22nd Annual MNOC Summer Adventure Race

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Within a 30 mile radius of Maple Grove, Minnesota

Event Details

Overview

In Partnership with Three Rivers Park District, the 22nd annual MNOC Summer Adventure Race is scheduled for July 12, 2025 in the NW Twin Cities metro area. This event, including the usual paddle/bike/trekking activities will have a somewhat “urban” feel and will include some unique special “challenges”. Three and eight hour options are offered for solo racers or teams of 2, 3 or 4. Solo racers must be 18 years old with demonstrated experience. Under 18 must be with their legal guardian. This event is part of the Wisconsin Adventure Racing Series and will be sanctioned by the USARA.

What to expect

Navigational challenges including a variety of terrain and multiple maps and map types.
MNOC supplied canoes and kayaks.
Excellent race support and monitoring.
Post-race picnic with awards and raffle prizes.

Courses

This event offers three and eight hour options as noted below:

3-Hour – This is a great option for new and/or experienced adventure racers looking for the full adventure race experience in a more relaxed, family friendly setting. Many teams will likely "clear the course" in the allotted time. The focus is on navigation and adventure racing fun! This option is designed to be family friendly with consideration of the distances listed below. E-Bikes WILL be allowed and will be listed in a separate results category. (The 3-hour competitors may actually have 4 hours to complete the course. Watch the future race updates for final schedule.)

Bike: ~ 15 miles primarily on hard surface (MT Bikes not required)
Trek: ~ 3-5 miles
Paddle: ~ 1-2 miles
Note – 3 hour competitors may actually have four hours to complete the course

8-Hour – This option is ideal for experienced racers, or for new competitors who are feeling more ambitious. The course is designed so not all teams will "clear the course." Teams will have to manage their time and make strategic decisions.

● Bike: ~ 25-35 miles singletrack and hard surface

● Trek: ~10 miles

● Paddle: ~5-6 miles

Schedule

8:00 am 8-hour Race Start

Noon 3-hour Race Start

4:00 pm Course Closure

More schedule details will be posted in future Race Updates on this website.

Race Headquarters Location

Within a 30 mile radius of Maple Grove, Minnesota. More location detail will be announced closer to the race date.

Paddle Drop:

Personal paddle gear will need to be dropped off at the paddle transition area. Location and schedule to be posted at a later date.

Bike Drop:

Bikes will need to be dropped off at the bike transition area. Location and schedule to be posted at a later date.

More Details

Important Documents for Participants

Medical Information and Waiver (Each participant must sign and submit this form at the time of check-in. Download the form and bring it with you to check-in. Blank forms will also be available at check-in.)

Race Updates/Race Rules

Check back here for periodic important race details, instructions, and information.

Important Boat Information

Boats, paddles, and pfd’s will be provided and are included in the registration fee. (Racers may not bring their own boats.) Racers may bring their own paddles and pfd’s if desired). Canoes are traditional 16-17 ft recreational canoes. Portaging may be required.

Boat Requirements

Solo - Kayak

2-3 people - one canoe

4 people - two canoes (families with smaller children may ride four per boat)

Mandatory Gear

Be sure to read our Mandatory Gear List. Participants will not be allowed to participate unless they bring this equipment and the required forms.

Teammate Finder

Need help finding a team? Check out the Wisconsin Adventure Race Series Teammate Finder!

Meet our Sponsors

Check back here for more information at a future date.

Thanks to our sponsors of the 2025 Adventure-O!

Volunteer

This event will require significant volunteer help. If you choose not to participate in the event but are interested in being involved with this fun event, please sign up to volunteer here.

Pricing

● Early pricing good through June 15 at 11:59 pm

● Late pricing kicks in June 16

● Prices are per person

● *“Family Team” special price - for teams of 2-4, all team members must be from the same household. The Family discount is $50 per person. At least one team member must be under the age of 18. To receive a Family discount coupon code valued at $50 per person, prior to registering, contact the race director by email at daniels.j55@gmail.com.

