7 Paddling Expeditions To Watch In Summer 2026

[Glenn MacGrady]

1. Missouri River speed attempt
2. 81-year-old Will Steger on 800 mile solo expedition
3. 90-year-old Dale Sanders attacks second half of AT
4. Circumnavigation of Iceland
5. Ireland circumnavigation speed attempt
6. North America circumnavigation
7. Canada by Canoe → tracking site

7 Paddling Expeditions To Watch In Summer 2026

Every spring, hopeful adventurers dust off their paddles and plan ambitious routes. From legendary paddlers taking on trips of epic proportions to newer

paddlingmag.com

 

[Alan Gage]

I haven't been following Will Steger very closely but I believe he's already quite a way into his. I saw some updates a month or more ago traveling through the barrens in the snow and ice. I know a few years back he did a similar trip where he trekked in to experience breakup in the barrens. As I recall he was a little too early and the trip was over before he got much open water.

I know I could spend 2 minutes to look it up but thought it might generate more conversation not to.

 

[VA paddler]

I’m looking forward to reading lots of TRs this summer from this far more familiar family of paddlers.

 

[Gamma1214]

I'm bummed out that I didn't make the list, but I guess recped & his chicken didn't either, so I won't feel too bad.

 

[Odyssey]

The closest I've come to a circumnavigation of Ireland was on a portage trail in Algonquin. My wife and I were just finishing up a week in the park, waiting for the portage crowds to thin when I fell into conversation with a lady who had 101 questions...bears, food, weather... Detecting the soft lilt in her speech I had a few questions myself. It seems they'd had their Irish paddle plans abruptly cancelled due to gale force winds etc, so chose a hasty Algonquin trip instead. Would've been nice to share a campfire and trade 101 questions.