Paddle Antrim Festival 2025

Join us for the 10th Annual Paddle Antrim Festival, Presented by Short's Brewing Company.

The Paddle Antrim Festival celebrates the amazing waterways and communities of Northern Michigan. The Festival, always the second weekend after Labor Day, includes a two-day paddle event through the Chain of Lakes Water Trail. This choose your own adventure paddle provides the opportunity for you to paddle one or both days and decide how far to travel. There are exits strategically placed along the route so you may go anywhere from 7 miles to all 42 miles.

Tandem paddlers please note: each individual participant must complete their own registration. 

Registration Includes the Following:

• Shuttle service (for people not boats - see more information on shuttles below)
• A great time both on and off the water!
• Paddle Antrim Festival t-shirt
• Festival Sticker
• Boat Number
• Waterproof course map
• Motorized boats & support paddlers along the route
• Paid security to watch boats overnight (Thursday & Friday nights)
• Restrooms at each launch and checkpoint
• Kick Off Party in Ellsworth
• Block Party at Short's Brewing Company's Bellaire Beer Garden
• Final Bash at Short's Brewing Company's Elk Rapids Pull Barn

Schedule of Events:

Thursday

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Paddler Check-in, boat drop off, and boat wash station open.
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Kick off Party hosted by the Village of Ellsworth

Friday

8:30 - 9:30 am – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Paddler Check-in. Breakfast will be available to those who purchased with registration.
9:30 am – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) – Safety brief. All paddlers must be in attendance.
9:45 am – Launch!
Central Lake’s Thurston Park (7854 Bradford St)  – Lunch for paddlers who purchased during registration.
1:15 pm – All paddlers who intend to paddle to Bellaire must be past the Central Lake Checkpoint.
2:00 - 5:00 pm – Short's Beer Garden (118 N Bridge St, Bellaire) – Block Party hosted by Short's Brewing Company. Saturday only paddlers may check-in and pick up packets during the Block Party.  

Saturday

6:45 -7:45 am – Ohio Street Launch (google directions) – Paddler Check-in. Breakfast for those who purchased with registration.
7:45 am – Ohio Street Launch – Safety brief. All paddlers must attend, even those who paddled Friday.
8:00 am – Launch! We will launch paddlers who are going past checkpoint 1 first. A bagged lunch will be provided for paddlers who purchased it during registration (please have a drybag to store until you are ready to eat).
4:00 pm – After 3:30 pm paddlers must exit at the next checkpoint they come to.
3:00-8:00 pm – Final Bash – hosted  by our top sponsor – Short’s Brewing Company at their Pull Barn in Elk Rapids (211 Industrial Park) – Join us for a great celebration!

• SATURDAY NOTE: To enter Torch Lake on Saturday (passing Dockside), your paddle craft must be one of the following. 
  • A sit on top kayak with a minimum length of 12 feet.
  • A surfski with a minimum length of 12 feet. A boat leash is required.
  • A paddle board with a minimum length of 12 feet. A leash is required.
  • A kayak with water-tight bulkheads in the bow and the stern and a minimum length of 12 feet. Positive secured flotation is allowed in lieu of bulkheads  but may be subject to demonstrating ability to displace enough water to complete a deep-water re-entry.
  • Each craft will be inspected for compliance, please feel free to contact us if you have questions on your specific boat. 

Shuttle Service

Shuttle service will be provided for people, no boats. New this year, shuttle service is included with all registrations! When you register, identify where you are going to end your paddle. That is the location you will drop off your vehicle the morning you paddle (times/locations below). Shuttle buses will pick up passengers and drive you to the launch.  This way your vehicle is waiting for you when you get off the water.  You must drop off your boat/equipment at the launch prior to taking the shuttle.  All shuttle passengers must pre-register for shuttle service with registration to ensure enough seating. 

DAY 1:

• Checkpoint 2: Richardi Park parking lot (100 E Antrim St.) – 8:30 am you may need to park along street
• Checkpoint 1: Central Lake Thurston Park Pavilion near playground (Pavilion on State St)  – 8:45 am – parking is along street

DAY 2:

• Checkpoint 4: Elk Rapids Rotary Park (305 US-31) – 6:30 am – Park in parking lot by Swan Statue (not launch)
• Checkpoints 2& 3: Torch River Bridge DNR Parking lot  – 6:45 am – Recreation Passport required
• Checkpoint 1: Dockside Restaurant ( 6340 Old Torch Lake Dr, Bellaire)– 6:45 am– Park in spaces away from restaurant and water, along roadway