Paddle Antrim Festival 2025

About the Event

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

Races Offered

straighten

Distance — 42 Miles

terrain

Type — —

timer

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for September in Elk Rapids.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 14.3° / 22.8°

wb_sunny 12.7° / 21.9°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 11.4 /

water_drop 74.3%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 14.3° / 22.8°

wb_sunny 12.7° / 21.9°

air 11.4 km/h

water_drop 74.3%

About Elk Rapids

Elk Rapids is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. The village is the largest incorporated community in Antrim County, with a population of 1,529 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Elk Rapids Township, in the southwest of Antrim County, and is on the shore of Grand Traverse Bay, a bay of Lake Michigan. Elk Rapids is located about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Bellaire, the county seat, and about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Traverse City, the largest city in Northern Michigan.

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About the Event

Registration Includes the Following:

Schedule of Events:

Shuttle Service

Races Offered

Paddle Antrim Festival Day 2 Registration

Two-Day Chain of Lakes Endurance Challenge - 42 miles - Advanced/Expert

Two-Day Intermediate Lake Challenge - 24 miles - Intermediate

Two-Day Open Water Challenge - 32 miles - Advanced

Two-Day Recreational Challenge - 16 miles - Beginner

Two-Day Torch Lake Challenge - 24 miles - Intermediate/Advanced

Ellsworth-to-Bellaire Challenge Paddle - 15 miles | 6.5 hours

Ellsworth-to-Central Relaxed Paddle – 7 miles | 3.5 hours

Paddle Antrim Festival Day 1 AND Day 2 Registration

Paddle Antrim Festival Day 1 Registration

Bellaire-to-Elk Rapids Advanced Expedition- 27 miles | 9 hours

Bellaire-to-Torch River Challenge Paddle - 17 miles | 7 hours

Bellaire-to-Dockside Morning Paddle - 9 Miles | 4.5 hours

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Paddle Antrim Festival 2025

About the Event

Registration Includes the Following:

Schedule of Events:

Shuttle Service

Races Offered

Paddle Antrim Festival Day 2 Registration

Two-Day Chain of Lakes Endurance Challenge - 42 miles - Advanced/Expert

Two-Day Intermediate Lake Challenge - 24 miles - Intermediate

Two-Day Open Water Challenge - 32 miles - Advanced

Two-Day Recreational Challenge - 16 miles - Beginner

Two-Day Torch Lake Challenge - 24 miles - Intermediate/Advanced

Ellsworth-to-Bellaire Challenge Paddle - 15 miles | 6.5 hours

Ellsworth-to-Central Relaxed Paddle – 7 miles | 3.5 hours

Paddle Antrim Festival Day 1 AND Day 2 Registration

Paddle Antrim Festival Day 1 Registration

Bellaire-to-Elk Rapids Advanced Expedition- 27 miles | 9 hours

Bellaire-to-Torch River Challenge Paddle - 17 miles | 7 hours

Bellaire-to-Dockside Morning Paddle - 9 Miles | 4.5 hours

Weather Overview

About Elk Rapids

Hotels & Places to Stay

Nearby Races

Leapin' Leprechaun

Mud Sweat & Beers 2026 - The Sweet 16!

Mari Vineyards Wine Run 5k

Traverse City Trail Running Festival

Recommended for You

Run Manatee - Rye Preserve 5K -2026

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