Sasamat Ice Cracker Open Water Swim

The Sasamat Ice Cracker Open Water Swim and SwimRun Challenge is an early-season open water event hosted in the calm waters of Sasamat Lake, near Port Moody, British Columbia. Organized by Canaqua Sports, this gathering brings swimmers and multisport athletes together on the shoreline of a secluded mountain basin.

The Ice Cracker and SwimRun at White Pine Beach

The race unfolds from White Pine Beach, positioned at the northern end of Sasamat Lake. The tranquil morning lake often mirrors the surrounding forest, offering calm, glass-flat conditions before the first wave wades into the fresh water. For pure swimmers, the event provides dedicated lap courses spanning 1K, 3K, and 5K options. Each swimmer pushes through clean lake circuits, sighting on mountain ridges and the tree-lined rim of the basin. The loop format allows participants to settle into an uninterrupted rhythm across the sheltered expanse of the lake, steering clear of maritime currents and tidal shifts. Alongside the traditional swim races, the SwimRun Challenge blends open water laps with overland efforts, incorporating a 10K trail run.

Competitors alternate between swimming and running sections around the lake, requiring footwear capable of moving seamlessly between forest tread and surface flutter. Tackling the course means handling technical dirt trails while balancing swimming mechanics with running cadence. The gathering earned its moniker as the "Ice Cracker" because Sasamat Lake's fresh mountain water remains quite brisk in early May. While wetsuits are technically optional for most of the challenge, many racers welcome the thermal insulation, pairing their rubber skin with the mandatory event swim caps. Sasamat Lake is celebrated locally as one of the warmest bodies of water in the Greater Vancouver area, and the May chill soon gives way to balmy summer swimming.

Laps, trails and sandy shore: the course at Sasamat Lake

At the Sasamat Ice Cracker, the 1.0K swim is one lap of the course at Sasamat Lake. The 5K swim is five laps of the same course. The 3.5K Mudskipper SwimRun on the same lake is made of two swims and two runs. The 6.5K and 13K Mudskipper SwimRuns are one or two laps, with the cool waters of Sasamat Lake followed by running along its trails. There are lots of pocket beaches around Sasamat Lake, but the sandy area at White Pine Beach is the most popular place to swim. Belcarra Regional Park, which holds the lake, has 22 km of hiking trails, plus connections to trails at nearby Buntzen Lake.

Sasamat Lake: sheltered freshwater and floating bridge

Sasamat Lake occupies a high perch just east of Bedwell Bay, an inlet branching directly off the glacial waters of Burrard Inlet. Swimmers enjoy steady, uninterrupted stroke lines across the surface. The lake is widely recognized as one of the warmest freshwater venues across the entire Greater Vancouver region. Although the May event hits the lake during its brisk spring transition, it warms quickly as daylight lengthens. Swimmers can experience the brisk bite of spring and return later in the summer to encounter tranquil, bath-warm conditions. Spanning the lake's southern end, a floating wooden bridge stretches from shore to shore, serving as a hub for recreational swimming and local anglers.

Təmtəmíxʷtən and Belcarra: rainforest bluffs and coastal wildlife

The forest landscape cradling the lake forms part of Belcarra Regional Park, which holds the ancestral village site of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The park lands around Admiralty Point encompass rocky coastal bluffs, secluded streams, and intertidal pools nestled within the dry Coastal Western Hemlock zone. Moss-covered rock shelves drop straight down into the coastal water, creating a wild shoreline landscape within walking distance of the race start. In the marine margins of the park, harbour seals and crabs thrive in the rich coastal currents. Recreational crabbing is permitted in the surrounding waters, though local conservation rules restrict the harvest to male crabs in order to safeguard local breeding populations. Birdlife is equally visible across the nearby coves and bays.

Common and hooded mergansers patrol the shoreline of the Port Moody Arm, regularly diving beneath the surface to hunt fish. Higher up, nesting ospreys establish summer residences on elevated wooden platforms built beside the shoreline, hunting over the inlet waters and providing a dramatic spectacle for athletes exploring the coast after their swim.

Indian Arm and Say Nuth Khaw Yum: waterfalls and fjord history

Just about seven kilometres away over the ridge from Sasamat Lake lies Indian Arm, a deep fjord whose waters form Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park across more than 6,800 hectares. During odd-numbered years from July through October, large runs of pink salmon ascend the estuary waters of the Indian River at the fjord's head. {{h2:Port Moody and Burrard Inlet: piers, trails, and hatchery creeks}} At the eastern terminus of Burrard Inlet, the town of Port Moody sits right where mountain tributaries meet the tide. More than 41 freshwater streams cascade down from the surrounding ridges to empty into the inlet. Local water stewards at the Port Moody Ecological Society operate a salmon and trout hatchery along these streams, actively sustaining native fish populations through continuous conservation work. Along the waterfront, Rocky Point Park features a recreational pier and boat launch where locals stroll and watch boats glide across the basin. At the northern end of the popular Shoreline Trail, Old Orchard Park provides a sandy beach. These waterfront parks make great gathering places to unwind and walk the shoreline.