Akron Portage 'n Paddle

This fun and creative canoe and carry endurance race and community event will be following the Towpath Trail from Nesmith Lake through Summit Lake to the first locks for the paddle and around the main streets of downtown Akron to Lock 3 or Cascade Valley for the portage. The first half of the race will be paddling in canoes (6 miles), then competitors will get out of the water and carry (portage) their canoes .5-1 mile to the finish line at downtown Akron Lock 3 or Cascade Valley.

We’ll shine the light on the most sacred grounds in the entire United States–wet and dry– that we always read and hear about, but never pay tribute to with a celebratory event — until now!

Registration includes: race participation, lunch, arrowhead necklace, T-shirt, award certificate, transportation from finish line to afterparty site and shuttles from afterparty event to starting line. Also, complimentary sports promotions bag. Canoe and kayak rental with paddles, lifejackets, additional fee.

*Packet pick up will be Friday May 18th at the Summit County Historical Society, 550 Copley Road. Stay for a Portage Path history talk on our local Native American history and their use of the Portage Path.

Oher affiliated events include Earth Day boat clean up of Summit Lake and First People’s Day Portage walk late September. We will also be creating a historic Native American canoe encampment in Cascade Valley.

We pledge to be a ZERO WASTE event!!!