Thanks to Wendy T for sending us the information for this great upcoming event!

2009 Lake Placid International Regatta, July 4-6 2009

Lake Placid, New York will be hosting the the 2009 Lake Placid International Regatta, July 4-6 2009. Lake Placid International Regatta (LPI) is one of the largest canoe / kayak events held in the United States.

The LPI features 500m and 1000m Sprint races and will be introducing a new Marathon event this year. This is an extremely challenging course and is designed by renowned Race Course Designer Peter Davis; designer of the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games and the World Championships.

Athletes travel from distances such as Hawaii, California, Washington, Georgia, as well as, from Canadian Providences such as British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Manitoba come to compete in this exciting event.

For more information on this exciting event, plus many other kayak, canoe and paddling events happening this summer,  please click here to visit our Kayak and Canoe Races & Events page.

Do you have a kayak, canoe and paddling event you’d like us to feature on BornToPaddle.com? If so, Click here to send us the info using our handy contact form

We are lucky here in the Nashville, Tennessee area. We are surrounded by great rivers and lakes – which translates into great opportunities to kayak and canoe – pretty much right out our backdoor.

This week was ideal on the Harpeth River. This historic river is a tributary of the mighty Cumberland River which flows through the heart of Nashville all the way to the Mississippi River.

The water level on the Harpeth this past week was ideal. We’ve had some rain in the past few days that helped to keep the water level near perfect for paddling.

After renting a canoe at Canoe Music City in Kingston Springs (there are several places on Highway 70 that offer canoe and kayak rentals, plus transportation to and from the river) we shuttled our car to the take out at Harris Street Bridge, and dropped off with the canoe at the Narrows of the Harpeth State Park put in.

Going paddling during the week is an excellent option if you can swing it. There were some people on the water, but for the most part it was a very peaceful paddle.

The Harpeth River teems with wildlife. As we paddled along in our canoe we saw huge fish swimming in the shallows, turtles sunning themselves on rocks and branches, and a duckling swam out to us and paddled along for a while!

The day was quite warm, but its almost always cooler on the water. Huge trees hang over the Harpeth offering great amounts of shade just when you need it. The paddling was easy (we had an experienced boat pilot steering), and the current was extremely helpful in moving us along.

At this level, many beach areas exist along the river. It’s great to just pull over and dig out the cooler for some cold drinks and snacks along the way. But the river has its deep parts too, which are easily spotted – just look for rope swings hanging from the trees!

There were some trees down in the water from recent storms, but nothing to impede the way downstream. I had to jump out a couple of times and help the boat over some shallow bits, but we did have three people in the boat. In a canoe the more people you have the lower you sit in the water. Had we been in kayaks, we would have glided right over those spots.

If you’re looking for a place to paddle, kayak or canoe in the Nashville or Middle Tennessee area, it doesn’t get much better than the Harpeth. Once you’re on the water, the rest of the world slips away and you enter a part of nature that has remained virtually untouched for hundreds of years. The Harpeth is a beautiful river and a treasure for locals and visitors alike.

For more information about Tennessee’s Harpeth River, please visit: Harpeth River Watershed website or the Narrows of the Harpeth State Park website.

For more places to paddle, kayak and canoe in Tennessee, see our Places to Paddle in Tennessee page.

To find other places to paddle, kayak and canoe all over the USA, go to our Places to Paddle page and click on any state, or check out nationwide kayak, canoe and paddle events and races on our Paddling Events and Races page.

If you would like us to post your favorite place to paddle, kayak or canoe or your favorite paddling event or race, please use our handy contact form to send us the details.

We all know there are tons of GREAT places to paddle in the great, natural state of Pennsylvania. But we’ve gone ahead and put together a list of the ones we think are at the top of the list. These kayak and canoe places in PA made the list mostly due to the fact that they are open to the public and readily available to all paddlers of all skill levels.

These kayaking and canoeing locations include rivers, lakes and creeks for whitewater and flatwater (or flat water, if you like ).

***PLEASE NOTE*** Some of these areas require a fee or permit or both, so check before you paddle!

Here we go with a sampling of the top places to put in your kayak or canoe and start paddling in Penn:

Pennsylvania State Parks

According to the Parks website, canoes and non-powered boats must display one of the following:

• Boat registration
• Launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks (available at most state park offices)
• Launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Many parks offer canoe rentals or have lists of canoe rental companies.

