Join the Vail Recreation District and the Town of Minturn for the 5th Annual Town of Minturn Downriver Dash! The races will be divided between two categories, including kayak (under 9'6") & 2-person raft (10'6" or smaller) teams. SUPs are not included for this race due to the difficulty of the river section that the race takes place on. Safety of our racers is our top priority.

Race day bib pickup and registration begins at 3:30 p.m. There is a mandatory safety talk & course instructions at 5:15 p.m. at the Boneyard Open Space Start Area. Races will begin at 5:30 p.m. with 1-minute intervals.

The race starts at the Boneyard Open Space (south of Minturn) and finishes at the Minturn Saloon (central Minturn). Racers should park at the finish in the Town of Minturn municipal lot adjacent to the Turntable. The VRD will provide shuttles to the start for racers and gear.

Who can participate?

The Town of Minturn Downriver Dash is open to all paddlers ages 16 and up with intermediate to expert abilities. The skills to run class III whitewater in your chosen craft are required. This is a fun way to track your individual performance, test yourself on a new river stretch and compete against others. All competitors are entering at their own risk.

Check out our other whitewater races in Vail!

Race Schedule & Afterparty

Join us after the race for a lively afterparty! We will award prizes to the top 3 male and female finishers in SUP, Kayak & R2! Following awards, we will be giving away some amazing raffle prizes* from our partners! Participants over 21 years of age will recieve free beer complimentary of New Belgium Brewing and Best Day Brewing!

*must be present to win raffle prizes

Please pick up you and your partner's beer tickets at bib drop-off after the race! Raffle tickets will be handed out at the afterparty.

Register in Advance!

It is highly recommended to register online. R2-Raft is limited to 18 boats per race, so sign up right away if you want to secure your spot! Online registration closes at 10:00 a.m. on race day and in-person registration opens on-site at The Minturn Saloon. Sign up early for the best price!

R2-Raft is limited to 20 boats per race. Only one R2 partner needs to register for your team.

If you cannot attend a race that you are registered for: Please let us know at sports@vailrec.com. This helps us open the spot up for other boaters to have a rad time and expedites making the starting order to get you on the water quicker!

Bib Pickup & In-Person Registration

Racers can pick up their bib at the finish at the Minturn Saloon at 3:30 p.m.. There will be a VRD shuttle from the Minturn Saloon to the start at Boneyard Open Space.

R2-Rafters only need one paddler to wear the bib.

Town of Minturn Downriver Dash Rules

To standardize the competition, kayak length may not exceed 9′6”. Whitewater-specific plastic and heavy-duty composite boats only. Rafts make not exceed 10’6”. Inflatable Kayaks & Packrafts are allowed, but only if they are robust whitewater models worthy of the conditions. If in doubt about your vessel, ask Race Directors at least 24 hours in advance of competition.

• Hand Paddlers are ALLOWED | Sea kayaks & foot rudders are NOT ALLOWED.
• Properly sized PFD, helmet, and protective footwear are REQUIRED.
• Equipment will be reviewed at the start. The organizer has the right to refuse any nonconforming equipment (i.e., bicycle helmets, nylon spray-skirts, improper PFDs, etc.).
• Athletes are REQUIRED TO ALWAYS wear competitor bibs outside their PFDs.
• Athletes MUST be checked in and registered by TBD.
• Athletes MUST attend the Safety/Rules/Course review meeting at 5:15pm sharp.
• Athletes MUST be in control of their vessel when finishing the race.

Race Format:

Single Time Trial:

• Each racer gets one run, placing them
• Point to Point, no obstacles
• Make it a fast and safe run since you only get one!

Time Pentalties:

• If a participant false starts in the time trial, 15 SECONDS will be added to time.
• Participants must be in control while completing ostacles, failure to do so will add 15 SECONDS to the participant's time.

Did Not Finish (DNF):

• The participant exits their boat at any point along the race stretch. If you are swimming, please watch out for strainers and get out of the water as quickly as possible. 

Disqualified (DSQ):

• In the time trial, the paddler being overtaken does not yield to the faster paddler.
• Any action by a competitor during or in between races is deemed “Unsportsmanlike.”
• Participant races without race bib or bib is unreadable.
• Raft participants do not bring raft back to shuttle for the next racers.
• Failure to be in control of vessel at the finish.

If disqualification occurs after the participant’s last race, the racer may be disqualified for the following week’s race.

A protest of a judge’s call can be grounds for disqualification.

2026 Minturn Downriver Dash Race Cost*

*This race is seperate from the Vail Whitewater Race Series and is not included in a series purchase. Shuttle is included in the cost

**Raft registration will be limited to 20 boats. Only 1 member of an R2 team needs to sign up. R2 partners who did not sign up their team will be required to sign a liability form on race day at the bib pickup area.

Thanks to hyside.com we have mini-maxes for participant use in 2026. If interested in purchasing a race boat, please reach out to hyside to inquire about purchasing a boat!

Discover the Charming Towns of Minturn & Red Cliff

Nestled in the Colorado Rockies, Minturn and Red Cliff are just 9 miles apart in Eagle County, offering a gateway to outdoor adventures. Surrounded by the Holy Cross Wilderness, White River National Forest, and the Eagle River, the area is a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Close to Leadville, Camp Hale National Monument, and Vail and Beaver Creek ski resorts, the towns blend old-world charm with modern excitement.

Red Cliff, established in 1879 as a silver mining camp, and Minturn, established in 1904 as a key railroad stop, thrived during Colorado’s mining boom. Minturn became a crucial supply center for mining hubs, reinforcing its connection to Red Cliff’s prosperity. Over time, these towns adapted to changes like the closing of the Gilman mine and abandoned rail lines. The development of Vail and Beaver Creek transformed them into tourism hubs while maintaining their distinctive character.

Today, Minturn and Red Cliff offer numerous outdoor activities and promote responsible recreation and conservation. Visitors can enjoy winter sports and summer hikes, preserving the pristine beauty of the surroundings. Minturn and Red Cliff await, ready to enchant with natural splendor and warm hospitality, reflecting a legacy rooted in Colorado Rockies history.

Parking

Please park at the finish in the Town of Minturn Municipal Lot adjacent to the Turntable. The VRD will provide shuttles to the start for racers and gear. Please do not shuttle yourself to the start as the parking lot is very small and we need as much space as possible for our shuttle.

Drop-off Zones

Racers can drop-off gear near the finish at the Minturn Saloon. This is an active road, so please be quick and cautious of vehicles. The Town of Minturn Municipal Lot is a minute walk from the Minturn Saloon, so please only drop-off if absolutely necessary.

Racers can drop-off gear near the start at the Boneyard Open Space (south of Minturn) and then park at the Town of Minturn Municipal Lot to ride VRD's shuttle to the race start.

Protecting our rivers is important to us and hopefully it is for you too. We encourage all particiapants to learn more about how they can impact and support our local watersheds.

Many of these organizations are non-profits who are as passionate about boating, rivers and water conservancy.  Memberships and donations are accepted if you're looking for ways to contribute and support these organizations and their missions.

Local Resources & Organizations

• State of the River - Eagle River Valley
• State of the River - Colorado
• Eagle River Water & Sanitation District
• Eagle River Coalition | Facebook | Instagram
• Colorado River District | Facebook | Instagram
• Colorado Whitewater Association | Facebook| Instagram

National Resources & Organizations

• American Whitewater | Facebook | Instagram
• American Canoe Association | Instagram

Check out Previous Race Results & Photos on the Race Results Webpage.