Mount Rainier Pool

09/18/2026

Friday mornings at the Mount Rainier Pool:)

09/18/2026

Friday morning at the Mount Rainier Pool:)

09/18/2026

🏊 Two spots. That’s it!

Our Monday & Wednesday Adult Swim Lessons have just 2 openings left this fall.

Never learned to swim? Want to feel more confident around the water? Ready to stop watching from the sidelines? This is your chance.

📅 Mondays & Wednesdays
⏰ 6:00–6:45 p.m.
👤 Ages 15+
🔥 ONLY 2 SPOTS LEFT

Grab yours before someone else does!

👉 Register now:
https://secure.rec1.com/WA/des-moines-pool-metropolitan-park-district-wa/catalog?filter=c2VhcmNoPTQ1MDYzNzA=

09/15/2026

Mount Rainier Pool is 51 years old.

Last year, we celebrated a major milestone when Mount Rainier Pool turned 50. This year, as we celebrate 51 years, we are also beginning to think more about what comes next.

At 51 years old, Mount Rainier Pool has reached an age when many public pools across the country are being substantially renovated or replaced.

The fact that our pool continues to serve the community today is a testament to the people and organizations that have cared for it and invested in it over the past five decades.

King County, the City of Des Moines, the City of Normandy Park, Highline School District and the Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District have all played a role in the story of Mount Rainier Pool.

That investment continues today.

Over the years, we have replaced and upgraded equipment, repaired aging systems and continued investing in the facility so that it can remain a place where people learn to swim, exercise, compete, train as lifeguards and spend time together.

An aging facility brings challenges, but reaching 51 years is also something worth celebrating.

Last year, we looked back at the first 50 years of Mount Rainier Pool. As we begin year 51, we are excited to start thinking about what the next generation of Mount Rainier Pool could look like and how this facility can continue serving our community for decades to come.

Take a few minutes to watch our 50th Anniversary video from last year and see some of the history that brought us here.

https://youtu.be/nJfJ3rILMsY?si=rEwC2-r7T4HuZ2M1

And we would love to hear your story.

When did you first swim at Mount Rainier Pool? What do you remember? Share your Mount Rainier Pool memories in the comments.

On September 21, 2025, the Mount Rainier Pool proudly celebrates it...

09/14/2026

Learning to swim as an adult can change more than you might think.

It can mean feeling safer when your kids want to go swimming. Being more comfortable on a family vacation. Trying kayaking, paddleboarding or snorkeling for the first time. Or simply being able to enjoy the pool instead of sitting on the sidelines.

And if you have children, there’s something powerful about letting them see you learn, too. You don’t have to already know how to do something to start. You can be nervous, practice, make progress and keep going.

It’s never too late to learn to swim.

We have just 3 spaces remaining in our fall Adult Swim Lessons:

🏊 Saturday, 7:45–8:30 a.m. — 1 spot left
🏊 Monday & Wednesday, 6:00–6:45 p.m. — 2 spots left

Registration is open now and spaces are first-come, first-served.

Questions? Give us a call at 206-824-4722. We’re happy to help you figure out if the class is right for you.

https://mtrainierpool.com/swimlessons/

09/12/2026

📅 Saturday, September 12
Lap swimming will end early at 12:30 p.m. so our staff can prepare for the James Ellis Day Open Swim. We’ll be setting up the obstacle course and getting everything ready for the afternoon!

🛟 Lifeguard Training — September 12 & 13
We’re also hosting a full Lifeguard Certification Class this weekend. During portions of our regular lap swimming hours, two lanes will be reserved for lifeguard training, so fewer lap lanes will be available.

This training is an important investment in our community. Training additional lifeguards helps us maintain the staffing needed to offer swim lessons, open swims, lap swimming, and other aquatic programs.

The lifeguard class will continue next weekend as well, so some lane reductions will remain in effect over the next two weeks.

👉 We’ll keep our online schedule updated with current lane availability:
https://mtrainierpool.com/schedule-2/

Thank you for your patience and for supporting the training of our next group of lifeguards! 🛟🏊

09/12/2026

💦 COME SWIM FOR FREE TODAY! 💦

Today is James Ellis Day at Mount Rainier Pool! Join us as we celebrate the legacy of James R. Ellis, the Forward Thrust movement, and 51 years of Mount Rainier Pool!

🏊 All scheduled swimming is FREE today!

• Water Walking: 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
• Lap Swim: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Family Swim: 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
• Open Swim with the Wibit Obstacle Course: 1:00–2:30 p.m.

Whether you want to get in some laps, walk in the water, enjoy time with the family, or take on our Wibit Obstacle Course, come out and celebrate with us!

💙 FREE swimming. Community. Fun. A legacy worth celebrating.

Everyone is welcome — come see us today!

Learn more at mtrainierpool.com

09/11/2026

New student registration for Fall Swim Lessons opens today, Friday, September 11!
See exact registration times below.
Our affordable swim lessons are led by certified instructors and include structured instruction, skill-based progress tracking, and student report cards so families can follow their swimmer’s progress throughout the session.

REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY!
Des Moines & Normandy Park Residents: 5:00 p.m.
Non-Residents: 6:30 p.m.
I
MPORTANT UPDATE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS
Registration will be closed from 3-5pm (Friday, September 11) today, as staff updates our system from Current to New Student registration processes!

REMAINING CLASS OPENINGS
We’ve put together an updated list of classes that still have openings. Updates are as of Friday, September 11 at 10:15am.
Click here to view the PDF of remaining class openings.
Availability is limited and may change quickly once registration opens. If your preferred class is full, we encourage you to join the waitlist.

FALL CLASS DATES
This fall, we are offering two swim lesson options:
Monday/Wednesday Evenings
October 12 – November 4
8 classes
Saturday Mornings
September 26 – November 14
8 classes

For complete swim lesson information, including registration instructions and our Swim Lesson Handbook, visit:
https://mtrainierpool.com/swimlessons/

We look forward to welcoming new swimmers to Mount Rainier Pool this fall!

Mount Rainier Pool
Des Moines Pool Metropolitan Park District

09/11/2026

🏊 It’s Never Too Late to Learn to Swim!

Whether you’ve never learned to swim, want to feel more comfortable and confident in the water, or are looking to improve your swimming skills, Mount Rainier Pool’s Adult Swim Lessons are a great place to start.

Adult lessons provide a supportive environment where you can work on skills at your own pace. Learning to swim can help you:

💧 Build confidence and comfort in the water
🏊 Develop stronger swimming and water-safety skills
💪 Improve fitness and endurance
🌊 Feel more comfortable participating in aquatic activities with family and friends
🎯 Work toward your own personal swimming goals

We still have openings for Fall!

📅 Saturdays | Sept. 26–Nov. 14
⏰ 7:45–8:30 a.m.
2 spots remaining

📅 Mondays & Wednesdays | Oct. 12–Nov. 4
⏰ 6:00–6:45 p.m.
8 spots remaining

📣 NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION — FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

🏠 Des Moines & Normandy Park Residents: Opens at 5:00 p.m.

🌎 Non-Residents: Opens at 6:30 p.m.

Adult lessons are available for ages 15+. No matter where you’re starting, taking that first lesson can open the door to a lifetime of greater confidence around the water.

👉 Learn more and get ready to register:
https://mtrainierpool.com/swimlessons/

Learn to swim. Build confidence. Enjoy the water on your terms.