Blazing Paddles serves as a recreational tourism celebration of how Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River has risen like a phoenix since the 1969 fire sparked the global environmental movement and clean water protections. 2022 was the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act and the comeback Cuyahoga River now serves as an economic driver for the region as developers follow the bike and pedestrian trails and greenspaces spreading across the Cuyahoga River Valley, part of the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area.

How Blazing Paddles Riverfest will flow

  • On Friday July 17, 2026 from 4 p.m. check-in, registration & boat/board drop-off).

  • Paddlers will drive into the Nautica Parking lot, and carry their kayak to the boat/board storage/staging area on “the pad” with volunteer help.

  • We will have helpers available to move your craft from the check-in/boat/board drop-off area to the holding area for your canoe, kayak, and paddleboard. Professional security will have eyes on your craft Friday night and early Saturday morning.

  • Our volunteers will also be available to help you move your craft from the holding area to the top edge of Great Lakes Watersports’ property (your put-in). And from the dock to the holding area (take-out).

  • This service greatly helps increase throughput and safety for the put-in and take-out on Saturday morning.

Our famous photo awards will be given to the top three finishers in each race category per The Waterman Series guidelines. Each podium winner will also be awarded a trucker cap or Ultralight Booney hat. Both are now available for purchase during your registration!

How Your Participation Helps

Every dollar from Blazing Paddles Riverfest goes right back into our community. You’re helping Share the River make Cleveland’s waterfront a better place to live and play.

  • Share the River’s ongoing mission and motion on behalf of Cleveland's waterfront.

  • Our advocacy for increased waterfront access, and paddling safety on and shared recreational use of the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie.

  • Our collaborative partnerships with maritime and industrial stakeholders to secure formal access for a dedicated annual public paddling event on Cleveland’s hard-working Cuyahoga River.

  • Many urban kids can see the river or lake from their home but they've never been ON the river or lake! Delivering on our commitment to provide historically marginalized communities the opportunity to safely recreate on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie via our ongoing “We Paddle the City” efforts.

  • You’re helping Share the River make Cleveland’s waterfront a better place to live and play, while supporting our partners who provide local students hands-on training for future careers in maritime industries."

Site Maps (Subject to Change)

Saturday (7/18/26) parking for paddlers and general public. $8 parking at Nautica.

Saturday (7/18/26) commercial maritime operators in partnership with Share the River will pause their operations on the Cuyahoga River so paddlers can enjoy a relaxing morning on the Cuyahoga River.

Come for Blazing Paddles, but stay for the weekend!

Check out Destination Cleveland’s Things to Do page. Learn why Travel & Leisure magazine listed Cleveland #7 on its list of “10 best foodie cities in the United States”!

Cleveland offers a variety of authentic experiences on the weekend of July 17! Check out what’s nearby our event at the Destination Cleveland Blazing Paddles Paddlefest listing.
Reserve your place in our public recreational celebration on the comeback Cuyahoga River!

Burning the Cuyahoga River Narrative

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Our Model for Blazing Paddles?

The Epic Ohio River Paddlefest

Blazing Paddles is intended to provide a focus on several themes central to Share the River's mission

  • the importance and demonstrable positive impact of common sense environmental regulations and the value of public investments in stormwater infrastructure (like NEORSD's Project Clean Lake).

  • the positive impact of engaged, long-term recreational use and stewardship of our nations rivers and waterways.

  • the benefit the above three have on waterfront cities' appeal 1) as a place where people want to work, live and play in and 2) as a tourism destination.

Karen Kennedy, winner of the Blazing Paddles women's open division, shares her experience. Only 363 days until the 2nd Annual Blazing Paddles Paddleboard Race & Festival Thanks to Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Fat Head's Brewery, Canalway Partners, Ohio City Incorporated, The Port of Cleveland and Sustainable Cleveland 2019 for your support that helped make our vision of a perspective changing event on the Cuyahoga River a reality!
After seeing countless references to the Cuyahoga River fire during the Cav's NBA Championship, The Republican National Convention, and now the Indians' World Series run, we checked to see if Cleveland's Burning River narrative has changed... You're invited to the next Burning River narrative changer at the 2nd Annual Burning River Ramble on June 22, 2018.

Blazing Paddles is the annual recreational celebration of the comeback Cuyahoga River. Check out this video to see what was done to revitalize the river from its low point in 1969. “As people from both sides of the river come down to know it, they start to love it. That is what we need going forward.”

Volunteer for blazing paddles riverfest
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