***REMEMBER***  Water levels can change rapidly and paddlers should call the park office for current water conditions.

Clear Creek State Park, Jefferson County, PA – The Clarion River

Cook Forest State Park, Cooksburg, PA  - The Clarion River

Delaware Canal State Park – The Park follows the Delaware River from Easton to Bristol. Canoeing is popular in the canal, on the Delaware River and at the Giving Pond Recreation Area. Canoeists can launch from public access areas in PA and NJ to enjoy the water trail.

Ohiopyle State Park – This park is located primarily in Fayette County. Youghiogheny [yaw-ki-GAY-nee] River Gorge passes through the heart of the park. According to the website, the "Yough" [yawk] provides some of the best whitewater boating in the Eastern U. S. as well as spectacular scenery

Oil Creek State Park, Venango County, PA - This Scenic float is classified as a beginner’s creek under normal conditions.

Swatara State Park – This Park is in Lebanon and Schuylkill counties. There are several locations of easy access to the creek for put-in and take-out of boats.

Tyler State Park, Bucks County, PA - Neshaminy Creek offers calm, easy boating

Warriors Path State Park, Bedford County, PA -There is a boat ramp for canoes, rafts and small boats for floating the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. Boating or rafting is recommended during spring or late fall. The water level of the river is usually too shallow for summer.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Middle Delaware National Scenic River

Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting, and Tubing

Kayak Pittsburgh

Three kayaking locations: Downtown Pittsburgh, Lake Elizabeth and North Park.

• Downtown is walking distance of all Downtown locations and the North Side.
• North Park is located at North Park Boat House along North Park Lake, which is about 14 miles from Pittsburgh.
• Lake Elizabeth is located inside the Allegheny Commons.

Click here to go to our Places to Paddle, Kayak, Canoe in Pennsylvania page for links and more information on these great PA paddling venues.

Do you have a kayak, canoe and paddling event you’d like us to feature on BornToPaddle.com? If so, Click here to send us the info using our handy contact form.

Click here to visit our kayak, canoe races and events page to find the links to these websites and to find many other races and events that are going on all year all over the U.S.

Back in 1966, Pete Seeger decided to do something about the heavily polluted Hudson River. His idea was to build a boat – specifically a replica of an 18th century sloop – to attract more people to the shores of the Hudson, thereby increasing awareness of the river’s environmental issues.

The Clearwater has helped to reconnect Hudson River Valley residents with the river and is the centerpiece of the annual Great Hudson River Revival, that brings more people down to the river and increases awareness about this fragile ecosystem and the need to protect it.

This year’s Clearwater Festival – Great Hudson River Revival takes place Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21 at Croton Point Park in Croton-on Hudson, NY. Contemporary blues star Susan Tedeschi, renowned Sixties era troubadour Arlo Guthrie and “newgrass” sensations Old Crow Medicine Show are among the headliners of the festival.

According to the festival web site,

The 2009 Clearwater Festival will be celebrating a number of auspicious occasions this year, including the 40th anniversary of the launch of the sloop Clearwater, the 90th birthday of the legendary folksinger, and Clearwater founder, Pete Seeger and the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage up the river on the Half Moon.

The Festival makes possible innovative educational initiatives, which have helped more than 430,000 young people and over 250,000 adults experience the wonders of the Hudson River from aboard the sloop Clearwater. The organization itself has gained worldwide recognition for its leadership in helping to pass landmark environmental laws, both state and federal, including the Clean Water Act. Recently, Clearwater played a key role in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) decision to compel one of the Hudson River’s biggest polluters to begin removing toxic PCBs from the water and restoring one of the most polluted portions of the river.

Go to the Clearwater’s web site to learn more about how you can get involved in awareness, education and conservation.

Go to the Great Hudson River Festival web site to get tickets and find out more about the annual festival.

Do you have a kayak, canoe and paddling event you’d like us to feature on BornToPaddle.com? If so, Click here to send us the info using our handy contact form.

Click here to visit our kayak, canoe races and events page to find the links to these websites and to find many other races and events that are going on all year all over the U.S.

