Chattajack 31, Chattanooga, TN (2026)

The race will begin in Chattanooga TN, travels 31 miles downstream through the Tennessee River Gorge ending at Hales Bar Marina on Nickajack Lake. Race Details:
Race will begin 8:30 AM with a mass start. The course will pass Lookout Mountain and Moccasin Bend before traveling through, the Tennessee River Gorge. After traveling the entire gorge the race will end at Hale’s Bar Marina in Nickajack La

ke. Racers are required to have a PFD, feel free to bring low profile CO2 inflatable or traditional style PFD. Leashes are optional. Drafting is allowed within class. A few people have asked if this section of river contains rapids or rocks. There are not rapids and the river is deep enough for barges, yachts, etc to travel up and down. Races begin at 8:30 AM with meeting at 7:30 AM. Please be at race start with board and personal gear by 7 AM. Support for racers:
3 aid stations will provide water and food supplies to racers during their 31-mile push. We've also reserved the Pot House so if racers need a break they can stop to rest, rehydrate, and refuel for the final half. Chattajack Race Divisions:
SUP: 12'6", 14', Unlimited
Prone
Kayak
Surf Ski
Outrigger Canoe
Tandem Divisions will be added as needed during registration. Spectators:
The Chattajack racecourse is perfect for family and friends that want to view the action or cheer on racers. The gorge is accessible by vehicle so we encourage spectators to cheer on racers from stopping points along the way! Fun Things Around Chattanooga After the Race:
If you are a visitor to Chattanooga and looking for something fun to do on Sunday (day after race) feel free to let us know how much time you have and if you are looking for something wild or mild and we’ll make a recommendation for you before you make your way home. RootsRated has some great ideas on things to do. Cool Vid showcasing Chattanooga:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp7t7-kuGXs&feature=player_embedded

Volunteers:
If you are interested in volunteering for the race please email: [email protected]

For more information please visit our website at www.chattajack.com

09/04/2026

A HUGE THANK-YOU TO OUR 2026 CHATTAJACK SPONSORS!
Chattajack would not be possible without the folks who believe in this race and the community surrounding it. Their support helps us create the experience from the starting line to the finish deep inside the Tennessee River Gorge.

We are incredibly grateful to Riverdance and River Gorge Ranch, our premier host at the new Chattajack finish and take-out. Their generosity has opened the door for an exciting new chapter in the race and gives us the opportunity to create something truly special at the finish line.

We’re also proud to welcome the support of:

The Chattanooga Heart Institute
Tennessee River Gorge Trust
The Sports and Event Corp
Hüma Chia Energy Gel(our official nutrition sponsor)
SweetWater Brewing Company(our official b**r sponsor)
Joe Bark Paddleboards
Flying Fish Board Co
ARE Tahiti
Epic Kayaks & Paddles
Shoreline Paddlesports
Mayfield CreameryMayfield Dairy Farms
Composite Engineering
148 Films.
Fly The Ama
K2N Robert Norman
Quickblade Paddles
Surftech

Racers can look forward to HÜMA nutrition, Mayfield chocolate milk at the finish, and cold SweetWater b**r served in Chattajack pint glasses as we celebrate the day. And yes—the 2026 b**r permit & 2026 CJ pint glasses are in hand!
The Tennessee River Gorge Trust will operate the raffle at Chattajack's Basecamp tent, with proceeds supporting the protection of the incredible river gorge through which our racers travel.

Several of these sponsors will have vendor booths at Basecamp throughout the day on Friday. Be sure to stop by, meet the people behind these businesses, check out their products and ideas, and see what’s new in the paddling community.

Since the inception of Chattajack, this community has helped raise more than $120,000 for the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. This year’s raffle is also shaping up to be something extraordinary. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, prizes are expected to include:
SUP from Joe Bark Paddleboards
SUP from Flying Fish Board Co.
A V1 OC-1 from ARE Tahiti
An Epic vessel from Epic Kayaks

We are deeply appreciative of every sponsor who has stepped forward to support Chattajack. Whether they are providing the finish-line property, nutrition, beverages, equipment, funding, logistical assistance, or prizes, each one is helping make the 2026 race possible.

There's still time to join!
If your business or organization would like to become part of Chattajack 2026, support this extraordinary paddling community, and connect with racers from across the country and around the world, we would love to hear from you ([email protected]).
The countdown is on. The Tennessee River Gorge is waiting. And with the support of these incredible partners, Chattajack 2026 is shaping up to be one we will never forget.

09/01/2026

Every year, Chattajack is supported by an incredible team of public safety professionals and volunteers. A sincere thank you to the United States Coast Guard, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, Marion County Sheriff's Office, and the Chattanooga Police Department. Their officers and crews, along with our volunteer support boats and medical team, work throughout race day to help keep participants safe.

