Three Rivers Marathon Swim
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Event overview
The Three Rivers Marathon Swim is a roughly 30K open-water marathon swim held in Pittsburgh, PA. The event benefits the Forever Fund, which assists local families with costs related to infant cardiothoracic surgery at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Registration opens January 1, 2026. The event uses a water start from the Point State Park fountain and is organized as an annual swim.
Course and logistics
The course covers approximately 10K in each of the three rivers - Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny - arranged as out-and-back 5K segments in each river. Swimmers are escorted by powered boats and kayaks. Each swimmer is flanked by two kayak volunteers; additional supplies and feeding are provided from designated kayaks and from powered escort boats that patrol the course. Event support includes Pittsburgh River Rescue, local police and the Coast Guard. Water temperatures vary, with an average near 72F. Water is usually calm during the first 10K on the Ohio River; boat traffic and possible headwinds can affect conditions on the Monongahela and Allegheny. The event enforces a strict 12-hour overall cutoff and a 4-hour pace target per 10K. The swim finishes with a buoy finish near the original starting point and swimmers are retrieved by powered escort boats. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
