We are wildly grateful to our Headwaters Event Sponsors for supporting RoundUp
Welcome to the 2025 Packraft RoundUp—our biggest community event and annual fundraiser for the American Packrafting Association. This is more than a few days on the water; it’s how we fuel the work that protects access, promotes safety, and builds the future of packrafting.
Join paddlers from across the country (and a few international ones, too) on Idaho’s stunning South Fork Payette River.
Whether you’re here to improve your skills, connect with river friends, or just enjoy the ride, your participation directly supports APA’s mission—and helps keep the stoke alive for years to come.
June 9 update: Just 20 tickets left
Google Map Location HERE
*NEW for 2025* Paddling skills courses hosted by Cascade Raft & Kayak.
Register here: Friday 9 AM | Friday 1 PM | Saturday 9 AM | Saturday 1 PM
Swiftwater courses offered by Swiftwater Safety Institute on July 8 & 9 (optional add-on cost)
Update 6/1/25: We have sold HALF of the tickets. Get yours before we are sold out!
We are stoked to have you join us for community, education, safety, fun and laughs! Please note that only those with a RoundUp ticket will be admitted into the campground and we expect to sell out. Limited space available so buy your tickets early to get a spot!
Four nights of camping and community at Hot Springs Campground with parking pass!
Friday night group meal hosted by APA followed by Packraft Olympics. This year's theme: Let's get western– yeehaw! Be sure to flaunt your best cowboy fringe, flare and rhinestones.
Opportunity to meet/greet with APA board members and other packrafting peeps to expand your paddling community.
Access to all planned RoundUp events, speakers, workshops, socials, evening gatherings, workshops and laughs! See schedule below.
Attend the vendor showcase to learn about new products and river gear.
Big A$$ gear raffle with thousands of dollars in prizes and to take home! Huge shout-out to our amazing sponsors and donors that make the APA wheels turn.
The APA Packraft RoundUp is our biggest fundraiser and community gathering of the year—bringing paddlers from across the country (and international river buddies, too!) to connect, learn, and have fun on the water.
Since 2013, RoundUps have united the packrafting community to explore new rivers, improve skills, and build friendships. In 2025, we’re heading to Idaho’s beautiful Payette River system, with a range of river sections suited for both beginners and seasoned paddlers. This event runs on community energy—thanks to passionate volunteers and the support of APA members.
To show our appreciation, APA members receive discounted registration.Come paddle, grow your skills, and celebrate the spirit of packrafting with us!
On-water activities during the 2025 Packraft RoundUp are officially sanctioned and provided only through Cascade Raft & Kayak (CRK) and Swiftwater Safety Institute (SSI), professional outfitters with certified guides and appropriate insurance. These activities include scheduled instructional workshops offered in partnership with the American Packrafting Association (APA). Any and all other paddling or water-based activities undertaken outside of the outfitter-led workshops are considered informal and are done solely at the discretion of the individual. These activities are not part of the official APA RoundUp programming and are independent of the APA. All participants are solely responsible for their own safety, decision-making, and risk management on the water. This includes—without limitation—evaluating river conditions, assessing personal skills, using proper safety gear, and choosing appropriate companions. The APA does not endorse or authorize any individual to guide, instruct, or lead others on the water outside of sanctioned offerings, and assumes no liability for such actions. By participating in any paddling activity during the RoundUp—whether organized or informal—you acknowledge and accept full responsibility for your safety and choices.
More details coming soon. Schedule is subject to change.
Before you email us, please take a peek at the frequently asked questions below.
Sanctioned Roundup paddling is only offered through licensed instructors and clinics managed by Cascade Raft & Kayak and Swiftwater Safety Institute as noted on the schedule of events. APA does not offer any other guided paddling.
This event originated and remains a platform for packrafters to come together and expand their packrafting community. We are committed to facilitating connections among packrafters through our nightly evening activities, fostering opportunities for participants to meet and organize paddling groups.
⚠ Professional on-the-water paddling instruction and learning is not offered by any other APA attendees, staff or board of directors.
Our friends at Idaho River Sports in Boise rent packrafts that you can snag on your way to the campground. Backcountry Packraft Rentals will ship you a packraft to use at the event (please thoroughly clean this before and after use to prevent spread of aquatic invasive species).