● Entrants below the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian

Early Pricing good through June 15, 2025

3-Hour (per person) - $99

*3-Hour Family (per person) - $49

8-Hour (per person) - $130

Late Pricing June 16 - July 6, 2025

3-Hour (per person) - $130

*3-Hour Family (per person) - $80

8-Hour (per person) - $150

Registration Deadline: July 6, 2025, 11:59PM

Refund Policy

There is a $30.00/person non-refundable deposit when registering for a MNOC Adventure-O event. All teams are subject to the following refund schedule; there are no exceptions.

● Full refund less the $30 non-refundable deposit, up to 30 days before the race.

● No refunds within 30 days of the race date.

Registration Instructions

Register at EventReg by registering each member of the team. The first team member will enter their team name. Additional team members should select that team name from a dropdown list. Teams are not considered registered until payment is received in full for all members, and all members have completed the waiver during registration. Teams may change categories between 2, 3, or 4-person, as long as there is available space in the event. Teams that have teammates who fall ill or cannot participate due to unforeseen events are expected to find replacement teammates or compete with fewer teammates. Team name and teammates may be changed up to race-day check-in. Contact the race director at daniels.j55@gmail.com to make changes.

For Solo Registrants, use the same registration procedure noted above, including a team name. You will be registering as a team of one person.

Registration Note – If you are not an OUSA member, register using the "Enter Data Manually" option. You do NOT need to be an OUSA member to register for this event.

USARA Membership – Because this event is affiliated with the US Adventure Race Association, all participants must have either an annual USARA membership ($35) or a single-event license ($8). You may purchase these memberships via a link that is supplied in the registration form. If you are purchasing a singe-event license, on the "select your members" page (with the waiver at the bottom) be sure to uncheck the "start membership immediately" button and select the date of your race. You need to bring proof of membership to Race Check-in on race day.

Race Management

Race Director: John Daniels (daniels.j55@gmail.com)

Setter/Vetter Team: Brett Young, John Daniels, others

Registrar: Philip Stromme

Come Clean, Leave Clean

The Minnesota Orienteering Club practices a Come Clean, Leave Clean policy. This helps us maintain a good relationship with the parks we utilize, sets a good example for other users, and limits the transfer and spread of many of the plants that make our venues less enjoyable.

Race Results

Race results are usually published within 24 hours of the event. View our Race Results page to see the results.

Questions

If you have questions or comments about this event, please feel free to Contact Us.

Orienteering Etiquette

Here are a few tips to make orienteering enjoyable for all:

Stand Back: Move at least 5 meters away from check-points after you've punched. Doing so 1) allows other competitors easy access to punch, and 2) doesn't give away the control location to other competitors.
Seal the Lips: Do not shout to others in the woods. Especially avoid shouting "it's over here!" - that's not fair to others on the course who want to find the control themselves. So if you are in a group, stay within speaking distance.
Encourage Participation: If you are in a group with less skilled orienteers, let them navigate to every other control in order to practice their skills.
Don't Follow: Don't follow other orienteers on the course (except when specifically allowed in Minnegoats and other special events). Run your own course and refine your orienteering skills. Besides, they may be running a different course or may be making an error.
Keep It Clean: The park should be left in better condition than you found it. Be aware of, and cautious not to cause damage in, sensitive areas such as wet spots and steep slopes. Also, artifacts in the woods should be left as you found them, and don't damage trees or plants. And please do your part to pick up trash and leave the park cleaner than you found it.
Keep It Clean #2: Please avoid profanity and adult topics. Small children are typically present at almost all MNOC meets. Help us create a fun and family-friendly environment enjoyable for all.
Share The Trails: Be courteous and respectful to other park users and be sure to yield right-of-way when on trails. The city and state park departments are kind enough to let us hold events in their parks, so please help in retaining that valuable relationship.
Be Courteous: Please be nice to our volunteers. Everyone working at a meet is volunteering their time. Volunteers are often trying to do two or more things at once, so be patient.
Control Retrieval: If you can, please stick around until the event is done to help with control retrieval. This simply entails going around the park and collecting the check-point flags that were used for the event. We like to have 6-8 volunteers help with this at the end of every event.
Volunteer: Orienteering events, along with the entire MNOC club, is run by volunteers. We'd love for your help in running the events, so please sign up to be a volunteer if you have a few hours to spare. We'd greatly appreciate it.