Root River Triathlon

Experience the beauty of Bluff Country in the Root River Valley with our exciting non-swimming triathlon! Since its inception in 1998 by the City of Houston, this triathlon has been a thrilling event for participants of all ages. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or a newcomer, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Participation is open to men and women of every age (young people of 17 years and younger with the consent of their guardian).

The triathlon kicks off with a picturesque paddle downstream on the Root River from Houston to Mound Prairie. Then hop on your bike for a road-ride back to Houston. Some hills “en route” are challenging and demand an extra effort. The race wraps up with a fairly level run, starting on the Root River trail and then through the streets of Houston. You will circle back and cross the finish line in Trailhead park.

• 6.8 mile Canoeing / Kayaking
• 7.9 mile Bike
• 3 mile Run

Join us for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Bluff Country. You may register as:

• Individual Canoe or Kayak
• 2-person Canoe or Kayak (paddle together, complete the bike & run separately)
• 3-person Relay Team (each individuals completing a leg of the race)
• 4-person Relay Team (2-person kayak or canoe, 1 bike, 1 run)

We can't wait to see you at the starting line!

Check out these 2026 triathlon events in our area! 

Flater’s Triple R, Holcombe WI

White Deer Triathlon, Boulder Junction WI

June 13th & 14th Trinona, Winona MN

June 7th - Cuyuna Off Road, Cuyuna MN

July 11th – Oconto Falls Dri-Tri, Oconto Falls WI

July 25th - Tricky Trout Triathlon, Hayward WI

Black Squirrel Scurry, Merrill WI

Alexandria Sprint Tri and Tri Challenge, Alexandria MN

Phelps Twin Tri, Phelps WI

Y Knot Tri, Lake City MN

August 15th – Waupaca Area Triathlon, Waupaca WI

Bluff Land Tri, Rushford MN

August 22nd – HODAG Triathlon, Rhinelander WI

September 12th – Wolfman Triathlon, Langlade WI

The DSI Triathlon & Inclusive 4K, Redwing MN

October 3rd – Kickapoo Valley Reserve Dam Challenge Triathlon, La Farge WI

 

Same day registration is available!

6:30 AM – 8:00 AM | Packet Pickup & Registration
📍 Houston Nature Center, 215 W Plum St, Houston, MN 55943

Registration closes at 8:00 AM
Packets include:Bib number & safety pins
Timing chip (wear on left ankle)
Race T-shirt
Plastic bag for wet items

6:15 AM – 8:00 AM | Bike Drop
📍 Mound Prairie Bridge, County Rd 25, Houston, MN

• Return via County Hwy 25 → Hwy 16
• Bike helmets required — no exceptions
• Closes promptly at 8:00 AM — No bike check-in, no race.

6:15 AM – 8:00 AM | Boat Drop
📍 Sand dredge west of Hwy 76 bridge

• Drop off canoe/kayak, paddles & life vests
• Life vests required - no exceptions

8:10 AM | Announcements & National Anthem
📍 At the start line

• Final instructions & race reminders

8:30 AM | Race Start

• 10 boats per corral
• First heat starts promptly at 8:30 AM
• 5-minute intervals between heats
• ⚠️ Do NOT switch heats — your time will be WRONG
• River bottom is sandy; shoreline may be muddy. Bring extra shoes

 
Transition Areas

Boat to Bike 

• Cross Timing Mat 1: exit boat
• Cross Timing Mat 2: before mounting bike

Bike to Run – Natural Playground, Trailhead Park

• Cross Timing Mat 3: drop bike & begin run

Finish Line
📍 Houston Nature Center Park

• Final time captured at finish
• Return timing chip to volunteers 
  • There is a $30 charge for unreturned timing chips!
• Complimentary snacks & drinks
• Showers available at the Nature Center
   

Awards – 12:00 PM
📍 Bandshell, Nature Center Park

• Full results: rootrivertriathlon.org
• Trophies: Overall Male & Female – 1st, 2nd, 3rd
• Relay Medals: 1st, 2nd, 3rd
• Age Group Medals (Male & Female – 1st, 2nd, 3rd):
  • 19 & under, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70+ 

Gear Pickup

• Retrieve all gear from transition areas after the race
• Items left in Mound Prairie will NOT be returned to town
• Volunteer on-site until 1:00 PM — after that, it’s your responsibility
   

Public Parking Locations:

• Nature Center
• Houston Community Center
• Behind Farmer’s Elevator (N. Jefferson St)
• Behind Root River Market
• Barista’s Coffee House

If parking in Mound Prairie:
You must park south of the Root River bridge on County Rd 25.
Use Hwy 16 to return to Houston. No exceptions
 
Restrooms & Water Stations

• Portable restrooms:
  • Canoe/kayak start
  • Mound Prairie Boat Landing
  • Bike to Run Transition
• No restrooms on the run route
• Full restrooms & showers available at Nature Center
• Water stations at all transitions and along the course
   

📣 Spectator Info

We encourage cheering, clapping, cowbells, photos, and posters!

