Polar Plunge 2023

Make a splash at the Polar Bear Plunge at Lake Sammamish State Park !

Polar Plunge returns on New Year’s Day 2023. Festivities will begin at 10:00 a.m. with registration, music, and merriment on the shores of Sunset Beach. The crowd will “plunge” at noon.

The first 300 registered participants will receive a Polar Plunge souvenir fleece hat, souvenir pin, commemorative sticker and coupons for a cup of Ivar's clam chowder and other New Year’s Day offers at local restaurants and establishments. Registration fee is a $10 minimum donation per person.

Washington State Parks also invites the public to ring in the new year during its annual First Day Hikes event on Jan. 1, 2023. Hikes will be an invigorating 15 to 20 minutes. An all-ages experience, these roughly half mile hikes will feature uneven terrain. Weather dependent the trail may be slippery, icy or snow-covered. Please dress for the weather and bring sturdy shoes. Meet the WSP interpretive specialist at the registration table for a 10:30 or 11:00 hike. 

First Day Hikes is a national initiative led by America’s State Parks, encouraging people to get outdoors on New Year’s Day. Last year, nearly 55,000 people hiked over 133,000 miles during these free events throughout the nation. New Year’s Day also marks the first state-managed land free day of 2023. Visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park at Lake Sammamish State Park.

COSTUME AND TIK TOK CONTEST:

Costume contest – Gather your friends or colleagues together and organize a team, or just come solo. Costumes and team t-shirts are encouraged! Spectators are welcome to come out to cheer on the athletes as they take a dunk in the chilly waters of Lake Sammamish.  Here’s your opportunity to win $50 and a Washington State Parks Discover Pass.

TikTok contest - Submit your “ringing in the new year” video. Videos can be taken on -site at the plunge or If you can't make it to the plunge, do it virtually from wherever you are! Shower, hot tub? Just register, send a video to director@flssp.org.   Best TikTok video wins $50 and a Washington State Parks Discover Pass. Videos must be recorded and submitted by the end of the day January 1st. Registrants can pick up your gifts and souvenirs at the state park office by Jan. 10.