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A lakeside polar plunge to welcome Illinois spring
Take the plunge at Pounds Hollow Lake with family-friendly cheering, prizes, and optional hikes—then warm up with hot drinks in the Shawnee Hills.
Event details
On March 7th, 2026, Pounds Hollow Lake trades its winter silence for something louder and considerably wetter. From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., participants wade into the cold, clear waters of one of the Shawnee National Forest’s most scenic glacial lakes, surrounded by frost-edged sandstone bluffs and bare-limbed hardwoods still waiting on spring. The plunge is free, the water is genuinely cold, and the crowd on shore is loud enough to make you forget both of those facts for at least a few seconds.
Check-in runs early afternoon, with the plunge itself following shortly after. Dry clothes, a thermos, and a sense of humor are the only required gear. Spectators are as welcome as participants, and the bluffs above the lake offer a natural viewing perch worth the short walk from the parking area.
Pounds Hollow sits deep in the Shawnee Hills near Karbers Ridge, roughly 45 minutes west of the Ohio River. For a full weekend, cabin rentals in the forest corridor put you close to trails, bluffs, and southern Illinois lake country. Find shoreside options on Lake.com.
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