Best Viewing Areas – Be cautious of traffic:

Kayak/Canoe:

• Start near Hwy 76 bridge
• Boat landing via Hwy 25 bridge

Bike:

• Start on Hwy 25 (parking only south of bridge)
• Finish at Trailhead Park (behind bandshell)

Run:

• Start at Natural Playground
• Along W Elm Street (Houston High School)
• Finish at Nature Center Park
   

Refund Policy

No refunds. No exceptions. You are responsible — no excuses.

 
⚠️ Race Cancellation / Delay

• Kayak/Canoe Leg:
  • Canceled if Root River at Hwy 76 bridge > 5 ft
  • Monitor via USGS Water Data – Root River near Houston, MN
• Rescheduling:
  • Will occur only with enough notice to avoid major disruption
  • If rescheduling isn’t possible, bike leg replaces the paddle leg and is extended
• Weather Delays:
  • We’ll wait up to 1 hour for law enforcement clearance
  • If conditions remain unsafe, the race may be canceled due to an “act of God”

 

 

 

  
               

               

 

All proceeds from this event benefit local and international Lions projects.

 

For more information, you may contact one of our members, or in writing at:

Houston Lions Club
PO Box 732 - Houston, MN 55943

                                     

 

General Information

No drafting ;
Depending on somebody else's skills is against the idea of a "Personal" race and diminishes the value of your performance . Again, participating is more important than winning.

For their own, other participants' and volunteers' safety, participants MUST wear life vests during canoeing or kayaking and helmets while biking.
Drinking water will be available at the race start, all transitions, and every mile of the run.

The Root River bottom is sand but the shoreline may be muddy. A change of shoes is recommended.

NOTE - Registration is limited to the first 400 participants. 

Packet Pick Up - Race Day
Check in starts at 6:30 AM. Houston Nature Center located on West Plum Street (intersection of Highway 76 and Plum Street) to receive a bib number, timing chip, and T-shirt. Please be on time.

Final Instructions - Race Day
Get final instructions at 8:10 AM. at the canoe staging area. Staggered canoe/kayak start with 5 minute intervals beginning at 8:30am.

Bike & canoe/kayak check in on Race-day.
You must check your bike in at the Mound Prairie Bridge transition area starting at 6:15 AM. Bike check-in area can only be entered from County Highway 21 and must be exited south on County Highway 25 and then west on Highway 16 back to Houston. This area closes promptly at 8:00 AM. You cannot compete if your bike is not checked in.

​Canoes, kayaks and bicycles can be retrieved at their respective transition areas after showing the bib number that corresponds with the participants bib number.  The transition areas will be manned until 13:30 p.m.
Those providing their own canoes/kayak, paddles & vests must check them in at the canoe start area beneath the Root River Bridge at Highway 76.

Parking
Public parking lots are at the Nature Center; behind Farmer's Elevator on North Jefferson Street, behind the Root River Market and at Barista's Coffee Shop.
If parking at the "canoe-to-bike" leg, you must park SOUTH of Root River Bridge on County Road 25 and return to Houston on Highway 16W!

Swag
Annual Root River Triathlon T-shirt. 

Restroom
Port-a-potties are available along the route. Restrooms with showers are available at the Nature Center.

Gear Pick Up - Post Race
Bikes will remain at the "bike to run" transition area behind the Bandshell/ Finish area.

Canoes/Kayaks and any other gear left behind from the transition to bike will remain at the Mound Prairie Boat Landing. Pick-up by 1:00 PM

Awards Ceremony
Be sure to join your fellow competitors in the Bandshell at the Nature Center park for the presentation of awards at 12:00 PM. Complete race results will be  available at: www.rootrivertriathlon.org and then follow the link to race results.

Medals are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for each age-group. Age groups will be 19 and under; 20 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 60; 70 and older. There will also be medals for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place of the relay teams.

Refund Policy
"No refund, no excuses and that means "YOU" (are responsible)

In the event of inclement weather, we will make every attempt to wait for an all clear from the local Law enforcement and proceed. If after 1 hour the weather prevents us from proceeding the race may be cancelled due to do an "act of God."

