The Consumers Energy AuSable River Canoe Marathon has been an annual event now for over 60 years. For one short 19 hour period, the race totally consumes the participants, inhabitants and spectators like few other events. Certainly, the start of this race is the most spectacular in canoe racing and is witnessed by the largest number of spectators of all Northern Michigan events.

At any time of year you may see racers in their slim C-2 canoes practicing for this granddaddy of all canoe races. But this unique river also offers year round pleasure to those seeking the solitude and serenity of one of the most beautiful free flowing rivers in the United States. “THE” river fits the cliche “It is many things to many people” and we thought the visitors to our site would enjoy reading what authors have had to say about the delights of the AuSable River.

• Art Furtaw – “The Race”
• Arturs Graube – Kayaking and Camping from Grayling to Oscoda (May, 2001)
• Frank Krajenka – “Hup All Night”
• Howard Meyerson – “Amazing Al Widing: The Oldest Guy In the AuSable River Canoe Marathon”
• Jeff Potter – “My First Experience of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon”
• Jon Thompson & Nancy Lemmen – “Experience The Tradition”
• Kandace Chapple – “Canoe Marathon & Feeders”
• Lee Diviney – “The 45th AuSable Canoe Marathon”
• Margery Guest – “Paddle Like A Girl”
• Margery Guest – “UP All Night”
• Margery Guest – “Feed the Soul: Women take to the River”
• Margery Guest – “Of Time and River: Beginning of the AuSable River Canoe Marathon”
• MCRA – “Canoe Racing Pox”
• Steve Southard – “It Gets In Your Blood: The AuSable River Canoe Marathon”
• Tim R. Enright – “It’s Called Paddling”
• “The River of Dreams: The AuSable Canoe Marathon”
• Jerry Wagner – “Great Race On A Great River” (1968)

Published Newspaper & Magazine Articles

• “A Machine With Two Pistons” – By Jim Harrison, Sports Illustrated (August 27, 1973)
• “Hup All Night” – By Kandace Chapple, Traverse Magazine (July 2011)
• “Ordeal By Canoe” – By Bill Wolf, The Saturday Evening Post (September 1, 1956)
• “14 Hours at the World’s Toughest Spectator Race” [Photo Gallery] – by Erik Olsen (Outside Online 2016)

Tips & Information

• “Which Pro Boat?” – By Gareth Stevens, USCA Canoe News (March 2004, Volume 37, Issue 1)
• Newcomer’s Guide to Completing the AuSable River Canoe Marathon – By Eric Batway
• Leaning Canoes On Corners – By Marc Gillespie
• What is the Correct Paddle Length For Me?
• C-2 Hull Guide
• C-1 Hull Guide
• The Science of Paddling