UPDATE: The Plunge has been reopened.
With temperatures rising, now is a great time to familiarize yourself with where to go swimming or cool off in Richmond and, perhaps more importantly, where to take swimming lessons.
There are a variety of pools that offer swimming lessons for adults and children as well as recreational swim hours. Swim prices vary for adults, children, residents, non-residents, veterans and seniors, so check each site’s web page for the latest information.
Richmond is also home to several public beaches and shoreline parks. Some are easily accessible while others might require a bit of a walk and sturdy shoes. It’s worth it though to enjoy cool bay breezes on a hot summer day.
An insider tip: Richmond pools can get crowded on warm days, so you may have to sign up for a waitlist when they become full. During recreational swimming hours, there is no guaranteed entry, according to the city.
A quick guide to local swimming pools
Richmond Swim Center, 4300 Cutting Blvd., is an indoor pool offering swimming lessons throughout the summer as well as lifeguard training sessions and recreational swim hours.
Richmond Plunge, 1 East Richmond Ave., is an indoor historic art-deco style pool in Point Richmond set to the backdrop of a stunning colorful mural by local artist John Wehrle. Swimmers can take lessons or enjoy recreational swimming. An outing here could be followed by a walk along the bay at nearby Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline and a bite to eat at the many nearby restaurants.
The British Swim School, at City Sports Club, 4100 Klose Way in Richmond, offers swimming lessons for all ages and skill levels. Participants can start anytime and advance at their own pace. The prices range from $199 per month to $599 per month for private lessons.
The El Cerrito Swim Center, 7007 Moeser Lane in El Cerrito, consists of two outdoor pools and a kids’ splash park. One pool is for lap swimming and the other is for lessons and other classes. You can also reserve pool time for a birthday party or other event. The splash park is outside of the pools, with squirting features for little ones who just want to cool off by running around.
Canyon Pool, 21 Campbell Lane in El Sobrante, offers swimming lessons. Morning lesson sessions are usually four lessons per week for two weeks. Evening sessions are usually two days per week for three weeks. The pool does not offer recreational swimming.
Spend time outdoors on a sandy Richmond beach
If you’d rather cool off outdoors, Keller Beach at the north end of Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline offers a sandy spot for those who want to swim in the ocean waves.
It’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. but please note that there are no lifeguards on duty here or at any other Richmond beach, for that matter. At certain times of the year (primarily during the rainy season) the water quality might occasionally be unsafe for swimming. Check the East Bay Regional Park website for the latest information.
The Atlas entrance of Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, 3000 Atlas Road Richmond, offers several miles of hiking trails, several of which are ADA-compliant, and many of which lead to the park’s semi-rocky, semi-sandy shoreline. Depending on tide levels, these rustic undeveloped beaches offer a quiet place to cool off, though during low tide you’d have to wade out quite a ways to actually swim. The most easily accessible beach is about a 15-minute flat walk along Cook’s Point trail (head north from the parking lot). There you’ll find a picnic table overlooking the water. If you don’t mind taking a steeper path, you can also reach the water from several bluffs and trails along the park’s southwest border.
If you’d rather just meander around, the eucalyptus groves offer plenty of shade, and the fishing pier provides spectacular bay views of Mount Tamalpais, the Marin shoreline, and San Pablo Bay with its sailboat and shipping traffic.
Equally beautiful beachfront views are available at the city of Richmond’s Point Molate Beach Park off exit 7A from westbound I-580, the last exit before crossing the Richmond-San Raphael Bridge in the toll direction. Follow the road to the right, and the park entrance will be on the right. There you can hunt for sea glass at low tide.
And finally, there are more great views (especially at sunset) to be found at Point San Pablo Harbor, 1900 Stenmark Drive (formerly Western Drive), Richmond. Here you can visit the rustic Good Hot sauna facility for a relaxing combo of heating up and cooling off in the bay. (Sauna reservations are required.)
Did you know you can go paddle boarding in Richmond?
510-Waterline is a women-owned stand-up paddle board company in Richmond where they’ll give personalized attention to help you perfect your technique safely on bay waters.
Paddle boarding is known for being a low-impact sport that helps tone muscles and add core strength. Be aware that participation requires knowing how to swim. They also offer classes that combine yoga on the water with paddle boarding.
The minimum age is 16, and minors must be accompanied by adults. 510-Waterline is located at 1340 Marina Way South, at the F-Dock gate entrance. Check the pricing page for the latest rates.
East Bay Regional Park offers swimming facilities
If you’d like to take a dip somewhere else in the East Bay, the East Bay Regional Park District’s swimming options include six open-water lakefront beaches, two chlorinated lagoons, two pools, and two bay shoreline beaches, including the previously mentioned Keller Beach.
Visit the park website for a full list of locations, hours and admission fees.
Is there something fun to do we missed in this list? Let us know. Email us at hello@richmondside.org. Looking for something to do this week in Richmond? Read our What’s Up column, published every Thursday. Be sure to add your events directly to our free community calendar.