Chattajack is officially permitted by both the U.S. Coast Guard and TWRA for the full course. And the Coast Guard is again providing an official river closure for the opening miles. While we have an outstanding safety team on the water, every racer can help make the event even safer.

We strongly encourage participants to consider adding a small waterproof strobe to their gear. High-vis clothing is never a bad choice either. We've occasionally encountered fog inversions (especially early morning race day) that can reduce visibility. A strobe doesn’t just make you easier to see—it can also help PROTECT EVERYONE AROUND YOU. A flashing light catches a passing boater's eye, prompts them to slow down and scan, and in doing so, they may notice nearby paddlers who are harder to see.

Small choices like these make the CJ support-boat team’s job significantly easier and help them keep everyone safe—so high five for doing your part! The collective focus on safety shown by our partners, volunteers, and participants through the years has helped make Chattajack one of the safest and most rewarding paddle events in the country.

A few additional housekeeping notes:

We are still recruiting finish-line volunteers at the new River Gorge Ranch take-out. Volunteers will help welcome racers ashore, distribute medals and nutrition, direct participants toward vessel storage and shuttle loading, and assist with the overall finish-line experience.

We already have a great group of medical volunteers and support-boat captains signed up, but we are continuing to recruit more of both. These are some of the most unique ways to experience Chattajack. Because so much of the course travels through remote sections of the Tennessee River Gorge where traditional spectating is extremely difficult, serving aboard a support boat gives you a true front-row seat to the race while also performing an essential role in keeping our paddlers safe.

Finally, team captains: please encourage your partners to complete their registrations as soon as possible.
If you would like to volunteer at the finish line, serve as a medical volunteer, or captain a support boat, we would love to hear from you.
www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F48A4AD2EA7F58-65038929-volunteers #/

08/22/2026

The 2026 Chattajack field is taking shape—and it’s already an incredible one!

The current lineup includes 753 participants (ages 15 - 78) representing 39 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and six countries—and that number will continue to grow as teammates from multi-person vessels finish their individual registrations. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Chattanooga!

A friendly reminder for our multi-person craft teams: The official deadline for all team members to complete their registration is September 15. However, if you want to guarantee that your selected athletic-shirt size will be waiting for you onsite at registration, please complete your individual registration by Tuesday, August 25.

We work hard to source a great vendor and provide every Chattajack participant with the best possible product. Giving our vendor the proper production time helps them deliver the quality everyone expects in time for race weekend.

Captains, please give your crew a friendly nudge—and teammates, help us get those registrations across the finish line!

If you have questions about your registration or need assistance from our event team, please email [email protected].

08/12/2026

CJ Friends and Family, we have started pulling together the amazing army of volunteers that make this race possible each year. If you would like to be a part of the excitement this year, and spend the day or weekend in one of the most beautiful places on earth, please check out the 2026 Volunteer Packet to see the benefits of being a Chattajack Volunteer and read about the possible ways you can help. Then, use Sign Up Genius to secure your spot.

We can't say 'thank you' enough to everyone who has helped make 14 years of Chattajack possible. This race is truly one "by paddlers and for paddlers".
PS: You CAN absolutely race AND volunteer! There are lots of opportunities to help on Thursday, Friday, Saturday evening and Sunday!
PSS: We always needs LOTS of help at the finish line!!

Volunteer Packet (details & job descriptions):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18qtM98Tz2pDZl9nglB-SKNrzRDlCDMW2v9oqhAbtNEI/edit?usp=sharing
After you take a look at the Volunteer Packet, Sign Up Here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F48A4AD2EA7F58-65038929-volunteers #/

08/11/2026

A cool down mile for a whole new finish experience!!

For years, we’ve been thinking about what the finish of Chattajack could become — not simply a place to get off the water, but a place worthy of the experience that brought you there.

We wanted more for participants and more for the incredible volunteers who give their time to create the CJ vibe.

This year, that vision is finally coming to life.

Through our new partnership with River Gorge Ranch / Riverdance, we're creating an entirely new Chattajack finish-line experience — our very own Chattajack Village on the Tennessee River.

A place to finish. A place to recover. A place to celebrate after a nice race through the Tennessee River gorge.

We are incredibly grateful to the entire River Gorge Ranch / Riverdance team for believing in what we’re building and for working alongside us to bring something we’ve envisioned for a long time to life.

Also, a huge thank you to our longtime friends and videography partners at 148 Films. for once again helping us tell the Chattajack story. You guys have been capturing this event and this community through your lens for years, and we’re incredibly grateful to have you along for this next chapter.

05/01/2026

Congrats Robert Norman on being the first Chattajack registered racer! You are a cyber ninja and a darn fast waterman as well! Congrats to everyone who got a seat in the 2026 Chattajack race, the event is officially sold out! We are speechless once again. Thank you all so so much, now get some rest!!

Address

Chattanooga, TN
37405

Website

http://www.chattajack.com/

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