Registration  will open fall 2026 for the 2027 Shenandoah Epic Adventure Race!

Shenandoah Epic 2027 — The Race Reimagined

April 10–11, 2027 | Downriver Canoe Company | Bentonville, Virginia

Welcome to the Evolution of Epic.

For 16 years, the Shenandoah Epic has been the East Coast's ultimate test of grit, endurance, and teamwork. Now, the legend gets a bold new format for this year only—and it's unlike anything you've raced before.

The 2027 Shenandoah Epic fuses the relentless momentum of traditional Adventure Racing with the psychological warfare of Backyard Ultra-style racing. Each discipline — paddle, bike, and trek — is its own distinct segment. Finish it. Get back to the start line. Keep moving. Because the clock never waits.

How It Works

Forget everything you thought you knew about transitions. In 2027, the race is structured as a series of individual discipline segments. Teams must complete each segment and return to the start line within a set window of time to punch in for the next. Fall behind the clock? Your race may end there. Stay in the game? The next segment begins.

Day 1

• Paddle segment — navigate the South Fork of the Shenandoah, reading current,      communicating, and pushing pace on one of the most beautiful rivers on the East Coast.

• Bike segment — saddle up and hammer through the rugged terrain of the Massanutten Mountain Range. Legs that paddled now have to climb.

• Trek segment — on foot through Virginia's wildest backcountry. Navigation, elevation, and everything your training prepared you for—and some things it didn't.

Overnight Orienteering Leg - Either after check-in or between Day 1 and Day 2, the race doesn't sleep—and neither will you. An orienteering leg under darkness tests your map-reading, mental clarity, and team resolve.

Day 2

• Bike segment — back in the saddle. Legs that trekked through the night now have to find another gear.

• Trek segment — miles into the race, and the mountains still have more to ask of you.

• Paddle segment — the river that started it all brings it home. 

What's at stake

This isn't just a race — it's 24 hours of cumulative suffering, stunning scenery, and the kind of team chemistry that only comes when everything is on the line. Expect:

• ~25 miles of river paddling

• 25–35 miles of trekking across rugged mountain terrain

• 50–60 miles of mountain biking through the Massanutten Range

Set entirely in one of the most spectacular natural corridors on the East Coast, with Shenandoah National Park to the east and George Washington National Forest to the west, every segment of this race is a test you'll never forget.

Race HQ/Start/Finish: 

• Downriver Canoe Company

• 884 Indian Hollow Road

• Bentonville, VA 22610

• Soloist

• Two-person team

• Three-person team

• Four-person team

We are finalizing the design of the course, but you can expect:

• 25 miles of river paddling

• 25-35 miles of trekking

• 50-60 miles of mountain biking

• Super early registration $285.00 per team member & $310 for soloists until October 31, 2026.

• Early registration $310 per team member & $335 for soloists until December 31, 2026.

• Regular registration $335 per team member & $360 for soloists until February 28, 2027.

• Late registration $360.00 per team member & $385 for soloists until close at midnight on April 4, 2027.

An $10 race day fee (or proof of USARA membership) is required by USARA and can be purchased during registration. If you are purchasing 1-day membership, choose April 10, 2027, as the start date for your membership.

Registration platform fees also apply.

Sunday, April 4, 2027
Pre-race brief - Online at our Facebook page.

Friday, April 9, 2027
Downriver Canoe Company
4:00 pm-8:00 pm: Packet pickup.

Saturday, April 10, 2027
Downriver Canoe Company
884 Indian Hollow Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
6:00 am-7:45 am: Transition setup
9:00 am: Race Start

Sunday, April 11, 2027
Downriver Canoe Company
884 Indian Hollow Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
1:30 pm: Post-race food and awards ceremony
12:00 pm: Course closes

884 Indian Hollow Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
Friday, April 19, 2027
7:00 am - 7:30 am

To make sure your zen and chi are intact on race day, we highly recommend packet pickup on Friday night.

