Squamish might be the easiest place in Canada to find cold water. Snowmelt rivers, mountain lakes and the ocean are all minutes from downtown. Here's where locals plunge, how to do it without getting hurt, and why it's even better with a sauna next to it.
Why cold plunge?
The cold plunge is the other half of the sauna ritual: heat, cold, rest, repeat. The sudden cold after a hot sauna feels electric, and most people come out buzzing. Plenty of regulars say it helps them sleep and recover, though the honest reason most people do it is simple: it feels incredible afterwards.
Where locals plunge in Squamish
Lakes
Lakes are the friendliest option: no current, easy entry, and they're cold for most of the year. Brohm Lake, just off Highway 99 north of town, and Alice Lake in Alice Lake Provincial Park are local favourites. In winter, check conditions before you go and never walk out on ice.
Rivers
The Mamquam, Cheakamus and Squamish rivers are fed by snowmelt and glaciers, which makes them seriously cold. They're also moving water, and currents can be stronger than they look, especially in spring and early summer when the rivers run high. If you plunge in a river, stick to slow, shallow eddies at the edge where you can stand, and never go alone.
Howe Sound
The ocean at the head of Howe Sound stays cold even in August. Calm mornings are best: Squamish gets strong afternoon winds in summer, which is why it's a kiteboarding town. Watch for slippery rocks and barnacles, and be aware of tides.
Bring your own
The easiest cold plunge in Squamish is the one that comes to you. A mobile sauna rental includes a cold plunge tub set up next to the sauna, so you step out of the heat and straight into the cold, with no current, no slippery rocks and no walk back in wet clothes.
How to cold plunge safely
- Never plunge alone. Always have someone on shore or next to the tub.
- Get in slowly. The first gasp is cold-water shock. Go in gradually, and focus on slow breaths out until your breathing settles.
- Keep it short. 30 seconds to a couple of minutes is plenty, especially at first. Longer isn't better.
- Avoid moving water. If you can't stand comfortably and get out easily, don't get in.
- Skip the alcohol. Cold water and drinks are a bad mix.
- Warm up gently after. Dry off, get layers on, sit down. Or go back in the sauna.
- Check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition, high or low blood pressure, or are pregnant.
The sauna + cold plunge round
- Heat: 10–15 minutes in the sauna, or until you're properly warm.
- Cold: a short plunge, 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Rest: sit down for 5–10 minutes. Drink water.
- Repeat: two to four rounds is typical.
New to all of it? Read our first-timer's guide to sauna and cold plunge. And bring a felt sauna hat for the hot part.
Questions
Where can you cold plunge in Squamish?
Locals use lakes like Alice Lake and Brohm Lake, calm river edges, and Howe Sound. If you'd rather not deal with currents or a cold walk back, a mobile sauna rental includes its own cold plunge tub.
How cold is the water in Squamish?
Very cold for most of the year. Rivers are fed by snowmelt and glaciers, and Howe Sound stays cold even in summer. Expect cold-water shock if you're not used to it.
How long should you stay in a cold plunge?
Beginners should start with 30 seconds to a minute or two. There's no benefit in pushing past what feels controlled. Get out if you start shivering hard or feel numb.
Is cold plunging safe?
It can be, with care. Never plunge alone, avoid moving water and currents, enter slowly, and check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or are pregnant.
More reading: Sauna for Recovery After a Big Squamish Day · Winter in Squamish: 10 Cozy Things to Do