Hello friend, While out on the water this year we heard so many great stories. We heard from a gentleman who returned to the Chain of Lakes for the first time in fifty years to visit the lake where he spent countless summers at as a child. We heard from paddlers who traveled to participate in the Paddle Antrim Festival having never before been to northern Michigan. We heard from… Read More »

Through the end of December, Paddle Antrim invites the community to participate in their Matching Gift Challenge.  With generous support from an exceptionally committed donor, any gifts during this time will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $15,000.  These gifts will help Paddle Antrim continue efforts to provide access, education and stewardship of our local waterways, and will help to kick-start efforts to implement the Water Trail Plan. While Paddle Antrim… Read More »

Paddle Antrim is ready to celebrate Northern Michigan’s Chain of Lakes at the Paddle Antrim Festival September 15-17th.  This event is highlighted by a two-day kayak paddle through Antrim County’s Chain of Lakes and includes community events all weekend long for the entire community. This non-competitive kayak event offers paddlers the option to paddle one or two days, September 16-17th, and go anywhere from 7 miles to 42 miles through… Read More »

Paddle Antrim is hosting three more community paddle events this paddling season and invites all paddlers to join them.  These relaxed, hour-long paddles are along different sections of the Chain of Lakes.  In June, Paddle Antrim hosted their first community paddle in Ellsworth and are excited to do additional events this summer within the different communities. “These are the equivalent to community slow rides that the biking community hosts,” says… Read More »

Paddle Antrim is leading the effort to create and market a new non-motorized water trail through the Chain of Lakes.  A water trail is a designated route along a river, lake, or bay specifically designed for people using small, non-motorized boats like kayaks, canoes, single sailboats or rowboats. These trails are the aquatic equivalent to a hiking trail. Water trails typically feature well-developed access and launch points, are near significant… Read More »

Paddle Antrim invites all paddlers to join them Friday June 17th for their first evening paddle, part of the Ellsworth Pig Roast Celebration. This relaxed, hour-long paddle will travel down the calm waters of Ellsworth Lake. All types of paddlers are welcome – canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddle boards. All paddlers must bring their own paddle craft and personal flotation device (lifevest). All ages are welcome but those under… Read More »

Paddle Antrim is celebrating the amazing treasures of Northern Michigan’s Chain of Lakes.  This non-profit organization is hosting the second Paddle Antrim Festival September 16 & 17, 2016.  The event is highlighted by a two-day kayak paddle through Antrim County’s Chain of Lakes and its communities. The two-day paddle begins on a beautiful sandy beach in the Village of Ellsworth.  From Ellsworth, paddlers meander 15 peaceful miles through four small… Read More »

Paddle Antrim is accepting applications for the Ripple Effect Mini Grant Program.  This competitive grant program funds projects that protect our waterways and connect people to them.  The program focuses on projects related to stewardship, education and increasing accessibility to our waterways. “This is a great opportunity for non-profits and governmental entities to expand existing programs or help fund a new initiative that protects our water resources,” says Deana Jerdee,… Read More »