Here are a few kayaking and canoeing races and events that the whole family can enjoy.

California

If you’re looking for a triathlon you might want to check out The Great Race, the world’s oldest triathlon, on Saturday, July 18th. Your team will need to a run, bike, and paddle. The Great Race is held along the American River Parkway between Rancho Cordova and Sacramento, CA. According to their website there are many divisions for both teams and iron-persons.

This race consists of a 5.82 mile run, 12.5 mile cycle, and 6.35 mile paddle.

If you need another person in order to enter, you can check out their team message board. There you can post a message to find a teammate.

This event also has a duathlon for kids. Kids can compete in a 2 mile run and 5.75 mile bike event. The age for this is event youths 17 & younger.

Michigan

If you are an experienced canoer you may want to enter the AuSable River Canoe Marathon on July 25-26th. This is a 120 + mile course, 14-19 hour overnight race from Grayling to Oscoda. According to their website, this is the longest non-stop canoe race in North America.

Minnesota

If you live near the Twin Cities you may want to participate in the Mississippi River Challenge on July 25 & 26. Each day is a 22 mile downstream paddle with two rest stops and a lunch stop. Paddlers can choose to paddle the 44 mile two day route or the 22 mile one day. According to their website, paddlers that have participated in this event have been of all skill and experience levels. This challenge will take you from Coons Rapids Dam Regional Park to Grey Cloud Island.

This is a fund raising event for the Friends of the Mississippi River. Each paddler needs to raise pledge funds in order to participate.

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.

Coming up on Saturday, May 16 in Rochester, Minnesota is the Christopher Schmidt Wilderness Adventure Scholarship. The scholarship fund was established to assist with expenses, for youth and the disadvantaged, who wish to participate in outdoor activities such as wilderness trips, camping trips, naturalist, or environmental programs that are offered by qualified organizations who specialize in providing those types of experiences.

This scholarship was created in memory of Christopher Brian Schmidt. Although Christopher never made it to the boundary waters, he loved the outdoors – camping, hiking, fishing, canoeing, wildlife, nature and weather observation, as well as outdoor winter activities.

He also enjoyed writing stories about outdoor adventures that he imagined. It is in the hopes of sending as many youth as possible on the adventures they dream of, and fostering a passion in them for the outdoors that this scholarship was established.

Paddling enthusiasts to participate in a float up the beautiful Zumbro River in exchange for a donation to the scholarship. Suggested registration/donation $25 per boat.

Schedule of Events:

• 9 a.m. – meet and do a car shuttle,
• 10 a.m. – boat launch
• After the paddle: Food provided for the paddlers at Chester Woods County Park on Hwy 14, just a few miles east of Rochester. Bring your own beverages.
• Also: Gear Swap – bring any camping or paddling gear you would like to trade, donate, or give away.
• And: Prizes – a drawing for prizes including the door prize, a $500 gift certificate, generously donated by Wilderness Inquiry.

More About the Zumbro River Paddle:

Participants will be paddling a 10 mile stretch of the Zumbro River starting at the canoe launch on County Road 7 just north of Zumbro Lake, to the canoe launch in Zumbro Falls. This is some very scenic bluffland, not the Boundary Waters, but some of the most beautiful country Minnesota has to offer.

For More Information and to Register, click here.

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 link to this website and to find many other races and events that are going on all year all over the U.S.