The flagship event of Friends of the Yampa, the Yampa River Festival, is a true hometown celebration of our friend the Yampa River.  This year, our 42nd annual, we are going to be in person once again!

It is with great thanks to all the passionate and dedicated river enthusiasts, partners, and supporters that this event continues to be the gem that it is today. While following all the latest safety guidelines, we hope that our river friends will join us to celebrate this year’s Yampa River Festival between June 3-5, 2022. The main event is on Saturday, June 4th.

*There will be a special event on Thursday, 6/2, 4:30-6:30pm – Jackson Kayak freestyle & free Rockstar V demo w/ instruction from Clay Wright. 

This year’s Fish Creek Kayak Race will be held in spirit of our friend and previous board member, Adam Mayo and the Downriver Raft race will be held in honor of our friend, Drew Hyde.

See you on the river!

Sign Up to Volunteer

Event Schedule

Date Time Event Start Location Event Sponsor Arrival Time
6/2/2022 4:30 PM Jackson Kayak Freestyle & Demo C Hole Jackson Kayak/CKS Online 4:30 PM
0
6/3/2022 12-6 PM Gear Swap at Backdoor Sports
6/3/2022 6:00 PM Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Race Mt. Werner Water CKS Online 5:00 PM (Hard start at 6pm)
0
6/4/2022 10:30 AM Pack Raft Race Charlie’s Hole Backdoor Sports 10:00 AM
6/4/2022 11-1PM SUP/Kayak Demos at Fetcher Pond Fetcher Park 11-1PM
6/4/2022 10:00 AM Open Class Downriver Kayak Race Fetcher Park Yampa River Fund 9:30 AM
6/4/2022 12:00 PM SUP Downriver Race Fetcher Park Hala GearSpace/Online 11:30 AM
6/4/2022 1:00 PM Drew Hyde Raft Race Fetcher Park Drew Hyde Memorial Fund 12:15 PM
6/4/2022 2:00 PM Raft Rodeo Charlie’s Hole Bar-U-Eat show up to C-Hole after race
6/4/2022 2:30 PM SUP Cross Charlie’s Hole Hala GearSpace 2:00 PM
6/4/2022 3:30 PM Kayak Cross (heats of 3) Charlie’s Hole GrassSticks 3:00 PM
6/4/2022 4:00 PM Crazy River Dog Charlie’s Hole 3:30 PM
6/4/2022 4:30 PM Tube Rodeo Charlie’s Hole Hog Island Be ready at start
6/4/2022 5:30 PM Kayak Rodeo Charlie’s Hole Backdoor Sports Be ready at start
6/4/2022 6:30 PM AWARDS; Beer Service Ends Charlie’s Hole
6/4/2022 7:00 PM Event Ends and Breakdown Charlie’s Hole
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6/5/2022 10-1 PM Kayak Slalom Rich Weiss Park Good Vibes River Gear 10:00 AM
6/5/2022 4-6 PM State of the Yampa Bud Werner Library Hall American Rivers

 

River Fest Details

  • All event registration will be in person this year! Please make sure to show up to the event with enough time to fill out your registration form. See the schedule above for timing. Event participation will cost $15 for one event or $25 for unlimited events. Cash, card, & check accepted. See below for event descriptions.
  • You will be required to follow all City, County and State regulations concerning COVID-19.
  • BEER: Beer will be for purchase by token only. Tokens will be sold at tents around the event. No money will be exchanged at the beer tents. Beer will be offered on the Library AND Black Sulphur Spring side.
  • In 2022, we are trying to reduce waste. We encourage everyone to bring their own 12-16 oz. cup for beer and/or purchase a I Heart the Yampa Kleen Kanteen at the Friends of the Yampa booth for $10. If you bring your own cup beer fills will be $5 if you do not beers will be $7. Help us reduce waste and make this a great event!
  • Please email questions to info@friendsoftheyampa.com

Volunteer for the River Fest!

Help us make this event possible by volunteering for the River Fest. Volunteer duties range from beer tent, registration tent, capacity counter, event set up and take down, a misc. other duties. All volunteers will receive a Volunteer shirt. If you have a shirt from a past event, please consider using that one to help us ensure all volunteers get a shirt.

Sign Up to Volunteer

Meeting location:

Unless the job you volunteered for says Fetcher, please meet at Charlie’s Hole in front of the library and go to the FOTY booth to check in before going to your station. If your job says Fetcher, you will meet at Fetcher Park and check in at the FOTY booth there.

