World’s Toughest Spectator Race!

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is a nonstop event that begins on Saturday at 9:00pm in Grayling, MI and ends 14 to 19 hours later, 120 miles away in Oscoda, MI. Many die-hard fans, along with first timers, will follow the entire race, cheering the teams on throughout the night. Check out this article from Men’s Journal about just how tough it is to follow the race.

Not up for staying up all night? No problem! There are still many great ways for you to experience the excitement of the race in person or virtually.

If you do decide to follow all or part of the race in person, please make sure you review the Spectator Information section. There you will find details about road/bridge closures and other information that will help you with the challenge of following the race.

The Start

The start of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon, is a must see event in northern Michigan. The race starts at 9:00pm in Grayling with teams sprinting with their canoes 4 blocks to the river. The scene as the teams put their canoes into the river is chaotic, exciting and fast. The prime viewing area is the hill across from the start line located on the I-75 Business Loop. The location is easy to identify, because fans start staking out their locations on the hill hours in advance of the race. Get there early to enjoy the pre-race program that includes entertainment and paddler introductions.

Curious about the racing canoes and how the paddlers outfit them for the race? Head over to Peninsular Avenue between Michigan Ave and Ionia St. and you can mingle with the paddlers and support (feeder) teams with their canoes as they line up for the start.

While in Grayling, check out the AuSable River Festival that has a variety of events including live music, food trucks and more. The AuSable River Festival begins the weekend before the Marathon.

Crawford County Bridges

Stephan, Wakeley, and McMasters are the first three bridges of the race. To provide the race experience to more fans and ease parking congestion, the Marathon has partnered with Crawford County Transportation to provide shuttle service to these locations. Information about the shuttle service can be found in the Spectator Guide.

If you choose to drive to the bridges on your own, keep in mind that parking is limited. Here are the point to point driving times and expected arrival times for leaders.

• Grayling (Start) to Stephan Bridge – 20 minute drive.  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 10:12 p.m. – 10:19 p.m.

• Stephan Bridge to Wakeley Bridge – 10 minute drive.  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 10:41 p.m. – 10:50 p.m.

• Wakeley Bridge to McMasters Bridge – 20 minute drive.  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 11:37 p.m. – 11:50 p.m.

The Dams

During the Marathon, the teams cross six hydroelectric dams. Each is a great place to view the race as the teams are required to portage each dam.  Below is a list of the dams, key information and the approximate arrival time for leaders.  No alcohol is allowed on the dams.  Consumers Energy will have security personnel in place at each dam during the race.  Please follow their instructions at all times!

• Mio Dam  –  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 2:05 a.m. – 2:32 a.m.  –  This is the only dam portage that occurs at night.  Typically this portage has larger crowds because it is usually the last location to watch all the teams pass and make it to the next stop to view the leaders.  If you want to avoid the chaos (and the cooler temperatures), walk up the hill and watch the action from about ½ way up.

• Alcona Dam  –  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 5:14 a.m. – 5:59 a.m.  –  The sunrise views during the Alcona Dam portage make it a fan-favorite stop.  There is a nice platform on the east side of the dam, but the best spot to watch is where the teams exit Alcona Pond and begin their portage.

• Loud Dam  –  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 7:01 a.m. – 7:55 a.m.  –  Access to Loud Dam is limited to feeder teams and race officials.  No public access.

• Five Channels Dam  –  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 7:26 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.  –  Great views of the teams as they come across the open water.  Good viewing locations are available from the canoe portage and the old M-65 bridge.  Both the top and bottom of the dam are great spots to cheer on the teams.

• Cooke Dam  –  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 8:27 a.m. – 9:23 a.m.  –  At this point there will be a significant difference between the leaders and other teams.  If you want to catch the leaders crossing Foote Dam, leave about 45 minutes after the leaders go by. Your drive to Foote Dam from this point is 20 minutes.  If you decide to stay at Cooke Dam a bit longer, your drive to the Finish Line is 30 minutes (but leave time for finding parking!).

• Foote Dam  –  Approx. Leader’s Arrival 9:37 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.  –  Consider a stop at Foote Dam to watch the lead teams.  A good location to watch the action is from the Foote Tailwater Recreation site located on the far side of the dam off of Rea Rd.  The drive from Foote Dam to Oscoda is about 10 minutes, so keep track of the time if you want to watch the winners cross the Finish Line.