⚠ If you are looking for professional instruction, we recommend you register for one of the courses led by Swiftwater Safety Institute or Cascade Raft & Kayak.
Only if you have signed up for a guided and instructional class for skill development. The APA Roundup has a rich history of fostering inclusivity for novice packrafters. However, it's important to understand your own abilities before attempting more challenging rivers. When you step up your game in a friendly setting versus instructional setting, you are putting yourself and others at risk. The APA Education & Safety Committee is committed to providing resources on self-assessment and risk management, both for the Roundup and beyond. Empowering packrafters to make informed decisions helps us all paddle safer and smarter. We will be working on and sharing these resources leading up to the 2024 Roundup. Thank you for paddling within your limits and pursuing skill enhancement in the proper environment with qualified instructors.
⚠ If you are looking for professional instruction, we recommend you register for one of the courses led by Swiftwater Safety Institute or Cascade Raft & Kayak.
↠ It is strongly recommended that you leave your dog at home. Temperatures at the 2024 RoundUp were 100+ and it did not seem like a good environment for anyone or anything covered in fur.
↠ Dogs cannot be left unattended at any point during the event at the campground.
↠ Owners must cleanup after pets.
↠ Well-behaved dogs are allowed but we really want to avoid awkward situations to please be sure your dog can meet high behavioral standards. Well-behaved meets the following description: verbal recall on first callback, no barking, trustworthy around other pets and other humans (especially small humans), no camp robbers, no chasing wildlife.
↠ If there is discomfort or a polite request to remove your dog from the event due to repeat complaints, thank you in advance for your understanding and compliance. There will be no refunds in this situation. We love the pooches, but they are secondary to the humans' RoundUp experience, enjoyment, and learning. Dogs are allowed only if they are licensed, vaccinated for rabies, leashed and well-behaved.
Heck yeah you can! We love volunteers. You are something special and we so appreciate your generous energy and time.
For 2025 we are asking that all volunteers buy a ticket and your entry will be reimbursed after the event and reduced to $100. Sadly, some folks in the past have taken advantage of a free ticket and did not volunteer as promised, so we'll kindly ask that you sign up and purchase a ticket regularly. We'll happily refund your ticket cost post-event and thank you profusely for your volunteer time. Thank you for understanding and cheers to the great karma you'll rack up for your good deeds.
Volunteers will be asked to assist for 1 day out of the weekend. On your volunteer day please be prepared at the headquarters tent to sign the volunteer form. You must show up for AM and PM timeframes to earn your volunteer discount. Duties may include guest check-in, raffle ticket sales, admin needs in the HQs tent, taking trash to the camp dumpsters, picking up trash in the AM, parking pass patrol, setting up for workshops, etc. Food management should be considered on your volunteer day (get up early to eat and have something ready and easy to cook/eat for the evening).
↠ Morning time: be ready to help at 7am.
↠ Daytime: do your thang.
↠ Afternoon: back at camp by 5pm to help with evening acitivites.
Please get on the volunteer list by emailing us (roundup@packraft.org) and stay tuned. We'll send out volunteer sign-ups in late June when we are better organized.
☑ Are you a shutterfly or amateur photographer? If you are skilled with GoPro, smartphone, or other type of camera and can help us collect footage or photos for future outreach (especially on the water), we hope to gather your clips and pics if you are willing to share. We have some friendly requests and sidebars for what we need/want. Please email us and we'll share more background and details. Please contact us no later than July 1 so we have some time to plan with you. Thank you.
If you have additional questions about volunteering, free free to email us.
↠ Only registered Roundup attendees are allowed to camp and attend RoundUp activities. No exceptions. Thank you for understanding as we are a nonprofit and this is a community, educational and fundraising event.
↠ Camping is permitted in the designated APA group sites.
↠ Trailers are discouraged due to limited parking space. Also, no hookups provided.
↠ Dogs are discouraged from attending. They are not very good at holding onto paddles in the water.
↠ Open fires outside of designated campfire pits are not allowed. No glass containers, please recycle.
↠ Please clean up after yourself, do not leave food or food containers attended or out overnight.