We’ve come across some more kayaking and canoeing races and events happening in June that we thought all of our paddling friends out there might be interested in. Read about the paddling events below, then Click here to visit our kayak, canoe races and events page to find the links to these websites and to find many other races and events that are going on all year all over the U.S.

Washington (State)

Washington Island Canoe and Kayak Event

Date: June 19,20 & 21.

Description: Several events are offered including a Marathon Race, Beginner Race, Intermediate Race and a Death’s Door Expedition Crossing.

Here are some more details:

Beginner Race Length: approximately 3 miles.
Description: The Beginner kayak race starts at the Gislason Beach next to Shipyard Island Marina. Race along the shore in Detroit Harbor starting from Red Barn Park and return. Race is weather dependent. Course may be altered to the Island’s lee shore. This 4 ½ mile water course is traveled daily by Washington Island Ferry Line, carrying passengers between Northport and Washington Island. On Sunday, June 21, 2009, the Washington Island Ferry, and pilot boats will provide escort for a fleet of kayakers paddling across Death’s Door.

Intermediate Race Length: approximately 5 ½ miles.
Description: The Intermediate kayak race starts at Gislason Beach, Red Barn Park, Gislason Beach. Detroit Harbor from Red Barn Park to Detroit Island and back to Red Barn Park. Race is weather dependent. Course may be altered to the Island’s lee shore.

Marathon Race Length: Approximately 22 statute miles.
Description: Circumnavigate Washington Island, approximately 21 statute miles. Starting at Red Barn Park. Race is weather dependent. Course may be altered to the Island’s lee shore.

Expedition crossing of Death’s Door — Paddle from the Potato Dock on Washington Island, past Plum Island to Northport. Expedition crossing is weather dependent. Course may be altered or abbreviated. The Washington Island Canoe & Kayak Event “Death’s Door Expedition” is the experience of a lifetime. Many have waited, not wanting to cross Death’s Door alone. June 21, 2009, is your chance to accomplish an expedition-size, open-water crossing in a team of paddlers. Come and paddle. Make history for yourself, join this Washington Island community crossing Death’s Door passage.

Safety is the priority. Weather will dictate launch, wait or “no-go.” All paddlers and equipment will be vetted prior to launch.

Virginia

2nd Annual Jackson River Paddle

Date & Location: Saturday, June 20th in Clifton Forge, Virginia.

Description: A fun event for the whole family, event categories are: Men’s ,Women’s & 18 and under. Open to both canoers and kayakers.

Georgia

Paddle Georgia 2009

SOLD OUT! just as we went to press, we found that this event is already sold out for 2009. But we thought we’d post it anyhow for those of you who may want to get a jump on 2010!

Dates: June 20 – June 26, 2009

Route: A week-long, 92-mile canoe/kayak adventure on North Georgia’s Coosawattee and Oostanaula rivers from Ellijay to Rome. Experience Georgia as you never have before.

Description: Each year, about 300 people participate, ranging in age from 4 to 74. Most of these adventurers are “thru-paddlers” traveling all seven days. A smaller number choose Paddle Georgia Lite, our weekend-only option. This year, we expect 300 thru-paddlers and will offer limited space for Paddle Georgia Lite participants.

Florida

Annual Kayak Against Cancer

Date & Time: Saturday June 20th, 2009. Registration is at 6:30 AM. The event starts at 8:00 AM.

Location: The North end of South Beach Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This is located just north of the entrance of the South Beach Park parking lot.

Description: Kayak Against Cancer is a kayaking charity event benefiting the American Cancer Society, Florida Division, INC.

There is no registration fee or cost to the participants. However, remember the purpose of this event is to raise money for the American Cancer Society. We are hoping you will come to the event having already raised lots of donations! There is a minimum donation amount of $35.00. If you did not have the chance to get donations and you want to simply pay this amount yourself, that is fine. All checks should be made out directly to the American Cancer Society, Florida Division, INC.

If you don’t have your own boat to paddle, kayaks available for rental.

Do you have a kayak, canoe and paddling event you’d like us to feature on BornToPaddle.com? If so, Click here to send us the info using our handy contact form.

Click here to visit our kayak, canoe races and events page to find the links to these websites and to find many other races and events that are going on all year all over the U.S.