Bigfork Whitewater Festival

Bigfork Whitewater Festival 51st Annual Whitewater Festival May 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. The Bigfork Whitewater Festival will be celebrating its 47th year!

We welcome you to join us for this historic, local event as either a competitor or spectator. Bigfork, Montana is located on the north end of Flathead Lake, where the Swan River spills into Bigfork Bay. The last mile of the Swan River, known as the "Wild Mile", is a class IV section of whitewater. This beautiful and challenging whitewater venue has a scenic nature trail paralleling the north side,

giving spectators front row seats for some of the best whitewater action in the area. The Wild Mile also flows through downtown Bigfork, which offers an eclectic variety of restaurants, shops and galleries. For more information about events and for this year's schedule, please visit www.bigforkwhitewaterfestival.com

04/27/2026

It’s that time again!! Registration for the 51st Annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival opens this FRIDAY, MAY 1ST.

Kayaking, whitewater rafting, and SUP flat water races are back and better than ever, with camping, live music, and a ton of gear from our incredible sponsors. Sign ups will be available at the link in our bio!

Additional information for this year can be found at https://www.bigforkwhitewaterfestival.com
See you soon! 🌊

🌊 WOW — What a weekend! 🌊We had to take an extra day to recover from the epic 50th Annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival be...
05/28/2025

🌊 WOW — What a weekend! 🌊
We had to take an extra day to recover from the epic 50th Annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival benefiting Montana Kayak Academy — and every moment was worth it!

Huge shoutout to our Title Sponsors who made this unforgettable event possible:
🏔️ Granite Ridge Realty
🏦 Whitefish Credit Union
🎶Outriders

And now... 🏆 Your 2025 Champions!

🛶 Kayaking - Women’s Top 3:
🥇 Adriene Levknecht
🥈 Darby McAdams
🥉 Sage Ebel

🛶 Kayaking - Men’s Top 3:
🥇 Jude Franczyk
🥈 Matt Anger
🥉 Beckham Bayreuther

🏄‍♂️ Advanced SUP Winners:
🥇 Dan Miller
🥈 Mark Schurke
🥉 Kath Shaw

🚣‍♀️ Raft Race Winners:
🥇 Powder Punks
🥈 Glacier Raft Team 2
🥉 Glacier Raft Team 1

Thank you to every paddler, volunteer, sponsor, and spectator who helped make this golden anniversary one for the books. Here's to the river, the community, and 50 more years of wildwater fun! 💙

Just a few things we will be doing this weekend....
05/22/2025

Just a few things we will be doing this weekend....

🎪 VENDORS VENDORS VENDORS! 🎪We’re packed with local flavor, gear, grub & good vibes all weekend long!🗓️ Most vendors wil...
05/22/2025

🎪 VENDORS VENDORS VENDORS! 🎪
We’re packed with local flavor, gear, grub & good vibes all weekend long!
🗓️ Most vendors will be set up SATURDAY & SUNDAY from 10AM–4PM unless otherwise noted.

📍 SWAN RIVER NATURE TRAIL VENDOR ZONE
🎉 Home to the action + BEER GARDEN 🍻 (12–4PM Saturday & 11-3PM Sunday, sponsored by Glacier Distilling Company + Flathead Lake Brewing Co. )

✅ Whitewater Festival Info Booth
🌭 Wild Bill’s Western Food Wagon
🎓 Bigfork Schools Close Up Fundraiser
👕 Bigforkin’
🐟 Flathead Lake Bio Station
🌊 Flathead River Alliance
🚲 Good Times Supply
💆‍♀️ Mariah’s Mobile Massage
🛶 SOTAR Whitewater Manufacturing
🕶️ Sunny Designs
🌿 Western Montana Conservation Commission
🚤 Whitefish Marine

📍 DOWNTOWN BIGFORK (In front of Lake Baked – 191 Mill St.)
✅ Whitewater Festival Info Booth
🍖 D&T BBQ
🍜 Island Noodles
🧢 Wear Your Roots

📍 THE BIG ROCK ZONE
🏞️ Home Base for – stop by and say hey to our future paddlers!

💥 Whether you’re shopping, snacking, relaxing, or learning about conservation — there's something for everyone.
Come show our local vendors some love this weekend! 🧡

For information on the Vendors or the festival its self check us online at www.bigforkwhitewaterfestival.com

🌊 BATTLE IN THE BAY 🌊Presented by our friends at Base Camp Bigfork LLC !Whether it's paddling in the sun or mushing in t...
05/21/2025

🌊 BATTLE IN THE BAY 🌊
Presented by our friends at Base Camp Bigfork LLC !

Whether it's paddling in the sun or mushing in the snow ❄️☀️ — this incredible family-owned business does it all!

Join us Saturday for the Stand Up Paddleboard Race in Bigfork Bay, brought to you by the experts in all things adventure:
🏄‍♂️ Base Camp Bigfork — SUP & Kayak rentals in summer, dog sledding in winter!

Let’s make some waves! 💥
Register today by clicking on the link below
https://runsignup.com/Race/MT/Bigfork/BigforkWhitewaterFestival

🎉 Home of the FAMOUS Saturday Night Party! 🎉Lake Baked and River View Bar are back and better than ever — fueling your...
05/21/2025

🎉 Home of the FAMOUS Saturday Night Party! 🎉

Lake Baked and River View Bar are back and better than ever — fueling your mornings and keeping the party going all night!