During packet pickup, you will receive race numbers and SWAG. USARA fees of $10 for a one-day race membership, $35 for a yearly membership, or proof of USARA member

Supplied Gear

Canoes, paddles, PFDs, race maps, race passport, ePunch, GPS Tracker, rules of travel.  

Mandatory Gear

Mandatory gear will not be checked during check-in. Random checks on gear will be performed during the race. Penalty points will be assessed for any missing items. These items are not all-inclusive of items you will need to complete the race. You will be out in the elements for up to 24-hours. Bring other equipment as appropriate to get through the event. Final gear list will be published in the Racer Guide.

At all times during the race each racer must have in their possession the following equipment unless otherwise stated in the rules of travel:

• Pack to carry gear

• Enough food for replenishment

• Hydration system (hydration pack, water bottle, etc. with capacity to carry at least 2 liters)

• Headlamp with extra batteries

• Whistle

• Knife with a minimum 2.5-inch blade

• Emergency blanket or bag

• 1 long-sleeve wool blend or other type of insulated top (no cotton)

• Fleece/wool hat/buff

• Waterproof jacket

• Closed-toe shoes must be worn during the entire race (no bare feet or open-toe sandals)

  While biking each racer additionally must have:

• Bike

• Helmet (CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL certified)

• Rear light (must be capable of blinking)

• A front light with enough battery power to last 12 hours.

  While paddling each racer additionally must have:

• PFD Class III non-inflatable (provided by Adventure Enablers)

• Glow sticks for the front and rear of your boat(s)

  Per team:

• ePunch (Provided by Adventure Enablers)

• GPS tracker ((Provided by Adventure Enablers)

• Race maps (Provided by Adventure Enablers)

• Rules of Travel (Provided by Adventure Enablers)

• General Race Rules (Provided by Adventure Enablers)

• Compass

• Lighter

• Fully charged cell phone in a watertight bag

• Dry bag or method of keeping equipment dry in the event of bad weather and during the canoe section

• Bike tool kit and at least one spare bike tube

• Emergency First Aid kit – Teams may use the Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight 0.7 or build their own kit as long as the kit contains the following listed required contents. (8) 2x2 or 3x3 sterile dressing, (2) 3x4 non adherent sterile dressing, (1) conforming gauze bandage, (4) 1x3 adhesive bandage, (3) knuckle adhesive bandage, (1) tape ½”x 10 yards, (1) swift wrap elastic bandage, (8) 200-mg ibuprofen, (2) antihistamine (Diphenhydramine), (2) afterbite sting relief, (1) moleskin, (5) towelettes, (3) antibiotic ointment, (1) tincture of benzoin, (3) butterfly closure bandage, (2) pair nitrile gloves, (1) tweezer,(3) safety pins, (1) duct tape.

Boats will be provided. Two-person and three-person teams will get one canoe. Four-person teams will get two canoes. Soloists will get a kayak. Canoes will come with single-blade paddles. Kayaks will come with double-bladed paddles. PFDs will also be supplied. No outside canoes or kayaks are permitted. Outside paddles and PFDs are permitted. Canoes, paddles, and PFDs will be located at the canoe put in. You will not need to portage the canoe for any great distance, and you will not need to carry paddles or PFDs when you are not on the paddle section. If you bring your own PFD and paddle you will not need to transport them. Personal PFDs must be class III (non-inflatable).

Any style of bike is permitted. Racers must use the same bike throughout the entire race. In the event of mechanical failures, replacement parts can be used but they must be provided by the team, other racers, or an event official. No outside assistance is allowed. Bikes will not be checked for mechanical worthiness, but we recommend your bike be in good working order. The course contains a mix of gravel road, smooth single track, technical single track, and hike-a-bike.  Choose your ride wisely. Front suspension is highly recommended. Full suspension will be quite nice to have. No eBikes.

All transitions will happen at the start/finish line location.

