Floatzilla 2022

Floatzilla will be here before you know it! For anyone who has participated before, you know the excitement of paddling down the Mississippi River, free of commercial vessels, with so many other paddlers. To all newbies, welcome!

For everyone else that hasn’t heard of Floatzilla, you are missing out. Floatzilla is an event consisting of hundreds of paddlers, (2021 had almost 1,600 people!) launching from various points around the Quad Cities. These routes range from no paddling up to 11 miles on a kayak or canoe. Everyone makes their way down the Mississippi River with some locking through a lock and dam, and others portaging over Sylvan Island.

kayakers going through lock and dam on river

Everyone paddling comes into Lake Potter at Sunset Park to celebrate together with music, food, games, etc. At 2:30 pm, everyone gathers into the center of Lake Potter for an aerial photo. Our goal is to break the world record of 3,150 kayaks and canoes.

over 1000 canoes and kayaks gathered on lake

2022 will also see Floatzilla as a sort of a River cleanup. Every participant will receive a mesh bag they can use to collect trash along their route. The Waste Commission of Scott County will be at our gathering place in Sunset Park to help sort this trash, and either recycle or dispose of it.

thousand kayakers all on lake

Want to participate, but don’t have a kayak or canoe? There are several outfitters that are available to rent your kayak from. Visit http://www.riveraction.org/floatzilla/rentals to see outfitters, or use one of your choice.