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Paddlers race 120 miles through Ozark river country
The 60th annual multi-day race carries paddlers from Bull Shoals toward Batesville across more than one hundred scenic White River miles.
Event details
An Ozark endurance classic unfolds over roughly 120 miles of the White River during the White River Canoe and Kayak Race, now in its 60th year, as relay and non-relay teams move from the Bull Shoals area toward Batesville through changing river sections and small riverside communities along the way.
For families following along rather than racing, this is inherently a multi-day journey best treated like a road trip with a moving finish line: pick a few access points, watch competitors pass through, and let children see firsthand what sustained effort over several days actually looks like.
Because the event runs overnight for competitors and support crews, campsites and lodging near Bull Shoals, Calico Rock, and Batesville allow spectating families to choose a home base and follow different stages without constant repacking. Bring sun protection, river shoes for shallow access points, and a flexible schedule, since paddler progress can shift with water conditions. It is a scenic, unhurried way to experience one of Arkansas’s most striking river corridors as a family, with small riverside towns along the route offering easy rest stops between stages.
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