About Great Rivers Rendezvous
Come join us for a FUN, recreational paddle on the Mississippi River for the Great Rivers Rendezvous on Saturday, September 20th, 2025, organized by the Mississippi River Water Trail Association (MRWTA).
Choose from FOUR launch points depending on the distance you would like to paddle- 3 miles starting from Alta Villa, 7 miles starting from Piasa Harbor, 12 miles starting from Hideaway Harbor, or our all new 2-day paddle on the Great Rivers of the Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri. Participants will finish at the Alton Boat Launch or have the option to lock through the Melvin Price Lock and Dam.
All groups will be escorted on the water by trained safety boaters from organizations associated with the Missouri Paddling Association (MOPADCO).
*PARTICIPANTS MUST BE 12 OR OLDER. Participants 12 & 13 must be accompanied by an adult in a tandem boat.
All participants are invited to the 19th Annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival in Alton Riverfront Park, brought to you by Alton Main Street, The Sierra Club, and Jacoby Arts Center. The Mississippi Earthtones Festival is a celebration of our river through art, music, and conservation. At this free & family-friendly event, we will feature 70+ educational booths, live music, interactive art experiences and performances, as well as great local food & beverages
Plan Your Paddle
We have 4 different launch points for you to choose from. If you are in need of a boat and would like to rent one, boats from The Alpine Shop and Mississippi River Water Trail are available to reserve when you register for the event.
Again this year, Big Muddy Adventures (BMA) will be paddling along with us in their 12-person Canoes. BMA Guides will do the paddling while you and your group ride along and enjoy the experience and views. This is a great option for families with kids! RESERVATIONS FOR BIG MUDDY CANOE WILL OPEN SOON!
Great Rivers: 2-day with overnight camp-out at Riverlands
USING OUR SHUTTLE: Drop your boat and gear off with us at Public Landing just downstream from Pere Marquette Climbing Area from 7:00am to 7:30am. Drive to Alton Boat Launch and ride our shuttle bus back to the launch site. Shuttle bus departs at 8:15am.
NOT USING SHUTTLE: Be at the launch site and ready to paddle at 9:00am. Following a safety briefing, all paddlers will launch at 9:30am SHARP!
12 Miles: Hideaway Harbor
USING OUR SHUTTLE: Drop your boat and gear off with us from 8:00am to 8:30am. Drive to Alton Boat Launch and ride our shuttle bus back to Hideaway Harbor launch site. Shuttle bus departs at 9:15am.
NOT USING SHUTTLE: Be at the launch site and ready to paddle at 10:00am. Following our safety briefing, all paddlers will launch at approximately 10:30am.
7 Miles: Piasa Harbor
USING OUR SHUTTLE: Drop your boat and gear off with us BEFORE 10:30am. Drive to Alton Boat Launch to park and ride our shuttle bus back to the launch to sign-in. Shuttle bus departs at am.
NOT USING SHUTTLE: Be at the launch site and ready to paddle at 11:30am. Following our safety briefing, paddlers will launch at approximately at 12noon.
3 Miles: Alta Villa
Due to a lack of parking, all paddlers will ride the shuttle between Alton Boat Launch and the Alta Villa Launch Site. Be at the Alton Boat Launch no later than 12 noon to sign-in. Shuttle will leave at 12:30pm
Safety briefing at 12:45pm, and paddlers will launch at approximately at 1:00 pm.
Finish / Take Out
Paddlers will take out at the City of Alton Boat Launch at the Alton Marina near Riverfront Park, or continue on through the Melvin Price Lock and Dam.
With either take-out option, join us afterwards at the Mississippi Earthtones Festival where you can find live music, food and drink, arts and activity booths!
Plan Your Day
Lodging/Camping
Pere Marquette State Park Lodge https://pmlodge.net/
Pere Marquette State Park Tent Camping https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/camp/park.peremarquette.html
Riverside Landing RV: https://www.sccmo.org/1982/Riverside-Landing
St. Charles County Parks: https://www.sccmo.org/1956/Camping
Alton, IL Hotels: https://www.kayak.com/Alton-Hotels.23842.hotel.ksp
Downtown St. Louis, MO Hotels: https://www.hotels.com/nh942/hotels-in-downtown-st-louis-st-louis-missouri/
For members of the Missouri Paddling Coalition who plan to attend the Saturday evening meeting, please contact grr@mississippiriverwatertrail.org to reserve camping.
Mississippi Earthtones Festival
All participants will finish at the public access near Alton Riverfront Park where the Mississippi Earthtones Festival is at, bought to you by Alton Main Street, the Sierra Club, and Jacoby Arts Center. This is a celebration of our river through art, music, and conservation. At this free & family-friendly event, we will feature 70+ educational booths, live music, interactive art experiences and performances, as well as great local food & beverages. Learn more at the festival website.
VOLUNTEER FOR US
Help us make this event a big success by volunteering for us. To do that, simply sign up on line by clicking this link. THANK YOU!
Event Rules & FAQs
Each participant must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type 3 or 5 life preserver (PFD) with whistle when within 10 feet of the water. A PFD must be worn zipped and clipped at all times while on the water. This is per the United States Coast Guard as part of our permit requirements.
ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA, OR ILLEGAL DRUG USE WILL BE TOLERATED DURING THE EVENT. Suspected participant impairment will result in immediate removal from the event.
Each watercraft must be a MINIMUM of 12 feet in length and be propelled exclusively by paddle power (double or single blade). Event directors have the sole discretion to approve or disqualify a watercraft for use during the Great Rivers Rendezvous.
All participants in this Event must agree to the “Waiver and Release of Liability”. This waiver is required by the American Canoe Association for participation in this event.
All participants will supply their own water and snacks for use during the event. Water jugs for refills will be available at all put-in and take-out sites.
All participants agree to appear in event related photography and media coverage with no expectation of compensation.
Littering of the river and shoreline is illegal. Participants must keep their trash with them in their canoes/kayaks/SUP and take all waste ashore with them to dispose.
All participants should understand there are serious risks involved in this endeavor.
All participants must yield to larger vessels and be prepared for wakes from large commercial and recreational boats.
All participants must stay away from buoys, wing dikes, floating debris, bridges and any other river obstruction and danger. While on water, participants agree to stay within the group and defer to instructions of the lead, sweep and all other safety boaters.
All participants will enter this event at their own risk and will not hold this event’s organizers, judges, officials, and sponsors liable for accidents to person and/or loss, theft, or damage to any property.
No refunds including in the event of event cancellation due to weather natural or manmade disaster. The Mississippi River Water Trail is a non-profit organization with the mission to get more people to enjoy and appreciate our great river on the water. We are all volunteers and know your funds are going to a good cause to support this incredible resource, the Mighty Mississippi.
No transfers, cancellations, refunds of any kind.
Changes in paddle distance are permitted until Monday, September 16th. Contact grr@mississippiriverwatertrail.org
In formulating the rules that govern this event, every effort has been made to foresee all situations and problems that may arise; however, officials of the Great Rivers Rendezvous retain the right to change or amend these rules at any time without liability or recourse from any party regardless of the circumstances. Should such changes or amendments be made, every effort will be made to notify all entrants.
Infractions of any rule during the event will be grounds for immediate removal from the event. Participants are given access to the above rules during registration and acknowledge that they will be asked to sign a copy of these rules during event check-in.
OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
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