Bathing in rivers and lakes is more than just a refreshing dip; it’s a ticket to nature’s waterpark and playground. But before you dive in, you need to remember that these bodies of water are dynamic, and your boho bathing can quickly become a serendipitous swim for unforeseen reasons if you’re not prepared.
In this wild swimming guide for women, we’ll look at seven things you should know to stay safe and enjoy your aquatic adventure to the fullest. Let’s make your next wild swim unforgettable for the right reasons!
1. Safety First: Assessing the Environment
Safety is paramount when swimming in natural waters. There are many variables to consider, and waterbodies require a healthy dose of respect. Not adhering to safety guidelines can lead to accidents, injuries, or health issues.
When assessing whether you’ve found a good swimming spot, look for strong currents, slippery rocks, and hidden underwater obstacles that can turn a fun swim into a dangerous situation. Fishing hooks, sharp rocks, and ominous-looking creatures are all red flags.
Instead, look for spots with gradual slopes and clear water to minimize risks. Remember to scout the area for posted signs and ask locals about hazards, such as gators or contaminated water that may not be indicated by signs.
2. Water Quality: Know Before You Go
Before you plunge into that inviting lake, do a water-quality check using your senses:
-
Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay Look out for signs of pollution and what kind it is, such as oddly colored water, foam, or a barrel marked “Toxic.”
- Smell if the water is ok and not funky.
- Listen for turbulent water or disturbances in or around the water. You won’t get Jaws sound effects to warn you of impending danger, but listening to environmental changes can be beneficial.
- Suppose you taste the water while swimming, and it tastes like chemicals or is foul. In that case, you should rethink swimming and avoid drinking it.
- Touch the water to feel its temperature and see if it has any oily residue in it. It’s normal for natural water to have tannins and plant oils. Still, if it forms an oily layer on your skin, it might indicate the water is contaminated.
Use resources like local health or nature department websites or apps that provide water quality reports and advisories; a quick search can save you from a nasty surprise.
3. Avoiding Waterborne Illnesses and Parasites: Is that Water Sanitary?
Watch out for waterborne diseases like giardiasis, which can cause diarrhea and stomach cramps, and E. coli, which can lead to hideous stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Prevent infection by avoiding swallowing water and covering open wounds with waterproof bandages. Avoid swimming in stagnant waters, too, as they sometimes harbor waterborne parasites that can affect your health.
4. Wildlife Awareness: Coexisting with Nature
Swimming in rivers and lakes means sharing the water with local wildlife. Stay aware and watch where you step to avoid interfering with wild animals.
Remember, most snakes want to be left alone, so if you see one, back away slowly and quietly. Use bug repellent to deter bugs; killing everything threatening your whimsical wade in the water is unnecessary.
Respect habitats by not disturbing plants or animals, as this will ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Remember, you’re a guest in their home, so act accordingly.
5. Local Laws and Customs: Respecting Rules and Traditions
Before you take a dip, understand and follow local laws and customs. I can attest to this from personal experience. On a trip to Africa, I was almost arrested for swimming in a local tribal king’s drinking water—I had no idea the dam was off-limits!
Rules can vary between states and regions, meaning what’s allowed in one lake may be forbidden in another. Check online resources or contact local authorities for information on regulations and traditions.
Ignoring these can lead to fines or worse. However, respecting local customs, like designated swimming areas and seasonal or sacred restrictions, shows courtesy and puts you on good terms for a warm welcome back. Stay informed, respect the rules, and enjoy your swim without legal hiccups.
6. Temperature Check: Too Hot, Too Cold, or Just Right?
Ice baths or cold thermogenesis may have many health benefits, but it can also be dangerous. Cold water can quickly sap your energy, leading to hypothermia. Look out for shivering, confusion, or blue lips—these are your body’s distress signals.
Water from hot springs can also threaten your well-being, as it’s hotter than your body temperature and can lead to feelings of feverishness, including dizziness and even dehydration.
Dip your toe into the water to acclimate and decide whether to swim. If it’s too hot or cold, and you simply must get in, keep it short and ensure you have a friend on standby.
7. Environmental Respect: Leave No Trace Principles
When enjoying rivers and lakes, follow the Leave No Trace principles. This helps to preserve the area’s natural beauty for as long as possible. Here are some tips:
- When you leave, take all your possessions and litter, including trash, food wrappers, and even biodegradable items.
- Stick to designated trails and swim areas to protect the local flora and fauna.
- If you spot litter, pick it up; leaving a place cleaner than you found it is a badge of honor.
- Avoid using soaps and shampoos that can harm aquatic life.
- Respect wildlife by maintaining your distance and not disturbing their habitats.
By taking responsibility for and minimizing your environmental impact, you can ensure these natural spots remain pristine for everyone to enjoy.
Ready to Make a Splash?
If you’re an adventurous women traveler, you’ll love the joy and benefits of wild swimming. Taking a dip in a pristine river, bathing under a waterfall, or splashing about in a lake is a wonderful way to get closer to nature and yourself!
Have your say on bathing in rivers and lakes
Do you have any other tips you would like to add? Please share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below.
Jill Goodwin
Jill Goodwin, a seasoned wordsmith and avid outdoor enthusiast, skillfully weaves her passion for adventure into the fabric of her captivating storytelling. Accompanied by her loyal Australian Shepherd, Finn, Jill's content springs to life, immersing readers in the untamed beauty of landscapes and the spirit of exploration.
