La Jolla Cove Swim

The La Jolla Cove Swim is an open water swim held at La Jolla Cove, 1160 Coast Boulevard in La Jolla. Race day is September 13, 2026, with a free welcome swim the day before at 10:00 am on September 12. The event has run in La Jolla nearly every year since 1916, on the first Sunday after Labor Day.

The Swims

Four events run on race day. The 3-mile Leopard Sharks starts at 8:00 am, the 250-meter Garibaldi Grommets kids race at 10:30 am, and the 1-mile Sea Lions at 11:30 am. A 4-mile Whole Enchilada option combines the 1-mile and 3-mile swims, with about an hour between them. Entry is $43.40 for the kids race, $107 for the 1-mile, $160 for the 3-mile, and $191.80 for the 4-mile combo, with prices rising after September 1, 2026.

Awards

All swimmers receive an event t-shirt, and all finishers receive a medal. Age-group awards follow U.S. Masters Swimming brackets, and the kids race is scored by single year of age.

La Jolla Cove is a protected stretch of coastline north of downtown San Diego. The swim draws open water swimmers from across the region for one of the oldest rough-water races in California.