Maps will be at scales 1:24,000 with UTM grid markings along the edge of the map. Maps will be on waterproof paper. All points will be pre-plotted. Maps will be distributed the morning of the race. You will be required to navigate using various types of maps. Map and compass skills are necessary to locate most of the checkpoints. No GPS units are allowed. Teams will receive two sets of maps. Solos will receive one set of maps. Maps are 11x17 double sided. Navigate to: https://bit.ly/3ARl02S for previoius years maps as a sample.

• Main race rules are governed by the most current version of the ARWS Rules of Competition. These are supliimented by the  General Race Rules and the final Rules of Travel distributed on race weekend.

Clikc here to see the competition.

We're providing live tracking for the Shenandoah Epic. Follow your faves the entire 24-hours.  Also, with SportIdent ePunch timing, you will get results as soon as you crawl across the finish line. Post-race, pore over your split times for at least a week.

Prizes will go to the top 3 finishers in each division.

• Solo Male & Female

• 2 Person Male, Female, & Coed

• 3 Person Male, Female, & Coed

• 4 Person Male, Female, & Coed

Looking for things to do or a place to eat while you or your fans are in town? Check out our handy-dandy guide to our hometown!  

Lodging:

Our campground at Golden Rock (Compton) will be available for rustic camping. The campground has bathrooms, water, and an amazing view of the river.  Camping is availbe for $10 per person for the weekend. Trailers and RVs are not recommened.

You can also check out Shenandoah River State Park for cabins, campsites, and RV hookups. A most excellent park to race and stay in.

Address: 350 Daughter of Stars Dr, Bentonville, VA 22610

Phone: (540) 622-6840

Low Water Bridge Campground is about 4 miles from the race start. Lots of racers have stayed here over the years.

Address: 192 Panhandle Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610

Phone: (540) 635-7277

A post race brunch will be served to help you refuel after your 24-hours in the woods.

We'll have a professional photographer on the course trying to catch you wincing, smiling with mud on your teeth, or trying to read a map folded to the size of a postage stamp.

2026 race photos can be found here

2025 race photos can be found here

2024 race photos can be found here

2023 race photos can be found here.

2022 race photos can be found here.

All racers will be required to purchase a race-day USARA membership for $10.00, already have a valid USARA membership, or purchase a 1-year membership ($35) at the time of registrtaion. For one day memberships, select the date of registration for you membership start date.

As a USARA-sanctioned event, we adhere to USARA’s anti-doping policies. It is your (the athlete’s) responsibility to uphold the integrity of the competition and reputation of adventure racing as a clean sport through educated use of supplements, medicines, and other treatments and to understand what is permissible according to USARA standards. Even more important than contributing to a level playing field for all competitors, it is critical that you understand the long-term health issues that stem from improper use of supplements and medications; short-term rewards at the risk of compromising your long-term health are never worth it. We encourage you to spend some time reviewing USARA’s stance on the importance of Ant-Doping, educating yourself through their collection of helpful resources, and understanding the consequences of doping infractions (medicinal, supplemental, or mechanical) by reviewing USARA’s dedicated page to Anti-Doping here.

Click here for information.

We have posted an extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions on the Adventure Enablers web site. Please check this page if you have any questions regarding the race. If you don’t find the answer or need clarification, feel free to email info@adventureenablers.com.

The Shenandoah Epic is part of the following series. You will automatically earn points for each of the series by taking part in the Shenandoah Epic.

United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA)

The USARA National Points Series (NPS) provides an ongoing ranking of teams across the country, based on their race results at USARA-affiliated and USARA-sanctioned events. The calendar of included races is published and updated throughout the season.  

Rankings are computed in three divisions: mixed-3/4; male-3/4; and female-3/4. At the National Championship each year, the top team in each division will be declared the winner of the National Points Series for the previous season.

There is no need to register for the series.  All teams competing in affiliated and sanctioned events are automatically included in the rankings.