June 7th - 11th, 2023
Junction City, California
The Packraft Roundup is back for 2023! Join us for what might just be the largest annual gathering of packrafters in the nation. This event started as, and continues to be, a way for packrafters to meet fellow packrafters and broaden their community.
DATES June 7 - 11, 2023.
Check in starts the afternoon of June 7 and official Roundup activities start June 8!
LOCATION Junction City, CA. Camping will be at Junction City Park.
REGISTRATION $150 APA Member / $195 Non-APA Member. Discounted registrations for attendees under 18 and students with proof of enrollment. Contact roundup@packraft.org for info. Registration is required to attend.
Current APA members received a unique code to register at member price. Didn't receive your code? Email us to get it, or we can apply the discount retroactively.
REFUNDSThere is a non-refundable processing fee of $50 on all refunds. A full refund, less the fee, is available up to 14 days prior to the event. No refunds within 14 days of the event.
The APA roundup is back for 2023 and we're excited to explore a new location! This event started as, and continues to be, a way for packrafters to meet fellow packrafters and broaden their community.
Since 2013, hundreds of packrafters have made new friends and paddled new rivers at APA Roundups in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado. Roundup locations are chosen for their variety of accessible river sections, which allow both beginners and experts to find nearby outings that suit them.
The Trinity River hosts a variety of runs, from miles of lazy, meandering floats interspersed with class II rapids, to longer whitewater sections through gorges to hidden tributaries well worth exploring.
Roundup registration for 2023 is reduced for APA Members. Join APA to get discounted pricing!
Registration includes 4 nights of camping at Junction City Park, a communal meal, a speaker (TBD), a fundraising raffle and plenty of socializing opportunities with paddlers from across the country. Children five years old and younger attend for free.
We've made the decision to not sanction volunteer-led outings at this year's Roundup. Any paddling you choose to do will be solely on your own and at your discretion, independent of the APA sponsored event. See more information below (What's Not Included).
This event started as, and continues to be, a way for packrafters to meet fellow packrafters and broaden their community. Whether you’re coming solo for the first time, or coming back with friends who you met at previous Roundups, this year’s Roundup will be a great way to meet other packrafters and find future trip partners! We look forward to hosting you for a community meal, sponsor-led clinics from Kokopelli, Alpacka & more, a gear swap, an opportunity to win new gear in the raffle, a user submitted film screening and presentations from local organizations, including CalWild! We’re excited for this year’s lineup and we can’t wait to see you there!
SCHEDULE AND CAMPING
The schedule is subject to change. The tentative schedule is:
Wednesday June 7 - Check in and registration starts at 4 PM
Thursday June 8 - Packrafter social 6 PM
Friday June 9 - Community meal 6 PM, followed by the user submitted film festival at 7 PM
Saturday June 10 - Raffle and presentations from CalWild + another TBA organization!
Sunday June 11 - Checkout by 12 PM
Your Roundup registration includes 4 nights of camping at Junction City Park. We chose this location for its proximity to the Trinity River, which offers a variety of runs for every level of paddler!
JUNCTION CITY PARK CAMPING RULES:
Tent camping is permitted in the designated tent camping area
A limited number of trailers will be allowed - no hookups provided. Contact Roundup@packraft.org if you plan to bring a trailer
Dogs are allowed if they are licensed, vaccinated for rabies, and leashed. They cannot be left unattended at any point during the event. Cleanup after your dog!
Open fires outside of designated BBQ pits are not allowed (no Solo Stoves).
No glass containers
We’ve made the decision to remove on-water activities as a sanctioned activity at this year’s Roundup. Volunteer-led outings have long been a part of the Roundup, however we realize that somewhere along the way, these outings developed the reputation of being “guided” paddles. These outings were never intended to include formal instruction from a certified guide or instructor. APA doesn’t currently have the capacity to vet volunteer trip leaders to a point where we feel comfortable continuing to include such outings as part of the Roundup.
That being said, you are more than welcome to paddle, form your own paddling groups and offer to lead less experienced paddlers down a stretch of river, with the understanding that your time on the water will be strictly on your own, independent time.
For anyone looking for formal instruction, see below.
Swiftwater Safety Institute (SSI) is offering a swiftwater rescue training course and a basic packraft skills course prior to the Roundup. APA is not involved in operating these courses and they are not part of the Roundup - you need to register separately with SSI. Both courses will take place June 6 - 7, immediately prior to the Roundup.
REC-I Swiftwater Rescue Training: This is an entry level swiftwater rescue course designed for anyone who wants to
acquire knowledge essential for running whitewater rivers more safely. This course is geared specifically towards recreational river runners whose focus is primarily on gaining river rescue experience and a basic working knowledge of whitewater safety and rescue techniques. Cost $350 per person paid to SSI + $25 camping fee to APA.
Basic Packraft Paddling Clinic: A course designed to introduce essential packrafting knowledge to anyone who is
interested in running whitewater rivers in packrafts. This course focuses on basic paddling and river running skills—with the more specific focus of safely and successfully paddling packrafts on any river with class I-III- whitewater. Cost $375 per person paid to SSI + $25 camping fee to APA.
You can register for either course on the SSI website. A group campground at the roundup location has been reserved for the nights of June 5 & 6 for course participants and will be paid to APA.
DISCLAIMER: This is an opportunity for courses around the time of the Roundup, but are separate from the Roundup and from APA. These trainings are provided by SSI and permitted by the USFS.
We ask all participants to please make an effort to commute with others if possible. The community-run Roundup participants' Facebook group is a good place to find people to carpool. Click here for detailed driving directions.
Closest airports to Junction City:
San Francisco International Airport - 5 hours. Sonoma County Airport Express will take you from SFO to several North Bay towns where car rentals may be cheaper.
Oakland International Airport - 4.5 hours
Sacramento International Airport - 3.25 hours
Medford Airport - 3.5 hours
Redding Regional Airport -1.25 hours
Arcata-Eureka Airport -1.75 - 2 hours
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