45th annual Yampa River Festival
Thursday, May 29, to Sunday, June 1, 2025

Vendors

If you or your organization is interested in vending on Saturday, May 31, for the main event, please fill ou this form! Deadline is Aprill 11. This event is a Level 4 Zero Waste event with the City of Steamboat Springs so all vendors must work within those rules.

VENDOR FORM

Sponsors

Please email Rebecca Hext for sponsorship inquiries at rebecca@friendsoftheyampa.com.

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 45th annual, we are carefully watching the water levels to host a safe and fun event that celebrates the Yampa!

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 May 29 to June 1, 2025. The main event is on Saturday, May 31.

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 Yampa!

There’s more happening across the Yampa Valley through the month of June! From museum exhibits to beer tapping, the Yampa River is getting the love it deserves this year. Stay tuned for a list of events happening during Yampa River Month!

Event Schedule

Date Time Event Start Location Event Sponsor Arrival Time
5/29/25 Doors open at 6:00 PM, 6:30 start State of the Yampa Address Library Hall 6 PM
0
5/30/25 12-6 PM Gear Swap Backdoor Sports
5/30/25 6 PM Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Race Mt. Werner Water Mayo Family 5 PM (Hard start at 6pm)
0
5/31/25 10 AM Open Class Downriver Kayak Race Fetcher Park 9:30 AM
5/31/25 10:30 AM

Pack Raft Race

 Charlie’s Hole 10 AM
5/31/25 11 AM Fly Fishing Downriver Race Rich Weiss Park Fishpond 10:30 AM
5/31/25 Noon SUP Downriver Race Fetcher Park Hala Gear 11:30 AM
5/31/25 1 PM Drew Hyde Raft Race Fetcher Park Drew Hyde Memorial Fund 12:15 PM
5/31/25 2 PM Raft Rodeo Charlie’s Hole show up to C-Hole after race
5/31/25 2:30 PM SUP Cross Charlie’s Hole Hala Gear 2 PM
5/31/25 3:30 PM Kayak Cross (heats of 3) Charlie’s Hole 3 PM
5/31/25 4:00 PM Crazy River Dog D Hole 3:30 PM
5/31/25 4:30 PM Tube Rodeo Charlie’s Hole Be ready at start
5/31/254 5:30 PM Kayak Rodeo Charlie’s Hole Be ready at start
5/31/25 6:30 PM AWARDS; Beer Service Ends Charlie’s Hole
5/31/25 7 PM Event Breakdown Charlie’s Hole
0
6/1/25 10-1 PM Kayak Slalom Rich Weiss Park  GrassSticks 10 AM

 

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 and COCKTAILS: Beer and cocktails 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 2025, 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 $6 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 info to come!

Parking info

Put-ins and takeouts: Due to limited parking, Friends of the Yampa encourages getting picked up and dropped off at the put-ins and takeouts for all events.

Event parking: The city of Steamboat Springs has a free bus system. FOTY highly recommends taking the bus to the bus stop right outside of the Bud Werner Memorial Library on 13th Street. There is parking at the following locations:
• Fetcher Pond
• Little Toots Park
• Downtown Steamboat Springs along Yampa Street and adjacent streets.
• The Depot Art Center
• Stockbridge Transit Center
• West Lincoln Park parking lot

Walking and biking: Steamboat Springs has a trail that leads users directly to Yampa River Festival. Take the Yampa River Core Trail to events.

Whatever you do, don’t drink and drive!

Parking Maps

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. Be sure to sign up for our volunteer system THEN pick your shift!

Volunteer signup to come!

River Fest Sponsorship

Are you interested in being a sponsor for the Yampa River Fest? You can find the application at the button below. Please reach out to rebecca@friendsoftheyampa.com with any questions.

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. Prizes will be $300 for first, $200 for second, and $100 for third place.

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. Event starts at 10:30 am.

Downriver Fly Fishing Competition

Anglers try their hand at casting and hitting targets near the spectator area at Charlie’s Hole. FOTY is watching flows to decide where to get on the river. Participants must run their own shuttle. Hard start at 11 am, get there at 10:30 am. This event is limited to 10 teams. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DAFA82BA3FACF8-49834560-yampa#/

Open Class Downriver Kayak Race

Prearrange your own shuttle. Race starts promptly at 10 am.

SUP Downriver Race

SUP downriver race from Fetcher to Charlie’s Hole. Race starts promptly at noon. Arrange your own shuttle.

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. Register at Fetcher Park.

Raft Rodeo Exhibition

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

SUP Cross

A course is set up at and around Charlie’s Hole for paddleboarders to complete.

Kayak Cross

A course is set up at Dr. Rich Weiss Park for kayakers to compete and close out the Yampa River Festival.

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. Event takes place in the eddy by D Hole.

Tube Rodeo

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

Kayak Rodeo

Kayakers show their stuff in Charlie’s Hole.

Awards

Any remaining awards given out.

