Pier January 1, 2026
more info 

LIVERMORE: Livermore Area Recreation & Park District Polar Bear Plunge
January 3, 2026, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Robert Livermore Aquatic Center
4448 Loyola Way
Livermore, California 94550
Phone: 925-373-5700  $5 registration, larpd.org
Livermore Area Recreation & Park District 

Challenge yourself to take the plunge like a polar bear! Be one of the first in to plunge down the slide into the ice-cold catch pool. Once you’re done, enjoy a nice cup of free hot cocoa. *Participants are required to wear proper swimming attire and be at least 48 inches to participate. Free to the public; must preregister to participate.

PLEASANT HILL: Polar Bear Pool Party December 20, 2025, 1:30-3 p.m.
All Ages PH Aquatic Park: 147 Gregory Lane
Can you bear the cold? Kick off winter break with a pool party! Enjoy swimming in the heated pool, aquatics games and hot cocoa. Are you brave enough to test the chilly water of the training pool? Event will be held rain or shine. Pre-Registration $22.50/$18 (Dist. Res.)

SAN BERNARDINO: Polar Plunge January 10, 2026, 2-4 p.m. at the Jerry Lewis Swim Center. Location: 831 East Highland Avenue, San Bernardino, CA. $, sanbernardino.gov

SAN BRUNO: San Bruno Polar Plunge January 1, 2026 at the RAC Outdoor Pool. Prize for Best Costume, complimentary hot chocolate, limited edition commemorative item. sanbruno.ca.gov

 RANCHO CORDOVA: Rancho Cordova Polar Bear Plunge January
more info

SAN FRANCISCO: Union Square Polar Bear Skate January 1, 2026
more info: Online bookings are required this year.

SAN PEDRO: San Pedro - Cabrillo Beach January 1, 2023
more info

Socal Special Olympics Polar Plunges

sosc.org/polarplunge

BIG BEAR LAKE
Big Bear Polar Plunge

Special Olympics NorCal

  sonc.org/ events/ polar-plunge/ locations/

Jump in!
Polar Plunge season is open! There are several Plunge dates and locations . New this year for San Francisco are 5K/10K timed runs; and for the Greater Sacramento Polar Plunge an added 5K trail run.

All funds raised from the Polar Plunge  support Special Olympics'  programs in sports, health, education and athlete leadership  provided free of charge to athletes and families!

  Polar Plunge - Special Olympics Northern California, 2026! About | Locations | Fundraise | Cool Schools | Get Involved Choose a Polar Plunge Location New Plunge Location Badge Tuolumne County February 21, 2026 Lake Tullock South Shore Polar Plunge

2026 Stanislaus County February 22, 2026 Patterson Aquatic Center Polar Plunge

2026   Lake County February 28, 2026 Buckingham Club House Polar Plunge New Plunge Location Badge San Mateo February 28, 2026 Coyote Point Recreational Park Polar Plunge

2026  Trinity County February 28, 2026 Indian Creek Lodge Polar Plunge

2026 Fort Bragg March 7, 2026 Dolphin Isle Polar Plunge

2026  Sacramento March 7, 2026 Granite Bay Main Beach 5K Trail Run, 1-mi Run/Walk & Polar Plunge

2026  Santa Cruz March 7, 2026 Santa Cruz Boardwalk Polar Plunge

2026  Sonoma County March 7, 2026 Doran Beach Polar Plunge

2026  Siskiyou County March 14, 2026 Shasta County Community Center Polar Plunge

2026  Shasta County March 15, 2026 Oak Bottom Marina Polar Plunge

2026  Bay Area March 21, 2026 Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach 5K Run & Polar Plunge

2026  Fresno March 21, 2026 Millerton Lake Polar Plunge

SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz
 Rio Del Mar Beach
 
SAN FRANCISCO 5K/10K & POLAR PLUNGE
San Francisco 5K/10K & Polar Plunge
 Aquatic Park
 
GREATER SACRAMENTO 5K RUN & POLAR PLUNGE
Greater Sacramento
 Folsom Lake, Browns Raven
 
FRESNO
Fresno
 Millerton Lake
 
TUOLUMNE COUNTY
Tuolumne County
 Lake Tulloch
 
LAKE COUNTY
Lake County
 Lakeside County Park
 
FORT BRAGG
Fort Bragg
March 4, 2023
Dolphin Isle

SISKIYOU COUNTY
Siskiyou County
 Lake Shastina Community Center
 
SONOMA COUNTY
April 1, 2023
Doran Beach at Bodega Bay

Polar Plunges find their roots in the Nordic ice swimming that is so popular during the winter. California's winter polar plunge experiences seem cold enough with ocean temperatures dipping a slow as 50 degrees, and mountain temps at the lakes during the winters reaching freezing.

While there aren't as many January 1st polar plunges as there used to be, the Special Olympics several years ago began organizing polar plunge events as fund-raising efforts that are usually held February through March in cities throughout California where sponsors form teams.

Many sources credit the Coney Island Polar Bear Club (formed in 1903) as being the oldest club in the nation, but San Francisco's Dolphin Club (formed in 1877) has been swimming in its bay on a regular basis much longer. The club's swims tend toward the serious side for athletically-fit individuals. Coney Island Polar Bears do it for fun and they only meet and swim on Sundays during the winter months, unlike the Dolphin Club that meets and swims regularly in the Pacific Ocean throughout the year.

A younger club that engages the public in its annual swim on January 1st is Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears (formed in 1945). A king & queen are crowned to reign over the beach swims all year long. ]

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.