The Finish

Seeing the finish of the Marathon in Oscoda, MI is a great experience.  Here you can cheer the paddlers as they end their 120 mile journey near the mouth of Lake Huron.  Parking can be found on the east side of the river, across the street (US-23) from the AuSable Inn.  Good views of the teams can be seen up by Gilbert’s Drug Store (212 State Street, Oscoda), from the top of the Mill Street Bridge, or at Finish Line Park.

Make sure you catch the paddlers doing their traditional splash at the end of the race!

Spectator Information

The AuSable River Canoe Marathon is considered the toughest spectator sport and preparation should not be taken lightly. Spectators should be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions, bugs, traffic, and thousands of other fans. Please read the Spectator Guide to help you prepare for your all night adventure.

• Alcohol is prohibited on Consumers Energy property, including at the dams along the Marathon route.
• DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.
• No loitering will be allowed when crossing dams.
• Park your vehicle in Grayling early Saturday for an easy get-a-way after the start of the race.
• Please follow the directions of safety personnel and police officers at all times.
• Please respect private property and ask permission prior to crossing.

The list below contains items that will improve your spectator experience. Keep in mind that cell phone service along the course can be spotty and some areas have no service so plan accordingly.

• AuSable River Course Map – Available in the Program Book or Spectator Guide, don’t rely entirely on your cell phone GPS…there are many points along the river with no service.
• Appropriate Clothing – Conditions can change drastically, so be prepared for cold, rain, heat, and fog.
• Lawn Chairs / Blanket – For seating while you wait for the teams
• Cooler – Snacks and beverages may be tough to find in the middle of the night, so pack along a cooler with your favorites.
• Binoculars – Helpful for watching the teams from a distance and checking canoe numbers.
• Flashlight – A flashlight may come in handy making your way from parking to various viewing areas.
• Insect Repellent – This is rural Michigan and mosquitoes are big fans of the Marathon spectators.
• Personal Items – If you are following the entire race, you may want to soap, towel, toothbrush, toilet paper, body spray, etc. so you can freshen up for the finish.

Road, Bridge, and Landing Closures & Info

Crawford County – Stephan, Wakeley, and McMasters bridges will be closed to all vehicle traffic during the race. Spectator vehicles will not be allowed to cross the river at these bridges.

Oscoda County – Parmalee Bridge will be closed to spectators but passable for vehicles. No portable lighting will be available. If you are viewing the race from here, there are good sites along the campground on the north side or at the public access site on the south.

Mio Dam – Spectators are not allowed on the spillway. There is a walkway from the MDOT parking area, south of M-72, under the bridge to the dam. You will not have to walk across the highway to get to the dam. Spectators must stay clear of the pathway and the put-in areas as the teams portage Mio Dam.

4001 Bridge – The U.S. Forest Service may issue tickets for parking in the lot at the boat launch site without the valid parking pass.

Alcona Dam – Only feeders and officials will be allowed into the dam parking lot. Spectators should park in the field on the north side of the river and walk across the bridge to the portage area.

Loud Dam – There will only be parking for feeders on one side of the road leading to the dam. Only feeders and officials will be allowed into the dam parking lot.

Five Channels Dam – Pedestrians and vehicles will not be permitted on the new bridge, but spectators are allowed on the old bridge. Parking in the dam parking lot is for feeders only. Spectators can park in a large field at the top of the hill on the south side of the river.

Foote Dam – The Dam will be closed to spectators but you can view the race from the new fishing platforms across the river.

Rea Rd. Bridge – A Michigan Recreational Passport is required for parking in the parking lot near the bridge.

Whirlpool (near Oscoda) – Everyone must park in the parking lot, not at the boat launch. The U.S. Forest Service will issue tickets in this area.

Approx. Leader’s Arrival Times

The chart below shows the approximate arrival time at each checkpoint for the team leading the race.  Arrival times can vary due to many factors, such as river flow, weather, etc.  These arrival times are based on race times from 1992 to 2024.

Race Cutoff Times

The chart below shows the cutoff time for each checkpoint, as per the race rules.  Teams arriving to a checkpoint after the cutoff time are disqualified.

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