Event Sponsors (2024)

Race Sponsors (2024)

PAST EVENT RESULTS

2024 Raft Race Winners:

1. Murph!  Hyde’s Ride (23) 0:15:36.2
2. We Got the Glit (16) 0:16:27.0
3. Mo Splashes (5) 0:16:44.3
4. Old Bleu (33) Dan Brabec and Fam 0:16:45.6
5. Tequila Makes Your Oars Fall Off (50) 0:16:56.9
6. Sky Valley Chateau (39) 0:17:26.3
7. Smoke on the Water!  Frithsens (7) 0:17:32.4
8. The Shockleys!  (47) 0:17:34.1
9. The Christening (30) 0:17:38.2
10. Boat Boys- Barnes! (28) 0:17:42.2
11. the Hulk!  John Saunders (45) 0:17:45.0
12. The Turd (12) 0:17:45.4
13. The Bubble Buddies (26) 0:18:06.5
14. Gangster Lean, Quality Meats(40) 0:18:09.8
15. Lt. Dan and the Janglers (44) 0:18:12.0
16. Team Gerber Berend – Chad Keefe, skip warnke (27) 0:18:18.2
17. The Oak Creatures (48) 0:18:31.3
18. Bluey (38) 0:18:39.8
19. Fresh Drag Show (11) 0:18:54.8
20. What Rhymes with Orange?  (51) 0:18:56.8
21. Broha (36) 0:18:57.9
22. Run Wild (22) 0:19:18.7
23. The Drew (Tim Wilson) 35 0:19:21.6
24. A 1963 Chevelle (46) 0:19:49.2
25. You Never Forget Your First Time!  0:19:50.9
26. Drew’s Angels – Julie (25) 0:20:00.4
27. Big Red (19) 0:20:17.8

2024 Pack Raft Race:

All the CMC students split it! Nice work all!

2024 SUP Cross Winners:

  1. Peter Hall
  2. Jamie Blume

2024 Tube Rodeo Winner:

Raft Rodeo Winner:

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

2024 Kayak Rodeo Winners:

  • Waiting on results.

2024 Downriver Fly Fishing Competition:

1st Fats guys in a little Boat Boschi Bradley and Ers Bradley

2nd Trouty Andy Janoski and Spencer Shlagel

3rd PowerBait Brett Berry and Noah Bass

2024 Dryland Fly Fishing Competition: 

  • Aiden McKenzie

2024 Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Falls Race

  1. Name Time Place
    Marty S. 3:05:09 1st
    Taylor B. 3:08:35 2nd
    Ben V. T. 3:12:75 5th
    Nick M. 3:19:44 13th
    Alex A. 3:12:06 4th
    Phil H. 3:17:50 9th
    David K. 3:08:91 3rd
    Jake B. 3:36:53 17th
    Kadin 3:18:44 11th
    Nick G. 3:18:07 10th
    Alex B. 3:24:77 14th
    Jordan T. 3:17:03 8th
    Dan P. 3:16:16 6th
    Roddy B. 3:24:90 15th
    Marcus 3:16:66 7th
    Eugene B. 3:25:12 16th
    Dan W. 3:18:82 12th

2024 Yampa River Festival Kayak Slalom Race

Open Kayak

  1. Waiting on results

2024 Open Class Downriver Kayak

  1. Catherine Salisbury 14:49:94 94 8 Women’s 1st
    Jordan Troiani 14:05:05 95 6
    Phil Howard 13:39:88 96 2 Men’s 2nd
    David K. 13:38:90 97 1 Men’s 1st
    Nicholas Madden 14:04:97 38 5
    Tom Dodd 16:06:85 37 10
    Connor Mahoney 14:31:47 40 7
    Yay and Steph? 13:55:10 41 4
    Dakota McGinley 16:00:73 43 9 Women’s 2nd
    Alex A 13:47:25 42 3 Men’s 3rd
    Alex Brantley 20:43:81 167 14
    Kelly Cucchi 20:55:63 170 11 Women’s 3rd
    Taylor Payne 20:57:33 171 13
    Logan Tew 21:00:08 172 12

2024 Downriver SUP Race

1 184 SUP Male Lance Ostrum (4) 0:14:29.2 Men’s 1st
2 192 SUP Male Peter Hall (32) 0:15:47.4 Men’s 2nd
3 125 SUP Male Ian Connor (25) 0:15:58.2 Men’s 3rd
4 190 SUP Male Scotty Stoughton (9) 0:16:02.0
5 174 SUP Female Jamie BLoom (11) 0:16:11.5 Women’s 1st
6 186 SUP Male Terri Ostrum (7) 0:16:24.8
7 39 SUP Male Bryson Webb (blue helmet) (13) 0:16:34.1
8 173 SUP Female Kerri Karcz (14) 0:17:04.6 Women’s 2nd
9 175 SUP Female Nadia Burton (2) 0:17:11.7 Women’s 3rd
10 185 SUP Female Erica Borden (22) 0:17:30.5
11 183 SUP Male Josh Welch (10) 0:17:31.3
12 178 SUP Male Jacob Brewer (28) 0:17:38.0
13 177 SUP Male Terry Brewer (8) 0:17:42.5
14 179 SUP Male Ethan Maines (23) 0:17:50.2
15 176 SUP Female Jenny Schmidt (24) 0:18:07.3
16 191 SUP Male Gary Osteen (15) 0:18:41.2
17 181 SUP Male John Cardillo (1) 0:18:54.4
18 189 SUP Female Adrienne Pereira (27) 0:18:57.6
19 188 SUP Male CHris Ray (33) 0:18:59.3
20 94 SUP Female Catherine Salisbury (30) 0:19:41.6
21 180 SUP Male Dan Foote (31) 0:20:05.5