Gladwin County River Race of Two Cities
About this race
The 2026 Gladwin County River Race of Two Cities celebrates outdoor recreation and the natural resources that define Gladwin County. Highlighting years of conservation efforts by the Gladwin Conservation District and local partners, this event will showcase the revitalization of the Cedar River and the ways that outdoor recreation can bring people together!
This event is made possible by a number of local partnerships and the Gladwin County community. We welcome spectators and participants far and wide to share in the festivities and experience Gladwin County.
- Friday is the official River Race kickoff celebration at Gladwin City Park!
- Starting at 5pm, the evening will have live music featuring Coleman Road Band, vendors, concessions hosted by Gladwin HS Travel Club, and crafts and activities for all ages!
- Saturday is Race Day!
- The competition will begin with an Honor Guard Ceremony in tribute to Memorial Day at 9am with race heats beginning around 9:30am at Gladwin City Park.
- There will also be concessions hosted by Gladwin Boy Scout Troop 779, crafts and activities, music, and vendors to help us start Race Day off right!
- The main event is a 12.5 mile canoe/kayak marathon that will take racers from Gladwin City Park to Beaverton's Ross Lake Park along the recently cleared Cedar River!
- Aid/Spectator locations include Ridley Trailhead on S River Rd, Buckeye Trailhead (2242 S River Rd, Beaverton, MI), Cedar River Chapel (2766 S River Rd, Beaverton, MI), and of course, Ross Lake Park (358 Ross St, Beaverton, MI). Cheer on your favorite paddler and then welcome them across the finish line with festivities at Beaverton's Ross Lake Park!
- After all racers are on the water, the River Race festivities will transition from Gladwin City Park to Ross Lake Park around 11am.
- Ross Lake Park will have concessions, games and activities for all ages, the Beaverton Farmers Market until 4pm, and plenty of local organizations and partners!
- There will also be a 25 Yard Dash Cardboard Boat Race in Ross Lake for those who still want to compete but aren't quite up for the 12.5 mile adventure (there's always next year)! These boat races will be a time trial to see who comes out on top as the fastest dasher of cardboard on Ross Lake!
- Costumes are highly encouraged
- The public will have the chance to vote on their favorite cardboard boat and costumes. Winners will receive a prize and a chance of standing on the podium!
- Award ceremonies will happen throughout the day as racers complete the course. We want to honor our participants up on the River Race Podium and award them with custom engraved paddles!
- After our awards are presented and Ross Lake activities are wrapping up, the celebration will continue in downtown Beaverton with food and drink specials, yard games, bonfires, and music!
The Gladwin County River Race of Two Cities brings an exciting 1.6K, 2.4K, 20.1K, 0.8K to Gladwin, Michigan on May 23, 2025. Don't miss this beautiful event!
Pick your distance
Running
RRTC Kickoff Fun Run/Walk
This event starts at Gladwin's North Park and will end just over a mile south at Gladwin City Park. All are welcome to this kickoff event along the Trail of Two Cities! At the end of this 1 mile fun run/walk you can join in on the celebration with live music, vendors, a silent auction, concessions hosted by Gladwin HS Travel Club, activities and crafts for all ages, an interactive education station hosted by Little Forks Conservancy and Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, and more!
Paddle sports
RRTC Kickoff Fun Float
This event starts at Gladwin's North Park and will end just over a mile south at Gladwin City Park. All are welcome to this kickoff event on the Cedar River along the Trail of Two Cities! You're welcome to bring your own kayak or canoe, but kayak rentals will also be available on-site with Cedar River Outfitters along with return transportation. At the end of this 1 mile casual float you can join in on the celebration with live music, vendors, a silent auction, concessions hosted by Gladwin HS Travel Club, activities and crafts for all ages, an interactive education station hosted by Little Forks Conservancy and Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, and more!
RRTC Sunset/Glowstick Float
This casual kayak/canoe float will mark the end of Day 1 of the River Race of Two Cities Weekend! Starting at Gladwin City Park, participants will float 1.5 miles down the Cedar River, ending at the Ridley Trailhead. Volunteers will be present to ensure safety and to pass out glowsticks to light up the Cedar after sunset. You're welcome to bring your own kayak or canoe, but kayak rentals will also be available on-site with Cedar River Outfitters along with return transportation.
Gladwin County River Race of Two Cities Canoe Marathon Tandem Class
This is the mainstage event of the festival! Registration sign-in begins at 8am at Gladwin City Park. At 9am the American Legion with present an Honor Guard Ceremony to begin Race Day. Our first race heats will follow shortly after so racers should be ready to go by 9am! Our race heats will begin in small groups with a 100 yard dash to the river through Gladwin City Park and from there racers will begin their journey on the Cedar River! The Cedar River is a woodland river and a technical but obstruction-free race route should be expected. All obstructions have been cleared prior to the event to there should be no portaging necessary. However, it is possible for a tree to fall the night before, we can't control Mother Nature. There will be several aid/spectator stations positioned along the route for racer safety. These locations include Ridley Trailhead, Buckeye Trailhead, and Cedar River Chapel. Divisions will be further split by age, gender, and paddling experience with winners in each category. The race will end at the second festival hub, Beaverton's Ross Lake Park, roughly 12.5 river miles south. When you cross that finish line the celebration at Ross Lake will be waiting for you! Celebrate your adventure down the Cedar with food, music, the Beaverton Farmers Market, activities, and more! Stick around for the awards ceremony to honor your fellow racers and for your chance to step up on the podium and receive a custom-engraved River Race of Two Cities award!
Gladwin County River Race of Two Cities Canoe Marathon Solo Class
This is the mainstage event of the festival! Registration sign-in begins at 8am at Gladwin City Park. At 9am the American Legion with present an Honor Guard Ceremony to begin Race Day. Our first race heats will follow shortly after so racers should be ready to go by 9am! Our race heats will begin in small groups with a 100 yard dash to the river through Gladwin City Park and from there racers will begin their journey on the Cedar River! The Cedar River is a woodland river and a technical but obstruction-free race route should be expected. All obstructions have been cleared prior to the event to there should be no portaging necessary. However, it is possible for a tree to fall the night before, we can't control Mother Nature. There will be several aid/spectator stations positioned along the route for racer safety. These locations include Ridley Trailhead, Buckeye Trailhead, and Cedar River Chapel. Divisions will be further split by age, gender, and paddling experience with winners in each category. The race will end at the second festival hub, Beaverton's Ross Lake Park, roughly 12.5 river miles south. When you cross that finish line the celebration at Ross Lake will be waiting for you! Celebrate your adventure down the Cedar with food, music, the Beaverton Farmers Market, activities, and more! Stick around for the awards ceremony to honor your fellow racers and for your chance to step up on the podium and receive a custom-engraved River Race of Two Cities award!
RRTC Ross Lake Sprint
Not everyone is a marathon paddler, some of us like to go out fast and beat the clock! The 0.5 mile Ross Lake Sprints are exactly that! Starting and finishing at Ross Lake Park in Beaverton, this out-and-back time trial race will be performed in small heats to provide that competitive edge and test your paddling skills! Kayaks will be provided for these sprints and divisions will be further split by age, gender, and paddling experience with winners in each category. Stick around for the awards ceremony to honor your fellow racers and for your chance to step up on the podium and receive a custom-engraved River Race of Two Cities award!
About Gladwin
Gladwin County River Race of Two Cities takes place in Gladwin, Michigan, United States. The local timezone is America/Detroit.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
