We offer moonlight paddling many times throughout the paddling season. For these events we mark most of the potential water hazards with LED lights or glow sticks and put a few extra staff on the water. We're the first ones on the water and the last ones off.

Once you've gone a little bit upstream and your eyes adjust there is very little need for lights and we believe you will find it to be an amazing experience.

From time to time we have live music and food vendors. There's also the possibility of weather issues. We always will try to keep you posted through our Facebook page.

These events are always well attended and reservations are highly recommend. If boats are available for walk in paddlers there will be a minimum rental of two hours. All moonlight paddling events will be charged at weekend rates.

All paddlers in our boats will be expected to attach glowsticks to their boats, bring a working flashlight and wear PFDs at all times.

Paddlers who wish to bring their own boats are always welcome to join us free of charge. We just ask you to properly mark your boat with glow sticks or lights and carry a working flashlight.

We offer moonlight paddling many times throughout the paddling season. For these events we mark most of the potential water hazards with LED lights or glow sticks and put a few extra staff on the water. We're the first ones on the water and the last ones off.

Once you've gone a little bit upstream and your eyes adjust there is very little need for lights and we believe you will find it to be an amazing experience.

From time to time we have live music and food vendors. There's also the possibility of weather issues. We always will try to keep you posted through our Facebook page.

These events are always well attended and reservations are highly recommend. If boats are available for walk in paddlers there will be a minimum rental of two hours. All moonlight paddling events will be charged at weekend rates.

All paddlers in our boats will be expected to attach glowsticks to their boats, bring a working flashlight and wear PFDs at all times.

Paddlers who wish to bring their own boats are always welcome to join us free of charge. We just ask you to properly mark your boat with glow sticks or lights and carry a working flashlight.

Come welcome Summer in The Friendly Town! Illuminated Parade of Boats, Floating Firepits on the River, Great Local Food and Music, Vendors, Childrens Activities, Fire Spinners, and more!

Just an hour and a half drive from Boston and Hartford and about an hour from Keene/Brattleboro, Springfield, and Worcester. Stay for more than a day at one of our great local campgrounds or Bed and Breakfasts!

We offer moonlight paddling many times throughout the paddling season. For these events we mark most of the potential water hazards with LED lights or glow sticks and put a few extra staff on the water. We're the first ones on the water and the last ones off.

Once you've gone a little bit upstream and your eyes adjust there is very little need for lights and we believe you will find it to be an amazing experience.

From time to time we have live music and food vendors. There's also the possibility of weather issues. We always will try to keep you posted through our Facebook page.

These events are always well attended and reservations are highly recommend. If boats are available for walk in paddlers there will be a minimum rental of two hours. All moonlight paddling events will be charged at weekend rates.

All paddlers in our boats will be expected to attach glowsticks to their boats, bring a working flashlight and wear PFDs at all times.

Paddlers who wish to bring their own boats are always welcome to join us free of charge. We just ask you to properly mark your boat with glow sticks or lights and carry a working flashlight.

We offer moonlight paddling many times throughout the paddling season. For these events we mark most of the potential water hazards with LED lights or glow sticks and put a few extra staff on the water. We're the first ones on the water and the last ones off.

Once you've gone a little bit upstream and your eyes adjust there is very little need for lights and we believe you will find it to be an amazing experience.

From time to time we have live music and food vendors. There's also the possibility of weather issues. We always will try to keep you posted through our Facebook page.

These events are always well attended and reservations are highly recommend. If boats are available for walk in paddlers there will be a minimum rental of two hours. All moonlight paddling events will be charged at weekend rates.

All paddlers in our boats will be expected to attach glowsticks to their boats, bring a working flashlight and wear PFDs at all times.

Paddlers who wish to bring their own boats are always welcome to join us free of charge. We just ask you to properly mark your boat with glow sticks or lights and carry a working flashlight.

We offer moonlight paddling many times throughout the paddling season. For these events we mark most of the potential water hazards with LED lights or glow sticks and put a few extra staff on the water. We're the first ones on the water and the last ones off.

Once you've gone a little bit upstream and your eyes adjust there is very little need for lights and we believe you will find it to be an amazing experience.

From time to time we have live music and food vendors. There's also the possibility of weather issues. We always will try to keep you posted through our Facebook page.

These events are always well attended and reservations are highly recommend. If boats are available for walk in paddlers there will be a minimum rental of two hours. All moonlight paddling events will be charged at weekend rates.

All paddlers in our boats will be expected to attach glowsticks to their boats, bring a working flashlight and wear PFDs at all times.

Paddlers who wish to bring their own boats are always welcome to join us free of charge. We just ask you to properly mark your boat with glow sticks or lights and carry a working flashlight.

We offer moonlight paddling many times throughout the paddling season. For these events we mark most of the potential water hazards with LED lights or glow sticks and put a few extra staff on the water. We're the first ones on the water and the last ones off.

Once you've gone a little bit upstream and your eyes adjust there is very little need for lights and we believe you will find it to be an amazing experience.

From time to time we have live music and food vendors. There's also the possibility of weather issues. We always will try to keep you posted through our Facebook page.

