Join us for the 2026 Little Red Lite Swim on
Saturday, August 22!
To register click on this orange link or use QR code below
Bringing back the spirit of the classic Little Red Lighthouse 10K once hosted by NYC Swim, the Little Red Lite Swim offers a shorter, current-assisted route along one of the most iconic stretches of the Hudson River.
This non-competitive, non-timed swim will begin at Inwood Canoe Club, just south of Dyckman Street, and finish at the Baylander at 125th Street. Swimmers will follow a 6.4 km / 4 mi course along the Manhattan shoreline, passing the Little Red Lighthouse, the George Washington Bridge, the Palisades, Riverbank State Park, the West Harlem waterfront, and the Baylander, a retired military vessel docked at the Hudson River Greenway (see map below).
Map of the swim course. Swimmers will travel south along the Manhattan shoreline from Inwood Canoe Club to the Baylander, with support from safety kayakers, swim angels, lifeguards, and event staff.
Organized by New York Open Water, the Little Red Lite Swim offers participants a fun, well-supported opportunity to swim a classic Hudson River course, celebrate public access to New York City’s waterways, and enjoy a landmark-filled route through northern Manhattan.
Event Details
Location: Inwood Canoe Club, 360 Dyckman St, New York, NY 10034, to the Baylander, Hudson River Greenway, New York, NY 10027
Date/Time: Saturday, August 22, 2026, 9:30 AM check-in, 11:00 AM splash
Distance: 6.4 km / 4 mi
Time limit: 2 hours
Cost: $150 for ages 25 and over, $100 for ages 13-24
Entry fee includes: swim entry for one swimmer, t-shirt, cap, 1 drink ticket at the Baylander
Age limit: 13 and over
Requirements: All participants are required to wear a swim buoy at all times while in the water. Swimmers must bring their own buoy.
Refund policy: Entries are non-refundable.
Start details: In shallow water off the dock at Inwood Canoe Club
Finish details: Swimmers will travel past the Baylander boat and turn hard left to exit the water on the south side of the vessel. They will exit the water by climbing seven rungs of a ladder to the barge adjacent the Baylander (see photo below).
Event Highlights
• Non-competitive, non-timed swim
• Current-assisted Hudson River course
• Approximately 6.4 km / 4 mi from Inwood to West Harlem
• A revival of the classic Little Red Lighthouse 10K swim route
• Landmarks include the Little Red Lighthouse, George Washington Bridge, Palisades, Riverbank State Park, West Harlem waterfront, and the Baylander
• Supported by kayakers, swim angels, lifeguards, and safety personnel
• Swim buoys required
• Event details will be emailed to participants one week before the swim
