Abstract We compared the acute and chronic effects of postexercise cold water immersion (CWI) and active recovery (ACT) on oxidative stress, redox‐related gene expression, mitochondrial adaptations and muscle oxidative capacity. In a crossover study, nine males completed strength sessions, followed by either 10 min CWI or ACT. There were time effects for blood oxidative stress markers, including serum derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites and serum biological antioxidant potential (P textless 0.05). F2‐Isoprostanes were lower after exercise in the CWI trial compared with the ACT trial (P textless 0.05), whereas plasma glutathione peroxidase activity was higher in the CWI trial at 2 h after exercise (P textless 0.05). There were time effects for redox‐related genes, including NRF2, SXRN, HMOX1, GCLM, TP53 and TXN, in muscle after exercise (P textless 0.05). Postexercise gene expression did not differ between the CWI and ACT trials. In a parallel‐group study, 21 males strength‐trained twice a week for 3 months and performed either 10 min CWI or ACT after each session. There were time effects for the activity of citrate synthase and mitochondrial enzyme complexes I and IV (P textless 0.05) and the protein abundance of p‐AMPK (P textless 0.05) in muscle after training. These responses did not differ between the CWI and ACT groups. Evaluation of muscle oxidative capacity using near‐infrared spectroscopy showed slower oxygen desaturation during a 10 s isometric contraction, and greater oxygen consumption during 50 isokinetic contractions after training in the CWI group (P textless 0.05). In conclusion, CWI after resistance exercise does not alter acute redox‐related transcription or chronic mitochondrial adaptations, whereas it might improve muscle oxygen kinetics.