Located in the heart of Bigfork, Lake Baked serves up cinnamon rolls, quiche, pies, cookies, and more deliciousness overlooking the Swan River.

🍰☕ Start your day sweet — end it wild.
🌊 And remember… Beaches ain’t ready!

Heads up, paddlers! The new bridge is almost complete thanks to the hard work of Battle Ridge Builders, but it won’t be ...
05/20/2025

Heads up, paddlers! The new bridge is almost complete thanks to the hard work of Battle Ridge Builders, but it won’t be open for Memorial Day weekend. Please respect all signs and closures for your safety and theirs!

✅ We’ll have our usual campsite on the south side of the bridge, plus a new tent-only campsite on the north side.
🚫 Sliters Park is closed—it’s being used for bridge construction equipment.
🚌 Thanks to Montana Kayak Academy, we’ll have shuttles running between the put-in and town.
🎉 And don’t miss the Saturday night party bus—departing at 8:30 pm!

Let’s keep it fun, respectful, and flowing smooth. See you on the river! 🌊🔥

We’re giving a huge shoutout to our Class II Sponsor — Timbers Motel Bigfork — for not only supporting the 50th Annual ...
05/20/2025

We’re giving a huge shoutout to our Class II Sponsor — Timbers Motel Bigfork — for not only supporting the 50th Annual Bigfork Whitewater Festival, but also making sure our amazing volunteers have a place to rest and recharge this year 🙌

🎶 PLUS — they’re bringing the Music on the Trail to life this year! Because what’s a river festival without some good tunes along the way?

🌲 Timbers Motel is tucked right off MT Hwy 35 among the pines, with easy access to:
🏞️ Glacier National Park
🚶‍♀️ Flathead Lake
🛍️ Downtown Bigfork
🥾 Scenic hikes galore

Make them your trailhead to adventure — and thank them for helping us make this weekend unforgettable!

🎟️🔥 RAFFLE TIME! 🔥🎟️Who wants a shot at winning some seriously epic prizes? 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ We’ve got two raffles packed with g...
05/19/2025

🎟️🔥 RAFFLE TIME! 🔥🎟️

Who wants a shot at winning some seriously epic prizes? 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ We’ve got two raffles packed with gear, trips, and experiences you won’t want to miss:

🛶 BOATER-SPECIFIC RAFFLE
Built for the river rats and whitewater warriors—check out this insane lineup:

Gear from NRS, Astral, Immersion Research, Sweet Protection, and Werner Paddles

And… drumroll please… a Pyranha Ozone Freeride kayak!!! 🎉

🎁 GENERAL RAFFLE
Open to all! Prizes include:

Whitewater raft trips from Flathead Raft Company 🌊

🎟️ Two tickets to Under the Big Sky, thanks to Our Riders Presents

🏨 A night’s stay at Whitefish Lake Lodge from Sean Averill at PureWest

And SO much more!

💥 Don’t miss your chance to win—grab those raffle tickets now and support the Montana Kayak Academy and the Bigfork Whitewater Festival while you're at it!
Click on the link to buy your tickets online!
https://bigfork-whitewater-festival.square.site/

More Class I sponsor love coming your way—these three incredible companies are fueling the fun, flow, and focus of the B...
05/19/2025

More Class I sponsor love coming your way—these three incredible companies are fueling the fun, flow, and focus of the Bigfork Whitewater Festival and Montana Kayak Academy! 💪🌊

🌿 Astral – Known for putting , Astral designs high-performance gear with sustainability at its core. From legendary PFDs to trail shoes built for river life, their commitment to quality and the planet is unmatched. Thank you, Astral, for keeping us safe and stylish on the water!

☕ County Line Coffee – The unofficial fuel station of Ferndale! This drive-thru coffee hut is keeping the Bigfork crew caffeinated and smiling all weekend long. Swing by for your pre-paddle fix or post-race recharge!

🛶 Werner Paddles – From flatwater family floats to heart-racing Class V runs, Werner Paddles delivers Ultimate Paddle Performance. With decades of innovation behind every stroke, they're a trusted name in every paddler's gear bag.

Let’s give a huge round of appreciation to two of our amazing Class II sponsors who help keep the Bigfork Whitewater Fes...
05/17/2025

Let’s give a huge round of appreciation to two of our amazing Class II sponsors who help keep the Bigfork Whitewater Festival and Montana Kayak Academy paddling forward! 🙌💙

🏦 Stockman – Montana born and bred! As a family-owned, full-service community bank, Stockman keeps your money working right here in Montana—for you, your neighbors, and your future. Local roots, local commitment.

🍣 SakeToMe Sushi – A Bigfork favorite! Located in the heart of downtown, SakeTome Sushi blends sustainability, creativity, and a serious love for the ocean. From stunning rolls to a full bar, they serve up fresh, responsible, and delicious dishes every time.

Thank you both for supporting Montana's paddling community and making this legendary festival possible! 🛶✨

Address

451 Electric Avenue
Bigfork, MT
59911

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