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From weekend warriors to experienced whitewater athletes, the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival welcomes participants of all experience levels for our river events.
The Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival offers a variety of whitewater events including:
Friday Events (Subject to change) |
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RIVER PLAY WAVE DEMOS
Experience level: Beginner-Advanced Cost: FREE Time: Friday at 4:00 pm Distance: n/a Show off your SUP, kayak, raft or duckie skills on the Centennial Park play wave. SUP PARADE
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: FREE Time: Friday at 5:00 pm Distance: ~1/2 mile This is a SUP show of force. If you SUP come show the town. Interesting outfits encouraged. There will be two launches - one for beginner paddlers from Pink House to the Pedestrian Bridge (WKRP Wave), and one for intermediate paddlers from 1st Street (Green Gate) to the Pedestrian Bridge (WKRP Wave). |
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The Cañon City Mattress Races
Experience level: Beginner ages 12+ Cost: FREE Time: Friday at 5:30 pm Distance: ~1/4 mile Spots Available: 20 total — first come, first served The first-ever Cañon City Mattress Race. Bring any inflatable air mattress you’ve got and race head-to-head down the Arkansas River in a high-stakes, low-budget battle from the Ice House Wave to the WKRP Wave. No paddles. No motors. Just raw current and river chaos. First across the finish wins it all. |
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COMMUNITY RAFT RACE AUCTION & TIME TRIAL
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: FREE (with bid on guide) Time: Friday - guide auction at 6:00 pm, race at 6:30 pm Distance: ~1.25 miles Join in with a team as you bid for a professional guide (employed by a local whitewater rafting company). You'll be guided through town to the play wave at Centennial Park. Auction Starts at 5:15 Main Stage. Race leaves from Pink House at 6:15 p.m. This registration is for the person organizing the team. |
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ROYAL GORGE RACE - KAYAK RACES
Experience level: Experienced Cost: $35 Time: Friday at 6:00 pm Distance: 12 miles This race is for boaters experienced in the Gorge. Start at Garcia beach (15 miles west on US Hwy 50) and end at the lower feature in Canon City. This race is a mass start and is over 12 miles of hard paddling. |
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ROYAL GORGE RACE - RAFT RACE
Experience level: Experienced Cost: Included in flat fee at registration Time: Friday at 6:05 pm Distance: 12 miles This race is for people experienced in the Gorge. This event is for a team of 6 individuals. Start at Garcia Beach (15 miles west on US Hwy 50) and end at the lower feature in Cañon City. This race is a mass start and is over 12 miles of hard paddling. |
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ROYAL GORGE RACE RAFTS
Experience level: Experienced Cost: $50 per team Time: Friday at 6:10 pm Distance: 12 miles This race is for people experienced in the Gorge. This event is for a team of 6 individuals. Start at Garcia Beach (15 miles west on US Hwy 50) and end at the lower feature in Cañon City. This race is a mass start and is over 12 miles of hard paddling. |
Saturday Events
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RAFTING SPRINTS
Experience level: Beginner-Advanced Cost: Included in flat fee Time: Saturday at 8:00 am Distance: ~1/4 mile Starting at the top of the Centennial Park water features, race your raft as fast as you can to the bottom of the feature. Ready, set, go! |
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RAFTING SLALOM
Experience level: Intermediate-Advanced Cost: Included in flat fee at registration Time: Saturday at 10:00 am Distance: ~1/4 mile Slalom through gates set in the river without touching them. Best time wins! |
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RAFTING HEAD 2 HEAD RACE
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: Included in flat fee at registration Time: Saturday at 2:00 pm Distance: ~1/4 mile Two rafts start at the same time. You must go around one buoy on each side of the river. First one to finish moves on to the next round. Tournament style scoring. |
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SUP HEAD 2 HEAD RACE
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: $20 Time: Saturday at 2:00 pm Distance: ~1/4 mile This is a mass start event. Competitors will navigate around two buoys, one on each side of the river. If enough sign up, this will become a tournament. |
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KAYAK HEAD 2 HEAD RACE
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: $20 Time: Saturday at 2:00 pm Distance: ~1/4 mile Kayaks will start at the same time, each kayak must navigate around a buoy on each side of the river. Enough sign ups will turn this into a tournament with multiple heats. |
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DUCKIE DASH HEAD 2 HEAD
Experience level: Beginner-Advanced Cost: $20 Time: Saturday at 2:00 pm Distance: ~1/4 mile Grab your inflatable duckie (or borrow one) and head down the slalom course from 1st street to Centennial Park. Battle head-to-head with others. Must be at least 10 years old to participate in this event. |
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RMR STORM HEAD 2 HEAD - R2
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: $20 Time: Saturday at 2:00 pm Distance: ~1/4 mile Two rafts start at the same time. You must go around one buoy on each side of the river. First one to finish moves on to the next round. Tournament style scoring. The Canon City Cardboard Cup - Presented by Knecht Home Center
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: $87 per team Time: Saturday at Build Starts at 2:00 PM Race at 5:25 PM Distance: From Ice House Wave to WKRP Wave A Wild Whitewater Cardboard Boat Race in Cañon City. 6 Teams of 4 People build a carboard boat with materials provided. |
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SURF COMPETITION
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: FREE Time: Saturday at 5:00 pm Distance: n/a Can you surf the ice house play wave? Surf what you've got - Boogie Boards, Surf Boards - but get style points for tricks. (This is not the raft surfing competition.) |
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BUILD YOUR OWN BOAT - LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE!
Experience level: Beginner to advanced Cost: FREE ($100 refundable deposit required) Time: Saturday at 5:30 pm Distance: ~1/4 mile Show off your craftsmanship and engineering skills in this crowd favorite event! First place is awarded a pure gold coin ($1000 value), and cash prizes awarded to second and third place. |
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RAFT RODEO
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced Cost: $60 per team Time: Saturday at 6:15 pm Distance: n/a The classic Whitewater Festival event. Who can control the wave? Will be judged by the crowed and a neutral panel of judges who use established criteria. Located at the lower feature in Centennial Park. |