These are such important points you raised before bathing in rivers and lakes. Assessing the environment and ensuring it’s water is not contaminated is so essential. We have all seen what happened in Paris.
I would definitely have concerns about this. There is so much pollution and so many water quality issues. It is good to have some tips to know if it is safe, even just for swimming.
Great guide on Things to Consider Before Bathing in Rivers and Lakes. I appreciate the emphasis on not interfering with wildlife. It’s common to see people chasing or attempting to feed wild animals. Thank you!
This is a great guide. The only thing I would add is to keep your clothes out of obvious sight and scan for pervs before you dip
This is really a smart guide! I think checking to see if you can swim is really essential. Plus, water quality can really mess up your system (digestion and skin) if there’s something in the water that could prove harmful. Thanks for these tips!
I will very rarely take a swim in a random lake or river. As a rule, if I can’t see the bottom from the shore as the water is not clear, I won’t get in. I’ve learned about water parasites a while ago, when I went to Peru. The travel doctor I visited for the necessary vaccines told me about the water and advised me not to swim in sweet water bodies. We are used to our own environment – new places can have bacteria that out bodies don’t know and even if for the locals they are harmless, we can get really sick.
Yes, there are so many things to consider before bathing in random rivers and lakes. They look beautiful and on a hot day, the urge is to jump into cold water. Great tips on checking for slopes, smell and taste. But it would be difficult to assess if there are parasites or something that could cling to our body underneath the water surface. I am usually a very careful person and prefer to swim in a swimming pool or a beach. 🙂
As a Malaysian, I have to say that it is a given that we observe the rules before getting into any water. We do have all sorts of potential dangers that you have described plus crocodiles in rivers and carnivorous fishes. Some water pools are contaminated as well and therefore I am still uncomfortable to get into the water anywhere without first checking.
There is a recent hype about wild swimming, and people in Europe do it in all sorts of way too cold waters. But it looks fascinating to me. I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold water, but I am working on it.
When I was a kid, wild swimming was one of my favorite pastimes. During school breaks, my friends and I would walk to nearby rivers. Back then, we didn’t worry much about safety—neither against wild animals nor polluted water. Our focus was simply on enjoying swimming and being with my closest friends. Now that I’m older, I’m more concerned about water pollution and the risks of wildlife encounters before diving in. The ‘Leave No Trace’ principle has also become quite valuable to me.
Oh no, I haven’t bathed in a river or a lake before. I am so afraid of the animals that reside in there and or use, that same water for transportation.
Your safety is very important in this kind of bathing because you can’t really see what kind of things are in the lakes or rivers.
I can’t swim but wade, yes. And i love fresh water more than the ocean. Thanks for this.
While bathing in nature sounds amazing, especially with the beautiful waterfalls in the background, my main concerns are waterborne illnesses and parasites. Is that water sanitary?
This is great information to know! I remember bathing in lakes as a kid when we’d go camping in the Ontario Provincial Parks but I didn’t think much of it then.
There are so many different things that I would be worried about. And I know that I would not be doing this. but thanks for sharing this with us.
love these tips for ensuring safety when we use these amazing natural water sources.. i grew up in a town on a river bank and we used to go whenever we could to simply wade in the safe shallow areas.
I must admit, as a kid I jumped into any water without a second thought. But as I got older, I became far less open to heading into rivers and lakes. Water quality might be my big concern. As well as feeling so many other living things passing by! And these days I am generally not up for a cold plunge! Good to remind people about not treating this like a bubble bath!
Wild swimming sounds amazing! Great tips will definitely help ensure it’s safe and unforgettable for all the right reasons.
These are good tips about bathing in lakes and/or rivers. Personally I would use body wipes and maybe stick my feet/legs in the water to cool off.
Thanks for this heads-up on what to pay attention to when bathing in rivers and lakes. The lure of natural water areas for a dip is so enticing – we need to remember it may not be what we had hoped for!
I’ve had this fear in the back of my head about rivers and the many kinds of bacteria that we aren’t aware of. 😀 One day, I hope to overcome that. Beautiful photos of these natural gifts!
These are good tips. I normally don’t swim, but I watch the children in India jump headlong into ponds and rivers. Now, I will lookout for oily residue, this is something I have not encountered as yet. I have only waded till the waist level in the water.
These are all really good points when it comes to natural waters. I am definitely wary of what is in water, and these are useful things to watch for.
When we went camping, we loved swimming and cleaning up in the rivers. Some campgrounds we visited didn’t have bathrooms or showers. They had pit toilets and they did have running drinking water. We also used wet wipes too.
I grew up in the south, and my biggest tip is to always keep an eye out for snakes! LOL.
Bathing in rivers and lakes always seems like fun, but I stay away from it. The bacteria is too scary!
I hesitate to swim in lakes and ponds, especially when you don’t know what creatures are in there! Even in Texas we only walked along the beach as we didn’t want to get stung by a jelly fish.
This is all really good to know. I’m always cautious when it comes to swimming in a lake. You never know unless you’re careful.
So many different things to look out for. I would have never thought of the water quality.
I always worry about this! I hear about bacteria and such, so I’d be wary. Maybe in a swim suit, but only briefly.