September 18–20, Elk Rapids to Ellsworth, on the Chain of Lakes Water Trail
There’s a moment on the Chain of Lakes Water Trail — somewhere between Ellsworth and Elk Rapids, paddle dipping in and out of glassy water — when you understand why hundreds of paddlers, spectators and volunteers mark this weekend on their calendars every year. Now in its 11th year, the Paddle Antrim Festival turns Northern Michigan’s Pure Michigan–designated water trail into a two-day, choose-your-own-adventure paddling event, bookended by community parties, live music, and local beer. New this year, every checkpoint along the route becomes a finish line experience of its own — so no matter how far you choose to paddle, you cross a finish line and get to celebrate it. Whether you’re a first-timer wondering if you’re “paddler enough” or a veteran chasing your tenth 42-mile, “Hall of Fame” finish, here’s what you need to know.
What Makes This Festival Different
Paddle Antrim isn’t a race, and it isn’t a single fixed course. It’s a self-paced journey through a chain of interconnected lakes and rivers, with a finish line experience waiting at every checkpoint along the way — whether that’s your stopping point at 7 miles or your victory lap at the full 42. However far you choose to go, you finish. You can register for one day or two, and each day offers multiple distance options, so the same event genuinely works for a beginner doing a relaxed 7-mile paddle and a hardcore adventurer doing back-to-back multiple-digit mile days.
New this year: the festival has shifted from a Thursday–Saturday event to a Friday–Sunday schedule, specifically to make it easier for working professionals to attend without burning vacation days mid-week.
The Weekend at a Glance
Friday, September 18 — Kickoff
- Optional skills classes: Paddling Strokes (12–2 pm, $45 add-on) and Basic Rescue Skills (2:30–5 pm, $55 add-on)
- Kickoff Party and Expo at Ellsworth River Park, 2–7 pm — boat drop-off, boat wash station, paddle expo, boat demos, live music, NA Happy Hour, and a food truck
Saturday, September 19 — Day 1
- Check-in and breakfast at Ellsworth River Park starting 8 am; mandatory safety briefing at 9 am; full group launch at 9:15 am
- Choose your distance: Ellsworth-to-Central Lake Relaxed Paddle (7 miles, ~3.5 hrs) or Ellsworth-to-Bellaire Challenge Paddle (15 miles, ~6.5 hrs)
- Finish line 1 at Thurston Park in Central Lake, with its own finish line experience plus lunch and a hydration/snack stop
- Finish line 2 at Richardi Park — another finish line experience awaits — then head straight to the Block Party at Short’s Bellaire Beer Garden (2–6 pm) for a complimentary beer or N/A beverage, snacks, live music, and merch
Sunday, September 20 — Day 2
- Check-in and breakfast at Ohio Street Launch, 6:15–7:45 am; staggered safety briefings and launches starting 7:15 am
- Choose your distance: Bellaire-to-Dockside Morning Paddle (9 miles, ~4.5 hrs), Bellaire-to-Torch River Challenge (17 miles, ~7 hrs), or the Bellaire-to-Elk Rapids Advanced Expedition (27 miles, ~9 hrs)
- Finish line experiences with hydration and snacks at Dockside Beach and Torch River Bridge
- Finish line at Elk Rapids Rotary Park, then celebrate at the Final Bash hosted by Short’s Brewing Company at their Pull Barn (2–7 pm) — live music, local brews, food trucks, and a 5 pm closing ceremony recognizing 42-mile finishers and 5- and 10-year returning paddlers
What Your Registration Covers
Whether you sign up for one day or the full weekend, registration includes:
- Shuttle service so your car is waiting at your finish line each day (this moves people, not boats — you take it in the morning, leaving your car where you will end each day)
- A festival t-shirt, sticker, and boat number
- A waterproof course map
- Motorized support boats patrolling the route and paid overnight boat security
- Restrooms and hydration/snack stations at every finish line/checkpoint
- Entry to all three community events (Kickoff Party, Block Party, Final Bash)
Pricing: single-day registration runs $100–$110; the two-day option (16–42 miles across both days) runs $130–$140, with prices increasing after August 1. Register by August 21 if you want to guarantee your t-shirt size, and note that registration closes September 13.
Gear and Safety — What You Need to Know Before You Launch
This is a well-supported event, but it’s still open water, so a few rules apply to everyone:
- Paddlers must be 18 or older and in suitable physical condition for the distance they choose.
- A Coast Guard–approved, properly worn PFD is mandatory at all times — inflatable and belt-style life jackets are not allowed.
- A whistle, flares, or another signaling device is required, and organizers recommend paddlers be comfortable with a self-rescue or remount.
- All paddle craft are welcome for Day 1 and for Day 2 up to the first checkpoint. To continue past that point into Torch Lake on Day 2, your craft must be a kayak with sealed bow/stern bulkheads (or equivalent flotation), a sit-on-top kayak, a surfski, or a paddleboard — each at least 12 feet long, with leashes required for boards and surfskis. Boats will be checked at check-in.
- Attendance at the safety briefing is mandatory before every launch, no exceptions.
- No alcohol, marijuana, or other substances on the water, and no pets or amplified music on the course.
If any of this sounds like a lot, that’s the point — it’s what lets Paddle Antrim keep the event welcoming to newer paddlers while still supporting people tackling the full 42 miles.
Good to Know Before You Register
- Tandem paddlers: each person in the boat registers individually.
- Cancellations made by August 11 get an 85% refund; between August 12 and September 2, a 50% refund; nothing is refundable after September 2, though transfers to another paddler are allowed anytime.
- New to the region or driving in? Check-in and shuttle pickup points differ by day and checkpoint, so it’s worth reviewing the shuttle information before Day 1 of the Festival.
Ready to Paddle?
However far you plan to go — 7 miles or all 42 — the Paddle Antrim Festival is built so you can pick the version of the weekend that fits you, then let the Chain of Lakes and a couple of Short’s Brewing Company parties do the rest. Registration is open now at paddleantrim.com/festival. Questions? Reach the festival director at info@paddleantrim.com or 231-498-2080.
Paddle Antrim is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to protect Northern Michigan’s water resources by using paddle sports to connect people to its waterways — so every registration also supports the trail you’re paddling on.