2025 - Gladwin County River Race of Two Cities
2025 distances
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!
Race date Weather
Conditions on May 23, 2025 — historical Open-Meteo data.
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.
