The City of Burlington offers a variety of recreational swims. You can choose to participate in a Fun Swim, Leisure Swim, Combo Swim Water Running and others that will suit your needs.
Drop-in Swim Schedule
Outdoor Pool Recreational Swims
- Walk-in only, no reservations. Walk-ups are welcome if capacity has not been reached.
Indoor Pool Recreational Swims
- Walk-in or reserve in advance. Register daily up to seven days in advance and three days in advance for non-residents. Online reservations can be made up to the start time of the program.
- Walk-ins are welcome (first come first serve). Admission is not guaranteed.
Passes
- Consider purchasing one of our recreational passes for best value.
Recreational Swimming Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When do the outdoor pools open? |
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Outdoor Pools will be opening earlier this summer with modified programming in place between May 24 and June 27, with the regular summer schedule begins on June 28.
Stay informed by checking out our schedule online, which will be fully available for viewing starting May 1, 2025. |
When is Access Storage Free Summer Swimming |
| Free swimming sponsored by Access Storage is happening across all pools at various time. The free swims are various dates, times and locations. |
Is there a schedule for the swim times? |
| The Customer Service staff at each pool can give you a printed copy of the schedule and it is online. Note that the most up to date schedule is online so the printed schedule may not be correct. burlington.ca/dropinandplay |
Why does my child have to do a swim test every day? |
| A swim test must be completed each visit. A swim test is required each day to ensure that swimmers can safely meet the physical demands needed to reach the side of the pool. A child’s endurance and ability can vary daily due to factors like sleep, physical activity the day before, or overall energy levels. For safety reasons, lifeguards reserve the right re-test any swimmer if concerns arise during their swim. |
Why are the slide requirements different at Mountainside and Tansley Woods? |
| Mountainside: riders must be at least 120cm tall. Tansley Woods: riders must between 7-10 and pass the swim test. Riders 11 years old and older can ride without a swim test. |
Can I teach lessons or coaching sessions during public swims? |
| We don’t allow outside instructors to conduct lessons or coaching during drop-in swims. If your child/participant cannot attend mainstream swimming lessons due to a disability or other reasons, we do allow support staff in our programs. Please speak with one of our Aquatic Supervisors or reach out to liveandplay@burlington.ca. |
Does a birthday party rental give you priority to access to the pool ahead of the line? |
| The entry to the pool is separate to the room. You may enter the room at designated booking time; however, you still need to wait in line to purchase passes for the swim. |
Can I pay for the swim and get my wristband and use at a later time? |
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Wristbands cannot be purchased before getting into the pool. You cannot purchase at 10 a.m. and then automatically get entry into the swim at 2 p.m. |
I have a membership, does that guarantee me entry into the pool? |
| Memberships do not guarantee entry or skip the line. |
Can I buy a summer pass? |
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Rec Swim Summer passes will be on sale May 5. The membership is valid at all indoor and outdoor recreational swims. Passholders at outdoor pools are not guaranteed admission. The pass is $40.90 and can be bought online or at any pool. This means customers only need to swim more than 9 times to pay for the cost of the pass. |
Can I use the Splash Park only and not the pool at Nelson? |
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No, the Splash Park is part of the recreational swims and includes access to both the Splash Park and the entire pool. |
If the pool is at capacity, how long will I have to wait? |
| The pool capacity numbers vary for each pool. There is no defined wait time. Participants will be let in once there is space available. |
Can we go in or out from the swim to play on the playground or have a picnic at LaSalle, Mountainside or Nelson? |
| Yes, once you pay admission, you are allowed to leave the pool and return. To go in and out you will need a stamp from customer service. Once you come back in, if there is a line up because the pool has reached capacity, you will need to wait. |
What if there is rain in the forecast? |
| Swims happen rain or shine. The pool area will be cleared for 30 minutes for each occurrence of thunder or lightning. Swimmers will be directed to leave the pool facility until the pool can reopen. A swim may start late or end early due to thunder/lightning. |
What time are the pools open for swimming? |
| The pools have many users that come for swimming, therefore the pools open at different times. Some pools may open earlier for swim teams or private rental, where others will open earlier for a lap swim or aquafit. If you are looking to come swimming with your family go to our Drop-in Swimming Schedule above and you can search Leisure swim, Combo swim or Fun swim. |
Do I have to register to swim? |
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Recreation and Lap indoor swims are available to be reserved in advance or walk-in. The outdoor pools are walk-in only, no reservations. Walk-ins are welcome if capacity has not been reached. Admission is not guaranteed. |
How do I stay up to date on pool closures? |
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For up to date information on pool closures, please view and subscribe to our Pool Closures newsfeed. |