Kick off your summer and Water Safety Awareness Month with a paddle across Utah Lake! Beginning at Sandy Beach and ending at Lincoln Beach Marina, the Paddle With Care event is Utah Lake’s first water event of the year.
This annual event will include a memorial paddle route and a celebration – after the paddlers have launched, the Utah Lake Authority will be hosting educational booths, food trucks, and games at Lincoln Beach. Participants of the paddling portion of this event may paddle via kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. If paddle sports don’t suit you, you can still enjoy the celebration at the marina.
As part of this event, the Utah Lake Authority will be fundraising for the Utah Lake Life Jacket Loaner Program: an initiative to promote water safety awareness and make life jackets more readily available for public use at the lake. This program is in partnership with the families of Priscilla Bienkowski and Sophia Hernandez, two friends who lost their lives at Utah Lake in 2020. The Utah Lake Authority and the families are implementing a lake-wide life jacket loaner program and community outreach to improve water safety. We will also be honoring the Utah County Search and Rescue along with remembering those who have lost their lives on the lake.
Who: We welcome all paddle sport enthusiasts! Whether you kayak, paddleboard, canoe, or anything else non-motorized.
What: There will be a paddling route for paddle sports. A fundraiser for water safety. A celebration with games, food, and educational booths. All in memory of those that have lost their lives on the lake and in honor of Utah Search and Rescue. This is NOT a competition paddle event.
Where: TBD. We will announce location details closer to the event date.
When: May 17th, 2025. Launch begins at 9 AM. Festivities will begin at 9:30 AM and go until after paddlers reach the endpoint around 12 PM.
Why: To spread the joy of paddle sports, raise awareness about water safety, have fun and eat good food, honor search and rescue, and remember those who have died on the lake.
Stay Safe
This event is all about safety! We expect each paddler to provide their own personal water craft (paddle board, kayak or canoe) and gear, INCLUDING safety gear. We will provide safety training to all paddlers before launch and will have boats along the paddle route for monitoring and resting points for paddlers.
Register for the Event
To participate in the paddling portion of this event, all paddlers must register through the form linked below. Paddlers are required to contribute donations in order to participate, and more information is provided in the registration form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
No payment is required, just encouraged to support the cause! Paddlers may either pay $25 out of pocket at registration or collect $25+ in donations from sponsors. Sponsorships help build the community of the event and help to raise additional donations. Complete the registration form for more information.
How old must I be to participate?
Participants of the paddle portion must be 18 or older. The celebration at the marina is open to all ages and will be a family-friendly environment.
Do I have to paddle?
No! If paddling isn’t your thing, join us for the celebration at 9:30 AM. There will be games, food, education booths, and activities going on until 12 PM. If you have a friend or relative who will be paddling, don’t worry! They will join you at the celebration as soon as they complete the route.
Do I have to provide my own equipment?
Yes – should you choose to participate in the paddle portion, you will be required to provide all your own gear and equipment. This includes safety equipment.