Paddle Antrim Festival 2026

Join us for the Paddle Antrim Festival, Friday, September 18 - Sunday, September 20, 2026.

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. Paddle one day or two days and choose the distance that is best for your paddling ability and desired distance/time on the water. 

NEW this year! Please note that the Festival is taking place Friday - Sunday (instead of Thursday - Saturday). 

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 outlining the route
• Paid security to watch boats overnight 
• 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:

Friday

Festival Prep Paddling Classes

12:00 - 2:00  pm – Festival Prep: Paddling Strokes ($45 registration add-on)
2:30 - 5:00 pm -  Basic Rescue Skills ($55 registration add-on)

Kick-off Party hosted by the Village of Ellsworth

Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.)

2:00 - 7:00 pm 

• Paddle Expo
• Boat demos
• Paddler Check-in, boat drop off, and boat wash station open.

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Live music
• Food truck

SATURDAY - DAY 1

Paddler Check-in

8:00 - 9:00 am – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.)

• Packet pick-up
• Breakfast & coffee will be available to those who purchased with registration.
• Hydration station (bring your own refillable water bottle)

Safety Brief

9:00 am – Ellsworth River Park (6625 Bridge St.) - All paddlers must be in attendance.

Full Group Launch!

9:15 am 

Central Lake Finish Line/Checkpoint 1

10:30 am - 1:00 PM Thurston Park (7854 Bradford St)

• Lunch pick-up for paddlers who purchased during registration.
• Pavilion with picnic tables to eat purchased or sack lunch
• Hydration station
• Recovery Snacks
• Restrooms

At 12:45 pm all paddlers who intend to paddle to Bellaire must be past the Central Lake Checkpoint

*Paddlers participating in Day 2 can choose to have their boats portaged to Ohio Street Launch (Day 2 launch location)

Richardi Park Finish Line 

12:30 - 4:00 PM - Richardi Park by the sandy beach

• Cheer on fellow paddlers
• Hydration Station
• Recovery Snacks
• Restrooms

*Paddlers participating in Day 2 can choose to have their boats portaged to Ohio Street Launch (Day 2 launch location). Overnight security provided. 

Short's Beer Garden Party

2:00 - 6:00 pm – Short's Beer Garden (118 N Bridge St, Bellaire) 

• Paddle Antrim merch available for purchase
• Live music
• Local brews
• Food available for purchase

Sunday only paddlers may check-in and pick up packets during the Block Party.  

SUNDAY - DAY 2

• SUNDAY 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. 

Paddler Check-in

6:15 - 7:45 am – Ohio Street Launch (google directions)

• Breakfast & lunch pick-up for those who purchased with registration.

Safety Brief  1 - Paddlers going beyond Checkpoint 1 onto Torch Lake

7:15 am – Ohio Street Launch

All paddlers must attend, even those who paddled Friday.

Launch 1: Paddlers going beyond Checkpoint 1 onto Torch Lake

7:30 am 

Safety Brief 2: Paddlers ending at Checkpoint 1 

7:45 am - Ohio Street Launch –  All paddlers must attend, even those who paddled Friday.

Launch 2: Paddlers ending at Checkpoint 1

8:00 am

Dockside Beach Finish Line/Checkpoint 1

9:30 am - 12:30 PM 

• Hydration station
• Refueling snacks
• Restrooms
• Dockside Restaurant open at 10 am for spectators and paddlers 

Torch River Bridge Finish Line/Checkpoint 2

• Hydration station
• Refueling snacks
• Restrooms

Elk Rapids Rotary Park Finish Line

• Hydration station
• Refueling snacks
• Restrooms

**After 3:00 pm paddlers must exit at the next checkpoint they come to.**

FINAL BASH  - Join us for a great celebration!

2:00 -7:00 pm – hosted  by our top sponsor – Short’s Brewing Company

Short's Pull Barn in Elk Rapids (211 Industrial Park)

• Paddle Antrim merch available for purchase
• Live music
• Local brews
• Food available for purchase
• Closing ceremony with Paddle Antrim's Executive Director at 5:00 pm - 42 mile hall of fame recognition, five/ten year participant recognition

Shuttle Service

Shuttle service will be provided for people, no boats. Shuttle service is included with all registrations! Your "finish line" location for the day 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. Boat/equipment must be dropped off at the launch prior to taking the shuttle.

DAY 1:

• Checkpoint 2: Richardi Park parking lot (100 E Antrim St.) – 8:00 am you may need to park along street
• Checkpoint 1: Central Lake Thurston Park Pavilion near playground (Pavilion on State St)  – 8:15 am – parking is along street

DAY 2:

• Checkpoint 4: Elk Rapids Rotary Park (305 US-31) – 6:00 am – Park in parking lot by Swan Statue (not launch)
• Checkpoints 2& 3: Torch River Bridge DNR Parking lot  – 6:15 am – Recreation Passport required
• Checkpoint 1: Dockside Restaurant ( 6340 Old Torch Lake Dr, Bellaire)– 7:00 am– Park in spaces away from restaurant and water, along roadway

Ellsworth-to-Central Lake Relaxed Paddle – 7 miles | 3.5 hours: T-Shirt

Bellaire-to-Dockside Morning Paddle - 9 Miles | 4.5 hours: T-Shirt

Ellsworth-to-Bellaire Challenge Paddle - 15 miles | 6.5 hours: T-Shirt

Two-Day Recreational Challenge - 16 miles - Beginner: T-Shirt

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

Two-Day Intermediate Lake Challenge - 24 miles - Intermediate: T-Shirt

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

Two-Day Open Water Challenge - 32 miles - Advanced: T-Shirt

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