New shuttle services at the Ridgway RiverFest in 2025
The annual Ridgway RiverFest is known for its river races including the Junk of the Unc homemade watercraft competition. Besides the talented Ouray Mountain Rescue Team kayakers, who accompany the racers and show off their skills before the race, people may not know that “pleasure” floaters also show up to enjoy the Uncompahgre River during the festival. This year, non-racers who want to float on paddleboards, duckies and other boats will have a service to pick them up at a river take-out.
“RiverFest is a great day for anyone wanting to float the Unc to come out and enjoy some drinks, music and other fun before or after their float. For our 17th annual event, a new company and RiverFest sponsor, Best Slope Adventure Company, will also provide a van ride and haul boats and SUPs on its trailer back from Dennis Weaver Park a few times throughout the day,” explained RiverFest Coordinator Tanya Ishikawa.
Racers and Junk competitors also get free shuttles back from their finish lines as a regular part of the race organization.
The nonprofit Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP) puts on the free community festival at Rollans Park in Ridgway on June 28, the last Saturday every June. For 2025, the organization has also arranged for free van rides from TelluRides between Montrose and Ridgway. The Ridgway-based transportation company and RiverFest sponsor will provide scheduled rides for festival goers from Montrose and further north, who can park in Montrose, ride to the festival, and get a ride back.
“We are hoping that people take advantage of our TelluRides service so they don’t have to find a parking space on festival day in Ridgway and they can save some carbon emissions by not driving separately. Plus, we think this is a great service for those who can’t drive or who want to have a drink or two at the festival and return safely to Montrose,” said Ishikawa who is also the executive director of UWP.
Montrose van riders need to reserve their seats in advance on the RiverFest website: ridgwayriverfest.org. River racers and pleasure floaters just need to check in at the UWP Information Booth on festival day. Information about check-in times, race registration, and other details is also available online or by emailing ridgwayriverfest@gmail.com.
“It’s important that all who float on the river during RiverFest wear life jackets, a helmet and proper footwear. The day is for fun so we want everyone to practice safe river recreation, to help avoid injuries and other accidents,” she cautioned.
The top prizes for the Junk of the Unc this year are a $500 boat rental from Ridgway State Park courtesy of Colorado Parks & Wildlife and a $200 guided raft trip or equipment rental from Best Slope Adventure Company. Other prizes will be given to the first place winners in the paddleboard, hard shell and inflatable boat race categories, plus nine top finishers in the Junk and other races will be awarded a glass trophy from Ouray Glassworks and Pottery, donated by Canyon Bridge.
This year’s festival has an expanded exhibitor section with lots of local information, giveaways, games, and other activities. Second Chance Humane Society brings adoptable pets, 4Corners River Sports will have demo gear, Delta Compost will give away free compost, and more than a dozen RiverFest sponsors and UWP partners will be there, too. UWP will have an updated watershed information and activity booth with several ways to learn about local water conditions, projects, and science from educators and scientists.
The silent auction is similar to last year’s large selection with around 50 great products and services to bid on. The highest priced auction item is a guided Via Ferrata trip for four people from Basecamp Ouray, and other items range from restaurant certificates to art, adventure backpacks, and local camping and lodging stays.
As usual, the festival includes local brews from Colorado Boy, margaritas from The Liquor Store and Ridgway Mountain Market, and food trucks, Marchio’s Grill and Cedars Mediterranean this year. And Tellurides’ original jam band, Joint Point, will offer tasty tunes. For festival schedule, go online to ridgwayriverfest.org/events. For information about UWP, go online to: uncompahgrewatershed.org.
Nearly 100 businesses, organizations and individuals donated to this year’s festival to keep it free to festival goers and to support the nonprofit’s year-round activities in watershed monitoring, restoration, and stewardship. The Class VI sponsor is Alpine Bank, and Class V sponsors are Black Hills Energy, Double RL Ranch, Newmont, RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service, and Wolfpaw Ranch.
CLASS I & Additional Sponsors
Alpacka Raft • Basecamp 550 • Dickerson Construction Inc • Dr. Abigail Seaver, ND • Down River Equipment • Fishbone Graphics and Printing • Floating Lotus Brewery • Judi Chamberlin & Dave Jones • Kane Scheidegger Fine Art Photography • The Mac Doctor, LLC • Ridgway Office Supply and Mercantile • Sauvage Spectrum Estate Winery & Vineyard • Seek Outside • http://www.voyagebooks.org • Werner Paddles • Bachelor Syracuse Mine Tour INC • Chow Down Pet Supplies • Greenwood’s • Philip E Harrold • MyTopo • Natural Grocers Montrose, CO • Ouray Brewery • San Juan Accounting • Davis Strauss • True Grit Café
