The Sixth Annual Blazing Paddles Paddlefest is a recreational celebration of Cleveland’s hardworking, scenic, and historic Cuyahoga River. In partnership with the Cuyahoga River Safety Task Force and industrial stakeholders, paddlers will enjoy exclusive access to the Cuyahoga River for five hours to enjoy either an 8.6-mile recreational paddle/float or one of three races (3.2, 6.8 and 14.4-miles). Blazing Paddles serves as a recreational tourism celebration of how Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River has risen like a phoenix since the 1969 fire ignited the global environmental movement. The comeback Cuyahoga River now serves as an economic driver for the region.