2025 marks the 39th annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival, which is one the longest standing whitewater events in the nation. It's the best time to get out on the river and have fun. Whether you are a kayaker, rafter, paddle boarder or packrafter there is an event for you! Come out and test your skills or bring your camp chair and watch the action. Clack Fest is all about bringing the community together for an amazing weekend on the water with friends. We strive to organize a river festival where everyone is welcome while preserving the festival for future generations of paddlers.

Schedule of Events

10:00 am - R-4 Mass Start

The R4 (four person) Raft Mass Start race sponsored by the City of Estacada begins at Fish Creek Day Use area. Teams must negotiate three downriver gates at Carter Bridge rapid. The finish line is gate 8.

10:30 am - Cataraft Slalom

The Cataraft Slalom sponsored by Class V Adventure Gear, starts at Fish Creek Day Use Area. Racers must negotiate all the downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid. The finish line is gate number 8.

11:00 am - Packraft Downriver

The Packraft Downriver Race sponsored by Kokopelli Packrafts is a mass start beginning at the Fish Creek Day Use area. Racers must negotiate three downriver gates at the Carter Bridge Rapid and finish by touching the buoy on river left below Carter Bridge with the bow of their packraft.

11:30 am - Inflatable Kayak Downriver

The inflatable kayak race is a mass start beginning at Fish Creek Day Use area. Racers must negotiate three downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid and finish by touching the finish buoy on river left below Carter Bridge with the bow of their kayak.

12:00 pm - Oar Boat Slalom

The Oar Boat Slalom sponsored by Oar Snubber starts at Fish Creek Day Use area. Racers must negotiate all downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid. The finish line is gate number 8.

12:30 pm - LUNCH BREAK

1:30 pm - R-2 Mass Start

The R2 (two person) Raft Mass Start race Sponsored by AIRE starts at Fish Creek Day Use area. Teams must negotiate three downriver gates at Carter Bridge rapid. The finish line is gate 8. SOTAR Rapid Grand Prix Event

1:45 pm: R2 Mass Start – Women's

The women's two person raft race starts at the Fish Creek day use area. Teams must negotiate three downriver gates at the Carter Bridge rapid. The finish line is gate number eight.

2:00 pm: Kayak Downriver – Short Boats

The Kayak Short Boat race sponsored by Next Adventure is a mass start beginning at Fish Creek Day Use area. Racers must negotiate three downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid and finish by touching the finish buoy on river left below Carter Bridge with the bow of their kayak.

2:15 pm - Women's Downriver Short Boats

The women's kayak downriver race is a mass start beginning at Fish Creek Day Use area. Racers must negotiate three downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid. Racers complete the race by touching the finish buoy on river left below Carter Bridge with the bow of their kayak.

2:30 pm - Canoe Downriver

The canoe race starts at the Fish Creek Day Use area. All racers must negotiate three downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid and finish by touching the finish buoy on river left below the Carter Bridge with the bow of their canoe.

3:00 pm - Paddleboard Downriver

The paddleboard race is a mass start beginning at Fish Creek Day Use area. Racers must negotiate three downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid and finish by touching their paddle to the finish bouy on river left below Carter Bridge.

3:15 pm - R-4 Slalom

The four person raft slalom starts at the eddy below Armstrong Rapid. Teams must negotiate all downriver gates at Carter Bridge Rapid. The finish line is at Gate 8 This is a Sotar Rapid Grand Prix Event

3:45 pm - Kayak Slalom Cross

Kayak Cross sponsored by Zet Kayaks USA

- A race against the clock through a combination of up and downstream gates on a whitewater course.
- The course length and number of gates varies with a maximum of 25 gates for canoe and kayak events and eight gates for Kayak Cross.
- The course is set with a mix of upstream and downstream gates; each presents a unique challenge for the athlete, significantly testing their ability to read and work with the water flow whilst maintaining their trajectory, balance and speed.
- The direction the athlete must travel through each gate is indicated by color: red for upstream and green for downstream.
- Course designers set the gate patterns with the aim of utilizing the water features – eddies, waves and stoppers – to create a competitive course. No two courses are the same.

4:30 pm - Inflatable Kayak & Packraft Slalom

The Inflatable Kayak & Packraft Slalom sponsored by Alpacka starts at the eddy below Armstrong rapid. Each racer negotiates all the downstream gates at Carter Bridge. Racers complete the race by touching the finish buoy on river left below Carter Bridge with the bow of their kayak.

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