Fair warning: This isn’t your lazy Sunday float down the river with a cooler full of beer.
Junction, Texas is about to host one of the most brutal – and beautiful – endurance races you’ve probably never heard of. The Up & Back Boat Race this August is calling out every paddler who thinks they’ve got what it takes to survive 12 hours on the South Llano River.
What You’re Getting Into
Picture this: You and your kayak (or canoe) against 30 miles of pristine Texas Hill Country river. Limestone bluffs towering overhead. Green oaks providing patches of shade. And right around mile 15, when your arms are screaming and you’re questioning every life choice that led you here, you hit the rapids and rocks that separate the weekend warriors from the real deal.
This race starts at 9 AM sharp from Junction City Park, and you’ve got until 9 PM to make it back. That’s 12 hours to prove you belong in the small group of paddlers who can say they conquered one of Texas’s toughest water challenges.
The Real Deal: What Makes This So Hard
The first 15 miles? That’s just your warm-up. You’re paddling downstream to the “First Crossing,” taking in some of the most gorgeous Hill Country scenery you’ll ever see. But here’s where it gets interesting – right before the turnaround point, you hit the technical section. Rapids. Rocks. The kind of water that makes experienced paddlers sweat.
And then – this is the kicker – you turn around and paddle back upstream for another 15 miles. Upstream. Against the current. For hours.
Not everyone makes it back. That’s not being dramatic; that’s just the truth.
Why Put Yourself Through This?
Because when you do finish (notice we said “when,” not “if” – we believe in you), you’re entered into a drawing for serious cash prizes. The grand prize winner gets $1,000, and there are plenty of other rewards for finishers.
But honestly? The real prize is joining an elite group. The first race in 2017 had just 16 brave souls. The winner crushed it in under 7 hours, which is absolutely insane if you understand what this course demands.
What You Actually Need to Know
Where: Junction City Park, 730 Main St, Junction, TX
When: August 30-31, 2025
Start Time: 9:00 AM sharp
Finish Deadline: 9:00 PM
What to Bring: Sunscreen (lots), water (more than you think), snacks, and mental toughness
You can paddle solo or grab a partner for a tandem boat. Either way, you’re signing up for an all-day adventure that’ll test every muscle in your body and probably a few you didn’t know you had.
The Bottom Line
This race sits right where the Texas Hill Country meets West Texas, and it’s as beautiful as it is brutal. You’ll spend 12 hours surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the state, fighting a river that doesn’t care about your fitness tracker or your weekend warrior status.
Junction is a small town that knows how to throw a serious challenge. No motorized boats, no shortcuts, no excuses. Just you, your paddle, and 30 miles of Texas river that’s going to show you what you’re really made of.
Ready to find out if you’ve got what it takes? Registration info and race details are at www.junctiontexas.com/up-back-boat-race or call (325) 446-2622.
Fair warning though – this isn’t the kind of race you sign up for on a whim. Start training now. Your future self will thank you around mile 20.
