Root River Triathlon

The race begins with a 6.8-mile canoe or kayak paddle along the Root River. The starting point is located at the mining area on the north side of the Root River Bridge, just before entering the town of Houston on Highway 76. Participants will paddle downstream to Mound Prairie (an easy route!). Upon arrival, a welcoming committee of Boy Scouts will be there to assist you in disembarking and transitioning to the biking portion of the race. Leave the task of landing your canoe or kayak to the scouts—they are experienced and will ensure you safely reach dry land!

When you come ashore, be sure to cross the timing mat to ensure your canoeing time is recorded. If you miss the mat, your time will not be captured.

After picking up your bike and putting on your helmet, turn left onto County Road 25 towards Houston. Watch out for other traffic, such as cars and farming machinery. You'll ride on a smooth paved road with some challenging hills. At the end of County Road 9, turn left onto Highway 76 and cross the bridge over the Root River. Then, turn right onto the levee and proceed to the bike transition area to start the running portion. Remember to cross both timing mats.

The run begins by going over the levee. At the end of the levee trail, turn left and cross Highway 16, where volunteers will be present to guide you. Follow the arrows on the road towards Houston and pay close attention to the volunteers' directions, especially when crossing Highway 76 (you'll cross it twice!).

After crossing the finish line, return your chip timer to a volunteer. Please note that there is a $30.00 fee for any missing timer chips.

Root River Triathlon Route Map

The routes for 2024 will be the same as previous years. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the 2024 race routes, please feel free to contact us rootrivertriathlon@gmail.com