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Lake Swimming Rules & Information

Welcome to Wild Swimming at Wilderness! We hope you have a great swim, but before you do, please read the following guidance to keep safe.

Wild swimming in cold water for many of you is a pleasurable experience. It can also be dangerous. The water is untreated, opaque and cold with deep silt, and there are areas of reeds which create the risk of entanglement.

The water depth is deep in both lakes, well beyond standing depth, with depths up to 2.9m in Lake Wilderness and up to 4.5m in Lake Superior. You need to be a competent swimmer in deep water and confident in the abilities of any dependents.

  1. Getting into cold water can take your breath away; in this instance, turn onto your back and kick your legs gently until your breathing returns to normal. Warm up before your swim and bring warm clothes to put on afterwards.
  2. Don’t push your time in cold water if you are not used to it – limit the time you are in the lake.
  3. Cold water will reduce your swimming speed, ability and endurance, so don’t be overambitious.
  4. Don’t jump or dive in, but use the platform step – if you jump or dive in, you can suffer “cold water shock” or may injure yourself.
  1. Cover up any cuts and wounds with a waterproof plaster.
  2. Swim within your limits and don’t swim if you are not fit and well.
  3. Team up with a swimming buddy and watch out for each other.
  4. It can take a while to get used to the look and feel of natural water. Keep breathing normally and focus on the sky above or the feel of the fresh water, and you will soon relax into it.
  5. Avoid the areas of visible reeds and keep at least 2m from the lake edge.
  6. If you do encounter some reeds, slow your swim speed right down, don’t kick or thrash and either float through them using your arms to paddle or turn around slowly. Keep your body as close to the surface as you can.
  7. If you need help, raise your arm in the air and shout to get attention.
  8. The level of micro-organisms within this untreated water will fluctuate. Water quality tests have been carried out, and results are available from the lifeguards. Swimming will not be permitted if the water quality fails the tests, but the levels will vary, so:

Avoid swallowing the lake water

  • Avoid putting your whole head, particularly your ears, mouth, nose, and eyes, under water.
  • Wash your hands after your swim and before eating.
  • Have a shower after your swim. The nearest hot showers are back through the arena entrances towards your respective campsite.
  • If you develop any symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, severe headaches, muscle pain, a rash around your stomach and/or fatigue within 3 weeks of your swim, visit your doctor and mention your lake swim.
  • If you develop an ear infection, or an itchy, inflamed ear, discharge from the ear or temporary deafness, visit your doctor, mention your lake swim and the possibility of “swimmer’s ear”.

The following conditions are standard policy that swimmers must abide by to enter the lakes:

  1. All swimmers / boat-users must enter the lakes at designated entry points
  2. No jumping or diving to enter the lakes
  3. No boats/inflatables/own paddleboards in the swimming areas
  4. No detergents or other chemicals to be used in or around the lakes
  5. Should the lifeguards have concerns about the competency of any swimmer (irrespective of age), they may ask them to do a test swim near the entry/exit jetty. Swimmers must be able to swim confidently on their front or back and keep their head above the water without assistance. Should the lifeguard team deem a swimmer not to have the required swimming ability, they may deny them entry or ask them to exit the water.
  6. Anyone who appears to be intoxicated will not be permitted to swim or boat (the lifeguards or security will assess this at the entry/exit points to the swimming and boating areas)
  7. You should not swim if you have a reduced immune system, as your risk of developing serious health complications from contracting a waterborne illness is much higher
  8. No under-10s will be permitted to enter the water unaccompanied (age definition will be based upon visual assessment by lifeguards or security staff at entry points).
  9. Under-10s will be required to be in the care of a swimmer aged 18 or over while freeform swimming with a 2:1 child: adult ratio. The accompanying adult must be in the water with the under-10 and stay within close proximity to the child
  10. All under-10s must wear a brightly coloured bathing cap while in the lakes
  11. Young swimmers, bathers and paddlers will be directed to the Boathouse Swim Area (Lake Wilderness) and will not be permitted to swim in Lake Superior.
  12. No swimming in the boating lake.