

Coosa River Challenge
Oct 4, 2025
The best Adventure Race in Central Alabama - and our main fundraising event.
3-6 hours of mountain biking, trail running, river paddling with lots of special tests throughout. Format is 2-person teams male/female/co-ed or individual and the course is friendly enough to be finished by the novice racer, while challenging enough for the veteran adventure racer. The top teams normally finish in about 4 hours with the majority of racers finished by 6 hours. The route incorporates the last of the whitewater of Alabama's major river systems and finishes in historic downtown Wetumpka.
GENERAL INFORMATION
For 2025, the Coosa River Challenge will return to its roots, with the Finish line at beautiful Gold Star Park in downtown Wetumpka, AL.
Packet pick up will be at the pre-party Friday October 3, 2025 at 6:00-9:00 at Coosa River Adventures. Detailed info about challenges will be provided as well as food, drink and entertainment.
Saturday morning, please park near to Gold Star Park, either in the park, across the street at the courthouse, or at the nearby Civic Center. If you park at Coos River Adventures you'll have to get to and from the Start/Finish on your own.
General race day timeline Saturday morning:
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6:00 am - Last Minute registration and packet pickup if you missed Friday night event.
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7:00 am - All racers at Gold Star Park in Wetumpka for bike drop-off and race briefing, and then for transport to the race start. Stragglers will get left behind!
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8:30 am - Race Start at Swayback Bridge Trailhead
View CRC Adventure Race in a larger map
PRICING
Through Sept 19, 2025
Male or female individual racers: $90
Teams: $150
Late Registration, Sept 20 - Race Day, 2025
Male or female individual racers: $125
Teams: $200
Special Pricing for Family Teams With An Adult and Partner Under 17!
Through Sept 19, 2025: $125
Late Registration, Sept 20 - Race Day, 2025: $160
RULES
To assist in race planning; There is only one official race transition area which is located at the Swayback Bridge trailhead. The run and the bike will start and finish from here. You will be allowed to leave one gear bag at this location during the race for transition purposes. Gear bags and bikes will be transported back to the finish at Coosa River Adventures after the biking is completed.
IMPORTANT: When you leave the transition area after the biking portion, whatever you take with you on your way down to the kayak/canoe leg will remain with you until you arrive at Coosa River Adventures (this includes some running, swimming and kayaking), so plan accordingly.
Note: The boat leg ends at Coosa River Adventures where you will find the LONG awaited finish line. You can choose to leave more equipment along the course, but race organizers are not liable for any equipment left at any point other than the official transition area (Swayback Trailhead).
Race planning is just about complete, but there will be a few surprises (that’s why its called an Adventure Race right?).
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Run: Approx. 3-4 miles at the start with about 2-3 more added in throughout.
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Bike: Approx. 8 miles.
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7 mile kayak/canoe down the Coosa River
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Note: Canoes/2-man-sit-on-top and individual kayaks will be available on a first come/first served basis. Due to logistics, we will not be accepting specific boat type requests. (Teams must use team boats, a team can’t use two individual kayaks)
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Tentative Start & Finish at Gold Star Park, Wetumpka, AL
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Challenge Details:
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Several challenges will be revealed at the pre-race meeting on Friday night.
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Boat Information
Competitors are not restricted to certain types of canoes/kayaks. Hey we’re all about fun and keeping it simple; If it floats you you can use it. Race qualified boats may be rented at a discount at the time of registration – either online, or mail-in. Boat rental is $35 for teams, and $25 for individuals. We realize some own their own kayaks that are better/faster than rentals, but we've decided that is just the way it's going to be and not a protestable item.
Disqualification
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Failure of a team to pass through each checkpoint in order
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Going off-trail on the run or bike. No shortcutting!
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Using a mode of travel other than the one specified for each leg
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Any travel other that human powered travel.
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Littering on the course.
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Assistance by anyone not competing in the race (this includes support crew) outside of the Transition Areas.
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Missing checkpoint
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Disobeying instructions from a race official
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Unauthorized road/trail travel
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Non-assistance to a person in danger
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Not wearing or improperly wearing a life jacket in the boat
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Not wearing a helmet while on the bike and in the boat
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Violation over the identity of a competitor or change of a team member during race
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Removing/altering a punch device, trail sign or marking
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Travel on Unauthorized/Restricted route
30 Minute Penalty
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Teammates not staying within 100 feet of each other.
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Teams not staying on the prescribed course.
These rules are to ensure the safety and integrity of the race. They will be enforced as best as possible by race staff and volunteers, but hey, it's for fun so keep it honest. Any protests can be made after completion of the race to the race director. All decisions by the race director are final.
Gear
Racers should prepare for 4-6 hours of hydration such as camelbacks, electrolytes, fuel, etc. We will have a water station at the Swayback Bridge trail and several other locations along the race route.
Directions
Wetumpka, Alabama – 32.54°N, 86.21°W
Distance from:
Birmingham: 95 Miles
Mobile: 175 Miles
Jackson: 265 Miles
Atlanta: 170 Miles
Click link for driving directions to Coosa River Adventures - the site of the pre-race registration on Friday night and race finish (Yellow Marker) on Google Map above.
Places to Stay
Free camping is available at the race registration site: Coosa River Adventures
For more information, contact info@coosariverchallenge.com
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