------ IMPORTANT NOTICES BELOW ------
↠ NOTE: There is no electricity at the campsite. Please plan accordingly.
↠ Generators are permitted, but not after 10pm and not before 6am.
↠ NO CELL SERVICE AT CAMPGROUND
We have all three group campsites reserved for 2025. Parking is limited and you'll be given a parking pass at check-in that you must display at all times while at camp (or you'll be asked to leave by the camp host overlords). Please find a friend and carpool if possible.
Camping will be first come first serve at check in. APA does not reserve sites for people ahead of time so show up on time to get your favorite spot. APA has paid for all three group campsites for all RoundUp attendees, but you are also welcome to check the USFS site if you would like to reserve an individual site of your own (if available at your own cost). Campground details HERE.
Check out Riverpond Campground (Justin is your guy) just 4 miles down the road towards Crouch, ID on the middle fork if you have an RV or want some elbow room. You can also hunker down at Uncle Billy Bob's Redneck Trailer Vacation Rentals for added spice. They fill up fast for summer reservations so don't dally!
Parking is limited at the campground. Parking is limited at the campground. Louder for those in the back: parking is limited at the campground, so we encourage folks to carpool. There is an APA Packraft Roundup page where you can post about ride sharing. You will be given a parking pass at check-in and required to display this pass for entry into the campground and at all times while parked at RoundUp.
Crouch, ID is the nearest local town and where you can find Garden Valley Market, a medium-sized grocery store, for your shopping and camping needs and The Dirty Shame Saloon can fulfill your live music and other shameful needs. You can fill up your gas tank and get the essentials at Chevron Food Mart just down the road as well. Thanks for supporting the local community! NOTE: please be aware that the 2024 RoundUp campground is not far from a small airstrip and shooting range.
We'll be sharing a group campsite so thank you in advance for being conscientious. Campsite details can be found at this link HERE. There is little to no cell reception at the campsite so please plan accordingly. Nearest cell signal is the Chevron about 5 miles down the road.
BRING FOR CAMPING:
↠ CAMPING: Car-camping gear (please be aware of early and late hours for slamming car doors, talking and late-night chill sessions). Please bring all supplies needed for self-sufficient car camping including cleaning stations, water bins, proper food/gear storage, and cook items.
↠ MEALS: Group dinner is provided and hosted by APA on Friday, July 11 (tacos baby!). APA Board Members are making breakfast burritos on Sunday, July 13. You're on your own for other meals.
↠ KITCHEN: Bring your own plates, utensils, cups and mugs for APA meals.
↠ WORKSHOPS/SPEAKERS: Bring a camp chair and/or blanket for evening workshops and speakers.
↠ HOT SPRINGS: Remember your swimsuit to enjoy a soak in the hot springs that dot the riverway.
↠ COLD HARD CASH: You'll need this for day-use river access on the Payette, if you want to buy tickets for our big a$$ raffle and other incidentals.
AVOID:
▪ Please do not bring one-use plastics such as disposable water bottles, plastic silverware or non-recyclable products. Recycling will be hauled away after the event.
▪ Please do not bring glass containers.
BRING FOR PADDLING:
↠ US Coast Guard approved PFD (type III or V is best)
↠ Whitewater-specific helmet
↠ Exposure/thermal protection (drysuits are encouraged, also wetsuit, dry top, etc)
↠ Self-bailing or whitewater decked packraft
↠ Throw bag
↠ Spare paddle
↠ Dry bags and clips to secure your gear
We're so glad you asked! Yes, we would love to add a few more passionate souls to our leadership line-up. You can help shape the future of packrafting and put your fingerprints all over the great work we do. Yes, there are meetings, paperwork, fundraising chores, committees, decisions and all the "business things". There is also paddling, good times, comradery, laughs and the amazing feeling of watching a young sport take off! Please talk to us at RoundUp or send us an email if you'd like to get more involved. You can also become a member at large on the Board of Directors, a regional volunteer in your local area, or a fired-up helper that steps in to help as needed, when you can. We could use the help and deeply appreciate folks that can bring stoke for both paddling AND planning.
Drop us an email and we'll get back to you during business hours. Please allow 48 hours for reply.
ContactGet on the volunteer list and we'll reach out with more when plans are firmed up. Thank you.
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