Waiver and Release
Before you can join our race you have to sign the following waiver:

"I know that participating in a canoe/bike/run multi-sport event is a potentially hazardous activity. I assume all risks associated with participation in this event including, but not limited to: falls; contact with other participants or spectators or the effects of the weather or water-including heat, cold, high humidity, traffic, or the conditions of the river, road surface, or trail; all such risks being known and appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts and in consideration of your accepting my entry. I, for Myself and anyone entitled to act for my behalf waive and release the Houston Lions and all other sponsors of the event, their representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this event even though that Liability might arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons named in this waiver. I grant permission to all of the foregoing to use any photographs, motion picture, or record of this event for any legitimate purpose." 
 
 Additional Location Information
The canoe start will be at the Sand Dredge west of the Highway 76 Bridge over the Root River.
The first transition will be at the canoe landing west of the Mound Prairie Bridge on Highway 25 over the Root River
The second transition will be at the Natural Playground in Trailhead Park. 

The finish will be at the Bandshell in Trailhead Park
The Award Winning Ceremony will be at the Bandshell in Trailhead Park.

​In general the race will be cancelled if the level of the Root River at the bridge of Highway 76 is higher than 5 feet. You can check this out yourself. Use the link below.

ROOT RIVER WATER LEVEL

Registration

Individual Categories:
 - Kayak / Canoe: $75 (Regular) | $65 (Early Registration)
 - Canoe: $75 (Regular) | $65 (Early Registration)

2-Person Categories:
 - Kayak: $150 (Regular) | $130 (Early Registration)
 - Canoe: $150 (Regular) | $130 (Early Registration)

Relay Categories:
 - 3-Person Relay: $195 (Regular) | $225 (Early Registration)
 - 4-Person Relay: $240 (Regular) | $300 (Early Registration)

Note: Prices are subject to a registration fee.

Price Increases:
 - Early Registration ends at midnight on 10/31/2025.
 - An additional $10 increase will be added for registrations on the day of the event.

*Registrations after 5/3/2026 are not guaranteed a t-shirt*   

Individual: 

1 person completes the entire course.

 - Individual participants using a canoe or double kayak are paired with another individual participant in the same boat. Each participant's paddling time will be recorded separately and added to their bike and run times. 

- Sharing a canoe or kayak (2-person), the first person registers and creates the team, adding the second person during the process. Alternatively, the first person can create the team and have the second person register later, ensuring they join the same team. When registering both people at the same time, add the second registrant and proceed through the registration process. The price will initially show as $130 each and adjust to $130 total automatically at checkout. *Prices are dependent on the time of registration. 

Relay Team: 

3 Person - 1 kayak, 1 bike, 1 run

4 Person - 2 double kayak or canoe, 1 bike, 1 run

Each team member will have their own timing chip. The times of all three race events will be combined for the team’s final race results.

Q. How do I create a Team for 2-person Canoe/Kayak or Relay during registration?

• • Watch this video tutorial we made. https://youtu.be/r-EUzT1jq_w

Q. Are there restrictions or regulations on what kind of canoe/kayak, bike, or paddle I can use?

• • No, you may use any type of bike, tandem, paddle board, canoe or kayak. 

Check out the two local businesses below if you will need to rent:

• Kayak Rentals: Money Creek Outfitters 507-450-0370
• Canoe Rentals: Cushons Peak Campground 507-896-7325
  • Contact directly to make reservations. 

Q. Do I have to wear a helmet while on my bike?

• • Yes! All participants on the bike portion of the race will be required to wear CPSC/ANSI approved helmets.

Q. Do I have to wear a life jacket while I am in my boat?

• • Yes, all participants will be required to wear a US Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while on the river.
  • We will have two boats on the river during the race to help you in any case of calamity.
  • A life vest is the first and foremost device to keep you afloat.

Q. Will there be food at the Bandshell for participants?

• • Yes, after the race there will be snacks, Gatorade and water. 

Dinning

Houston American Legion Post 423

Baristas Coffee House

Jt's Bar & Grill

River Valley Convenience Store

Rushford Creamery

Lodging

The Sawmill Inn

Outback Ranch

Money Creek Haven

Money Creek Retreat 

Cushon's Peak Campground

Attractions & Shopping

Minnesota Trails

Root River Trail Towns

Money Creek Outfitters

Owl City Cycles

International Owl Center

Bluegrass Festival

Houston Nature Center

Timeless Creations

Kayak: T-Shirt

Canoe: T-Shirt

2-Person Kayak: T-Shirt

2-Person Canoe: T-Shirt

3 Person Relay: T-Shirt

4 Person Relay: T-Shirt