River Fest Sponsorship

Are you interested in being a sponsor for the Yampa River Fest? We still have a few spots available! You can find the application at the button below. Please reach out to info@friendsoftheyamp.com with any questions.

*Please note: All vendor spots for the 2022 River Fest are full. (updated 4/10/22)

YRF 2022 Sponsorship Application

Event Descriptions

Gear Swap at Backdoor Sports

Come down to Backdoor Sports on Yampa street to swap gear for gear. 12-6pm on Friday.

Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Race

This year’s race will be held in spirit of our friend and previous board member, Adam Mayo. Race starts at Mt. Werner Water. Arrive at 5pm, hard start at 6pm. Winner receives a Jackson Kayak.

Pack Raft Race

This timed event starts and ends at the Charlies Hole. All athletes start at the same time and inflate their crafts, then sprint to the A-Hole, enter the river and then paddle back down to the Charlie’s Hole.

SUP/Kayak Demos at Fetcher Pond

Come demo SUPs and kayaks for free at Fetcher Pond.

Open Class Downriver Kayak Race

Prearrange your own shuttle. Race starts promptly at 11 am.

SUP Downriver Race

SUP downriver race from Fetcher to Charlie’s Hole.

Drew Hyde Raft Race

This year’s Raft Race will be held in honor of our friend, Drew Hyde.

This is a timed sprint from Fetcher Park to the Charlies Hole. Any sized raft can enter with as many people as you want in the raft. No oar frames! Arrange your shuttle before hand and plan to be at Fetcher Park by 12:15. Pre-registration at Charlies Hole until 11:45 am then at Fetcher Park thereafter.

Raft Rodeo Exhibition

Held at the Charlie’s Hole after the Raft Race. This is an exhibition event.

SUP Cross

More info to come.

Kayak Cross

More info to come.

Crazy River Dog

Watch dogs leap into the water and swim back to their human. The best time wins. One try only. Owners register at FOTY booth and arrive 1/2 hour prior to event.

Tube Rodeo

Anyone can enter. Must wear a PFD and Helmet to participate. Whoever gets the “best ride” wins the Golden Tube.

Kayak Rodeo

More info to come.

Awards

More info to come.

Event Sponsors

2021 EVENT RESULTS

Raft Race Winners:

  1. Bucking Rainbow
  2. Detlefsun
  3. Sullivan
  4. Erhart

Pack Raft Race:

  1. Doug Detlefsen
  2. Jody McGee
  3. Cindi Hillemeyer

SUP Cross Winners:

  1. Jeremiah Williams
  2. Luke Cutler
  3. JR Jennings

Tube Rodeo Winner:

  1. JR Jennings

Raft Rodeo Winner:

– The raft rodeo is a “just-for-fun” event for the riders and crowd to enjoy. Everyone was a winner!

Kayak Rodeo Winners:

  • Men’s: Dan Piano
  • Women’s: Kestrel Kunz

Fish Creek Kayak Race    

Time
1. Marty Smith 2:54:32
2. Adam Mayo 3:00:94
3. Mike Geary 3:04:35
4. Dan Piano 3:07:56
5. Jordan Trioni 3:10:38
6. JR Jennings 3:11:81
7. Nick Gilbert 3:12:15
8. Taylor Barker 3:13:32
9. Marcus 3:26:31

Kayak Slalom Race (best of 2 runs)

Time
1. Marty Smith 1:09:60
2. Wyatt Hyndman 1:13:32
3. Adam Mayo 1:13:53
4. Lamar 1:18:03
5. Sasha Steinway 1:18:15
6. David Wallace 1:25:00
7. Mitch 1:25:94
8. Betsy Frick (1st female) 1:42:81
9. Karen McNish 3:04:75

 

Open Class Downriver Kayak Race    

Time
1. Nick Gilbert 15:59 kayak longer than 9 ft
2. David Wallace 16:24 kayak longer than 9 ft
3. Jordan Trioni 16:46 kayak less than 9 ft
4. Lamin 16:52 same
5. Ryan Panger 17:04 same
6. Justin 17:12 same
7. Eric 17:32 same
8. Julia Pershken (1st female) 17:43 same
9. Fritz 17:48 same
10. Bobby 18:05 same

Downriver SUP Race    

Time
1. Jeremiah Williams 17:59
2. Peter Hall 18:33
3. Ian Connor, 18:52