Lap and Coached Group Pool Swimming in Santa Cruz

Update as of December 2022:

Well, we hoped for more post-pandemic but swimming in Santa Cruz County doesn't seem any less complicated. Simpkins has been hit with "staffing issues". I couldn't write an entire blog on this topic. But let's focus on how to get your laps in today. We've compiled a list of pools and their availability for both doing your own lap swimming workout or finding a coached masters or adult swim group in the Santa Cruz area.

Skip to masters/adult group swimming info HERE.

Public Lap Swimming:

Simpkins Family Swim Center

979 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA

Cost: $8 / swim

Schedule: Drop in

Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 6:00am-7:30pm

Tue, Thu, Sun: CLOSED

Overall Experience: I can't even with this pool. The times that it IS actually open it's now crowded

UCSC

1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA

Cost: $120 / quarter, $320 / year, have to pay $2.95 parking.

Schedule:

Monday 8am-2:30pm/4:30-8pm

Tuesday 6am-1:30pm/3:30-8pm

Wednesday 8am-2:30pm/4:30-8pm

Thursday 6am-1:30pm/3:30-8pm

Friday 8am-2:30pm/4:30-8pm

Saturday 11am-6pm

Sunday 8:30am-6pm

Overall Experience: Nice pool. Parking is a pain at times. And it's sometimes closed during holidays.

Harvey West Pool

275 Harvey West Blvd. Santa Cruz, CA

Closed in Winter (we don't know why)

Cost: Drop in $7 (adult), $5 (senior + youth) per swim

Schedule

Mon / Wed / Fri:

6:00am-11:45am and 1:30pm-7:30pm

Sat / Sun:

9:00am-4:00pm

Tues / Thurs: Closed

Overall Experience: Harvey West is a great and underrated pool among the redwoods, although capacity is small (6 lanes).

Enterprise Sports Club

100 Enterprise Way G100 Scotts Valley, CA

Cost: $99/month membership + $99 sign up fee.

Schedule:

Mon-Fri: 5:30am-9:00pm

Sat / Sun: 7:00am-8:00pm

Overall Experience: Expensive option if you're not swimming regularly. It's a nice pool and the hot tub is an added bonus.

La Madrona Sport Club

1897 La Madrona DriveSanta Cruz, CA

Cost: $175 / month but there's a waiting list

Overall Experience: They have a couple of nice pools and facilities but it's STILL on a booking system with 45 min slots and it's hard to get in.

In-Shape Capitola

1100-1200 41st Ave, Capitola, CA

Cost: $69.99/month + $49.99 enrollment

Schedule:

Mon-Fri: 4:00am-11:00pm

Sat / Sun: 6:00am-8:00pm

Overall Experience: Narrow and shallow lanes (limited to 4) with a lot of non-swimmers using this pool

Seascape Sports Club

1505 Seascape Blvd - Aptos, CA

Cost: $93/month + $800 initial membership fee

Schedule:

7:00am- 6:30pm

*must call no more than 24 hours in advance to reserve a lane for 45 minutes. 5 lanes in total.

SLV High School Community Pool

7105 Highway 9, Felton, CA 95018

Cost: Drop in/guests $5.00 per swim

Membership:

Residents living in SLV:

$40 (individual), $100 (family)

Residents living outside of SLV:

$80 (individual), $200 (family)

*Membership good till May 2022

Schedule: School Year

Mon / Weds: 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Sat / Sun: 1:30pm - 4:30pm

*closed Dec 18 - Jan 2nd

Cabrillo Fitness Center (Toadal Fitness)

6200 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA

Cost: Membership price not available on website.

Schedule:

Mon-Fri: 6:00am - 9:00pm

Sat / Sun: 8:00am - 6:00pm

Overall Experience:

Salt water pool, but it's short and shallow. Only 50 feet or about 17 yds long. You must be a Toadal Fitness member first and still have to reserve a lane.

Quicksilver Santa Cruz Masters:

Cost: $110 / month for ALL SESSIONS

$40/month for weekends and Friday morning triathlon specific.

Soquel High School

*schedule changes often

Tues-Thurs: 6:00am-7:30am

Sat: 8:00am-9:30am

Sun: 9:00am-10:30am

Triathlon-Specific Masters Swim

Coached by Gunnar Roll

Fridays: 6:00am-7:30am

Simpkins Family Swim Center

Now coached by Quiksliver coaches

Cost: $8 / swim

Schedule:

Mon / Wed / Fri: 12:00pm

Watsonville High School

Mon / Wed / Fri: 6:00am-7:30am

*Weekends only membership: 8:00am-10:00am

CRUZ Masters:

Cost: $100/month. $10/drop in.

UCSC

Mon / Wed / Fri: 12pm

Tue / Thu : 6am, 7am, 6pm

Sun: 10am

Seascape Sports Club Adult Fitness:

Cost: $20/month + membership

Schedule:

Tues / Fri: 6:15am-7:00am