Where can I swim in Denver?

June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Where can I swim in Denver?

A 50-meter (Olympic) pool is a must.

Indoor or outdoor, but indoor would probably be better considering how cold it is in autumn, winter, spring.

Membership preferred, unless there's a public facility that isn't overrun with crowds.

I'd love a place where I can reserve a lane (me only, no sharing) for 30- or 60-minute swim. I'm even willing to pay a lot for a low-traffic, more exclusive location.

I like to swim at night, so late hours would great.

No children would be fantastic!

Close to downtown?

posted by foooooogasm to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total)

The issue here is the 50-meter pool requirement.

While I can think of a handful of pools off the top of my head, I don't believe they're Olympic size. Upon investigation, it appears that DU has the only Olympic sized pool in the area. Looking at the site, I can't quite figure out how/when the public can access the pool, but since that's the only 50-meter in the area, you might want to call them up and ask.

Depending on your budget and if you're willing to go less-than-Olympic, I believe there's a lap pool at the 24-hour Fitness on Colorado Blvd & Alameda. I also know that there's a pool (not sure what size) at the Denver Athletic Club, which is the only pool downtown of which I'm aware.
posted by paisley sheep at 10:27 AM on June 17, 2009

Best answer: Thanks, paisley sheep. Called the DU and it sounds like more than half of the people that use the pool are from the community (not a DU student, faculty, etc.). They wouldn't give me the price over the phone, however. :)

25m is doable (like the ones at Denver Athletic and 24 hour), but I was spoiled years ago.
posted by foooooogasm at 11:09 AM on June 17, 2009

Doesn't the former Lowry Air Force base have a 50m pool? I swear we used to use that for outdoor practice when I was a teenager. I don't think it had enough lanes to qualify as olympic sized, but you really only care about the length, I would think. It is outdoors, or was 10 years ago, but that should be fine right now.
posted by nat at 11:46 AM on June 17, 2009

Nat, the Lowry area has been changed into the standard fauxurban neighborhoods that you find scattered throughout the Metro area (ex, Stapleton, Belmar). Not much left of the original Air Force base, although I think they may have revamped the barracks into townhomes. But apparently they do have a pool (although I'm thinking not the same one you knew as a teenager).

Foooooogasm, good to know that DU's pool is open to the community. I thought it would be, but I couldn't tell by just looking at the website.
posted by paisley sheep at 3:14 PM on June 17, 2009

Adams 12 school district just broke ground on a 50 meter pool, scheduled to open in Aug 2010. 136th and Holly, a bit of a hike from downtown. DU would be probably be closer, especially by light rail.
posted by dr. fresh at 9:42 PM on June 17, 2009

I just talked to a friend who confirmed the Lowry pool I thought of still exists, and is in fact 50m. I can get contact info for the pool if you would like; memail me if so.
posted by nat at 11:40 PM on July 11, 2009