Great Northern Highland Paddle & Portage

About the Event

We will begin on Plum Lake in Sayner and end on Star Lake in Star Lake with a portage of woods connecting the two. This event will be a one-day event with registration starting at 7:00 am downtown Sayner at the Northern Highland Coffee Co., race starting at 10:00 am at the Town fishing pier at the end of Plum Lake Drive, Sayner, WI and the finish of the race will be at the Star Lake Pavilion/Old Mill Site, 7877 Statehouse Road, Star Lake, WI. The park will have food opportunities, restrooms and a pavilion to guard us from any inclement weather.

**This event has ZERO restrictions on watercraft type, all kayaks are welcome. There will also be assistance available for those that need it for the portage option so please don't let that piece scare you! Come out and enjoy the beautiful lakes Sayner has to offer and the friendly atmosphere. Shuttles will also be provided to and from the start & finish locations (11:30am to 2:30pm) for those traveling alone or needing a ride due to parking constraints.

Schedule
7:00 am – 9:00 am
Registration at the Northern Highland Coffee Co. downtown Sayner
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Everyone is positioned at the start at the Town fishing pier at the end of Plum Lake Drive.
10:00 am
Race starts in waves – a new wave every 5 minutes. Waives will be released in bib number order. You will receive your start time at check in.
10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Spectators, music, food trucks, parking and finish line are ready to go
1:00 pm – Awards Ceremony
2:00 pm – completed event

AWARDS: 1ST, 2ND, 3RD in each division, male and female and finishers medals for all that cross the finish line.

PLEASE NOTE:

The Corner Store is offering kayak rentals. Here is their link to their rentals:
http://www.thecornerstoresayner.com/bicycle---water-sport-rentals.html

Races Offered

Canoe Solo

Jun 20, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.87 Miles

terrain

Type — Water sports

timer

09:00

sell

$60.00

Canoe Tandem Coed

Jun 20, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.87 Miles

terrain

Type — Water sports

timer

09:00

sell

$60.00

Canoe Tandem Female

Jun 20, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.87 Miles

terrain

Type — Water sports

timer

09:00

sell

$60.00

Canoe Tandem Male

Jun 20, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.87 Miles

terrain

Type — Water sports

timer

09:00

sell

$60.00

Kayak Solo

Jun 20, 2026

straighten

Distance — 3.87 Miles

terrain

Type — Water sports

timer

09:00

sell

$60.00

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for June in Sayner.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 13.4° / 23.1°

wb_sunny 11.7° / 21.6°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 11.5 /

water_drop 72.9%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 13.4° / 23.1°

wb_sunny 11.7° / 21.6°

air 11.5 km/h

water_drop 72.9%

About Sayner

Learn more about the host city, Sayner.

Sayner is a census-designated place in the Town of Plum Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located at the intersection of Highway 155 and County N, about 15 miles northwest of Eagle River. As of the 2010 census, its population was 207. Sayner has an area of 1.828 square miles (4.73 km2); 1.826 square miles (4.73 km2) of this is land, and 0.002 square miles (0.0052 km2) is water. Sayner got its name from Orrin W. Sayner, who settled the area in 1891, two years before any other settlers took up homes in the town. In 1895, the Milwaukee Road extended its Valley Line north from Woodruff to Star Lake, with a stop in Sayner. The line primarily carried lumber from area forests, later carried tourists and had been abandoned in the middle 20th century.