Get Ready for Gore Fest! August 24-26th, 2018
Posted: 08/08/2018
By: Evan Stafford
The Gore Canyon Festival is the premiere whitewater event in Colorado. Focused around the Class
IV-V downriver race through Gore Canyon, GoreFest has brought the worlds elite whitewater
athletes together for an awesome end to the Colorado boating season, but it also has events for
everyone. From a family fun float through the class II/III
Hartman Canyon (aka Little Gore Canyon), a freestyle rodeo at the Gore Canyon Whitewater Park,
and SUP downriver and cross races, to the party at Rancho del Rio feauturing camping, live music,
movies, booths, food and drink, you're guaranteed to have a good time.
Part of this operation is conducted on Public Lands under special permit from the U.S. Bureau of
Land Management.
In winter 2015 a whitewater park was built that protects up to 2500 cfs in the Colorado River.
This project was a huge success for many of the stakeholders and especially for all of us who
love to play on the Upper Colorado. The park is located between launch 1 and 2 at the Pumphouse
Recreation Area. It creates a perfect transition from the Class V canyon to the family float to
Radium.
GoreFest now has an event for everyone. With the Gore Race as our main event, we now offer
freestyle rodeo events, a SUP cross and downriver race, and a family float make up this festival
weekend.
IMPORTANT: There are a number of logistics to remember festival weekend..
RAILROAD: absolutely no one allowed on the railroad tracks besides official safety team members.
All spectators should stay river left.
CAMPING: The festival will take place at Rancho del Rio with $10 entry fees to be collected at
the entrance gate. There is ample BLM camping close by as well.
PUT-IN: No cars to be parked at put-in until noon day of race. If you are boating in to spectate
please either have a shuttle driver or use shuttles provided
Event Schedule:
Friday August 24, 2018
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Late Event Registration (All Events) at Rancho del Rio
8:30 pm River Film Screenings
Saturday August 25, 2018
8 am Racer Safety Meeting - MANDATORY for all racers
9 am – 12 pm Shuttles to put in are in operation station personnel at put-in for traffic
control
12 pm Downriver Gore Race Starts with Kayaks then rafts and Angling Clinic at Rancho or Pumphouse
3 pm SUP Cross starts at Pumphouse
Sunday August 26, 2018
11am Start 1st round kayak freestyle at Pumphouse wave
12 pm Downriver SUP race starts at Pumphouse
2pm Final rounds for kayak freestyle at Pumphouse
Volunteer! We need Gore Fest volunteers to
help with event setup, parking, on-site registration, the entrance gate, and the Green Team! If
you are interested, please fill out our online volunteer survey. Volunteers
get free entrance to the event, a free t-shirt, and dedicated volunteers will be entered in a
volunteer-only raffle!
To learn more go to our GoreFest18 page or check
out our Facebook page.
We can't wait to have you join us for a fun weekend of camping & playing on the water!