Outdoor recreation enthusiasts and those looking for fun weekend activities are invited to attend the Kickapoo Brave Ride and Paddle Challenge on August 23 and August 24 in Gays Mills. The Paddle Challenge on the Kickapoo River will launch on Saturday afternoon, while the Kickapoo Brave Ride will start Sunday morning.

On Saturday evening at 7 pm, event goers will enjoy a bonfire at the Kickapoo Stump Dodger Campground in Gays Mills, and listen to the sounds of ‘Untamed,’ a band from Platteville that “plays rock covers, but are also starting to write their own music.” The general public is welcome to attend. Campsites are available for those looking to get a head start on the Brave Ride the next morning.

The Kickapoo Brave Ride has been a popular event for regional bicyclists since 2008, with routes that take riders through some of the most scenic landscapes in the Midwest. The ride will feature a new cloverleaf route system, which will allow riders to choose from beginner, intermediate, and advanced ‘loops’ ranging from 15 to 39 miles.  Loops can be combined to achieve rides from 15 to 116 miles in length. Each loop will return to the Stump Dodger Campground for a rest stop before continuing on a different leg. Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. at the Campground with a mass start at 8 a.m., Sunday.

The Paddle Challenge is a new addition this year, giving participants a real feel for the scenic character of the Kickapoo Valley from the seat of a canoe. The Paddle will travel from the County B Bridge to Kickapoo Stump Dodger Campground, with four or five challenges (games) along the way.  Shuttle service will be available between the campground and County B.  Registration is from 1 to 2 p.m. at the campground, with the Paddle starting at 2 p.m.

Those interested in an enjoyable weekend in the Kickapoo Valley are encouraged to visit the event Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KickapooBraveRide; the website at www.KickapooBraveRide.com for registration and schedule of activities; or call 608-326-6658 for further information.  Participants can register for the Kickapoo Brave Ride or the Paddle Challenge separately; or register for a full package that includes both events with camping.

The Kickapoo Brave Ride and Paddle Challenge is an event of the Crawford County Tourism Council, a standing committee of Community Development Alternatives, Inc.