2025 Elkhart River Challenge
First Saturday After Labor Day
Proceeds from the Elkhart River Challenge will go toward blue way projects and Elkhart River education.
- 2025: Saturday, September 6
- 2026: Saturday, September 12
- 2027: Saturday, September 11
- 2028: Saturday, September 9
If you get a head start, are you up for a challenge?
The Elkhart River Challenge connects Goshen & Elkhart and encourages appreciation of the Elkhart River and its surrounding nature. Of course, there’s a bit of competition, too.
Not only is the course nearly 18 miles (we moved the starting and finish lines in 2025), but casual kayakers and adventurers ALSO get to challenge professional kayak competitors. To make the race even, challenger paddlers get a head start and can launch as early as 8:30 am! The Pros may be able to complete this course in about 2 hours and 25 minutes – on a good day – but they can’t leave until 11 am!
CHALLENGE Details
ALL PADDLECRAFT are allowed. Single and tandem canoers and kayakers are accepted (but each paddler must complete the registration process individually).
(The 2025 event will be on Sept. 6.)
For CHALLENGERS, the Elkhart River Challenge will start between 8:30 and 10 a.m. at Rogers Park in Goshen. For professional racers, the start time is 11 a.m.
The course runs from ROGERS Park (Chicago Ave. & Lincoln Ave., Goshen) and ends at the south shore of ISLAND Park (200 E Sycamore St, Elkhart).
A shuttle is available at 8:15, 9:15, and 10:15 AM from ISLAND/Lundquist/Tongxiang Parks to Rogers.
Paddlers can check in as early as 8:00 AM.
8:00 am Check-in, get your t-shirt and decals, and launch from Rogers Park.
8:30 am Challengers launch every 15 min (8:30, 8:45, 9, 9:15, 9:30, 9:45 & 10)
10:00 am Final call for general ERC paddlers.
11:00 am Pro Race Participants launch from Rogers Park.
2:30 pm Completion Medals to All who complete the ERC, Prizes Drawn, Awards, and Presentations
The cost for the competition is $40 per racer.
Registration includes a t-shirt, bib number, and a commemorative event sticker (and event medals for those who complete the Challenge).
New Finish Line
The new finish line is where the southern branch of the St. Joe River meets the Elkhart River on the south side of Elkhart’s Island Park.
Take the right branch at Island Park and pull out on the left, the south shore of Island Park. We’ll have food and drink and a trailer to pull your kayak safely across the footbridge to Lundquist or Tongxiang Park.
Mile Endurance Route
A father, his son, and his son’s best friend from Kalamazoo, Michigan stayed Friday night in Goshen for the 2024 Elkhart River Challenge. They enjoyed the city’s First Fridays festivities, got some sleep at a local hotel, and completed the ERC challenge Saturday morning. Another person from Arizona was visiting family near Elkhart when he heard about the 2024 ERC. So, he bought a kayak, registered, and finished the challenge. Other paddlers from Muncie, Fort Wayne, Athens and Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bloomington, South Bend, Elkhart, and Goshen accepted the challenge of paddling the Elkhart River and completed the course. A local Elkhart High School teacher who admitted she’s new to the sport said she couldn’t resist and is looking forward to next year. Here are a few more 2024 Pros and Challengers in the embedded video:
7 Race Competition Rules
- Must be over 18 years of age or have parental/guardian permission.
- Each paddler must be officially registered with emergency contacts listed.
- Racing bib number must be visible at all times.
- Life vests are recommended but not required.
- Singles and Tandem allowed, kayaks or canoes, entry fee for each participating individual.
- Paddlers must stay on the course (and portage only at any portage)
- Paddlers must complete the race on their own without assistance.
- This includes carrying your boat at any portage area (none at this time – but the weather could change that).
BECOME A 2025 SPONSOR
Your sponsorship of this event helps Elkhart County. If you’re interested in sponsoring the 2025 Elkhart River Challenge, please input your email below.
Sponsorship deadline is April 1, 2025. Reserve your place early.
- $2,500 – Large logo on the t-shirt, social media shout-out, and banner at the event, plus 8 entries. (1 Available)
- $1,250 – Medium logo on the t-shirt, social media shout-out, and banner at the event, plus 4 entries. (3 Available)
- $500 – Small logo on t-shirt and social media shout-out, plus 2 entries. (4 Available)
NEXT ELKHART RIVER CHALLENGE: Sept. 6, 2025
All sponsors get the first right of refusal for 2026.