These events are always well attended and reservations are highly recommend. If boats are available for walk in paddlers there will be a minimum rental of two hours. All moonlight paddling events will be charged at weekend rates.

All paddlers in our boats will be expected to attach glowsticks to their boats, bring a working flashlight and wear PFDs at all times.

Paddlers who wish to bring their own boats are always welcome to join us free of charge. We just ask you to properly mark your boat with glow sticks or lights and carry a working flashlight.

A youth and family-friendly canoe, kayak and SUP race featuring the High School Cup & youth races. Part of the 2024 NECKRA points series.

This race is a project of the Orange Lions Club. Proceeds from this race will support the Orange Firemen's Relief Association, The Northfield Dive Team, and the Orange Lions Club.

The pro races begin at 11am. Youth races start at 1pm.

This is not our event, we just volunteer and provide onsite rentals.

Additional race information can be found at http://greatriverchallenge.com/.

Place

Northfield Mountain Recreation Center, 99 Millers Falls Rd., Northfield, MA
Northfield, MA US 01360

Description

Race Description:

Great River Challenge is a Triathlon event in the non-traditional category, being a Paddle, Run and Bike event. We have safety on land and water as well as water stations throughout the course, making sure your experience is fun, challenging and safe! The timing is run by Fast Track Timing, who use timing chips to ensure accurate segment and transition times, so you can have record of every stage of the race.

This year we will again have a short course 11.25 miles long. Recreational kayaks 14' and under and metal/plastic canoes will be used in this race.

Kayak/Canoe/SUP Leg
5.5 mile race up and back on the Connecticut River starting at the water-front Pavilion near the Northfield Mountain Center. The river flow is somewhat variable, but the river is very wide and free of obstacles, so the course will be easy to navigate. The start of the race will be on the water as a group, self-seeding your selves. You will head north, up river, about 2 miles to Captain Kidd’s Island, where you will round it counter-clockwise and head back towards the start. There will be buoys denoting the up and down stream lane, so please keep them on your left/port side. Just past the start line, you will head to the dock for the finish of the paddle leg. There will be helpers on the dock to help hold and carry your boat if needed.   

Short Course paddle 4 miles will turn around before Island where a buoy and boat will designate half way.                                                                                                                                                     

1st Transition
From the dock, you will bring your boat up the ramp and volunteers will shuttle your boat away and you will run to your right into the transition zone across the timing pad. A special corral will be set up in this area for relay team members to continue on as well. At this point, you will leave the transition zone and head up the path into the parking lot onto Ferry Rd.

Run
The Running leg will be a 4 mile course (700ft of climbing) of mixed road and trails starting at the river and heading to the Northfield Mountain Recreational Center. From the river, the run will take you about 0.5miles from the old Ferry Crossing up along Ferry Rd, across Rt 63 to the Recreational Center. At this point, you will enter the trail system where the remainder of the course will be on packed gravel trails and single-track hiking trails. The climb will start out gradual and rolling, then becoming steeper towards the middle with 2 significant climbs. The last third of the course will be predominantly downhill towards the transition center at the Recreation Center.

Short Course Run 2.5 mile (500ft of climbing) cutting off  part of the rose ledge loop.

2nd Transition
You will enter the transition area by crossing over the mat and find your bike on the bike racks, or for relay teams, you will find your teammate in the corral and then they will then head to the rack to find their bike. From there you will run your bike across the exit mat and head out onto the Mountain Bike Course.

Bike
The Bike leg will be about 7 miles (900ft of climbing), consisting of mixed hard-pack wide trails and single track. At the start of the bike, you will head out of the fields across the access road onto some mowed grass trails for about the first half mile before entering the single-track trails. The single-track trails are in mixed woods and a gentle climb for about a mile where you will cross the power lines and enter the ski trail system, which is double lane hard packed dirt and grass for a big climb up to the access road and the water station. About 50 yards up hill you will enter the trail again for your climb to the top of Northfield Mountain, where you will then take single track trails down the mountain. There are some sharp turns to take caution and slow down, so please pay attention to the signage. About 5 miles in, there is a stretch of rolling hard packed trails to let loose before the last descent to the finish.

Short Course Bike 4.75 miles (700ft of climbing) will not go to the top of the mountain.

Great food and music when you finish!

Join us for a picnic on the Millers River! Leaf peeping season has begun in Massachusetts and what better way to view the change of color than on the river.

We will depart from Alan Rich Park at 11am. We will paddle about a mile and a half and break at the Paddle Stop by #16 on the Millers River Blue Trail Map . There we will enjoy a picnic lunch provided by White Cloud Dinner and desert from Corner Cafe & Trail Head! After lunch, we will enjoy the views and frequent wildlife sightings at Cook's Cove. (The Millers River Blue Trail map is viewable online. We also have copies at the boathouse.) there we will turn around and head back to Billy Goat Boats for a sweet ending of dessert in riverfront park!

Tickets include the 3.5 hour watercraft rental, life vests, lunch and dessert.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Single Kayak w/lunch (1 person) $90

Tandem canoe / Kayak w/lunch (2 people) $130

Join us with your own boat for $40 (per person)

Let's enjoy an afternoon together on the river. What a great way to kick off the fall season in Orange Ma!