Hugh Heward Challenge

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Hugh Heward Challenge

The Hugh Heward Challenge is an annual paddling event on the Grand River that retraces a part of the historical route of British explorer Hugh Heward.

The Hugh Heward Challenge
Sponsored by MGROW
mgrow.org/hugh-heward-challenge/

This annual paddling event, open to all paddlers, reenacts a one-day, 50-mile sprint down the Grand River in Mid-Michigan by British fur trader Hugh Heward and his French-Canadian crew in two birch-bark canoes on April 24, 1790. Over the past seventeen years, the Challenge has evolved to include paddlers comfortable wi

th shorter distances, offering a 25 mile “Half Hugh” (Grand Ledge to Portland), and a 13 mile “Quarter Hugh” (Charlotte Hwy Bridge to Portland). Experienced paddlers may wish to paddle the “full Hugh,” a 50-mile route; recreational paddlers may wish to consider the two abbreviated routes: the 25-mile “half Hugh” or the 13-mile “quarter Hugh.” The event ends at Thompson Field in Portland, where paddlers can swap stories and enjoy the fellowship of other paddlers. Participants receive a certificate signifying their completion of the full, half, or quarter Hugh. Michigan historian and topologist Jim Woodruff learned about Heward’s journey and wrote extensively on the subject. In 2000, in the run-up to Grand River Expedition 2000, Woodruff challenged his friend, canoeing legend Verlen Kruger, and the entire mid-Michigan paddling community to match Heward’s 50-mile feat. Kruger accepted the challenge and invited others to join; the Hugh Heward Challenge was born.

02/25/2026

We invite you to visit the Verlen Kruger Legacy booth at the Quiet Adventures Symposium on Saturday, February 28th. The VKL booth will feature Verlen’s Loon canoe—paddled 28,000 miles during the Ultimate Canoe Challenge, along with information about the upcoming Hugh Heward Challenge and exciting insider news about the comeback of the Monarch canoe!

Join us at noon in the Main Stage Auditorium as we recognize the 2026 Verlen Kruger Award recipient, Peter Frank. Don’t miss Peter’s presentation, Circumnavigating the Eastern United States by Canoe, at 10:45 a.m., preceding the awards ceremony.

We look forward to seeing you there!

12/02/2025

Add a HHC hoodie to your Christmas list!
https://krugerlegacy.com/shop/

Did you know we have an online store? Merch includes both Verlen Kruger Legacy and Hugh Heward Challenge gear. All profits benefit the Verlen Kruger Legacy organization, a 501(c)(3) Public Charity.

https://krugerlegacy.com/shop/

06/05/2025

It's not too late to join Verlen Kruger Legacy on Saturday, June 7th for Michigan Waterways Stewards Lansing Rivers and River Trail Cleanup!

Choose your cleanup adventure by volunteering on the Greenway or Blueway, as together we care for and clean up Kruger's Landing, the Grand and Red Cedar Rivers and the river trail system. Verlen Kruger Legacy will be focusing on the area around Kruger's Landing at Ralph Crego Park. Park cleanup is expected to include spreading mulch, trimming back overgrowth and clearing loose debris in the parking lot. River cleanup efforts are separated into 5 river sections. Paddlers may choose one section as a preference. Tools are provided.

In appreciation of volunteers' waterways stewardship, Michigan Waterways Stewards will be providing each with a FREE PICNIC Potter Park Zoo. It will include food, drink, snacks, and packed with special activities, special offers, and music too.

FREE Picnic Lunch For All Volunteers (12:30PM - 1:30PM)
FREE Youth Fishing (10AM - 2PM)
FREE Potter Park Zoo Same Day Passes (limited quantity)
FREE Lugnuts Baseball Passes (limited quantity)
FREE Lugnuts SWAG (limited quantity)
FREE Granger Touch-A-Truck
FREE Lugnuts Bouncy Pad Provided By Lansing Parks and Recreation (1PM - 3PM)
FREE Bubble Entertainment (1PM - 3PM)
FREE Celtic Harpist Entertainment (1PM - 3PM)
FREE Keep Our Capital City's Rivers Beautiful Stickers
FREE Love Our Waterways Stickers
FREE River Angel Stickers
FREE Michigan Waterways Stewards 2025 8-page Brochure
FREE Love Our Waterways 8-page Environmental Education Brochure
$5.00 VOUCHER for Future River Town Adventures Kayak/Canoe Rental
12 Environmental Conservation Education Exhibitors

To learn more about the event or to register, please visit https://www.miwaterwaysstewards.org/lansing-rivers-and-river-trail-cleanup.html

05/17/2025

The 2025 Limited Edition Hugh Heward Challenge waterproof stickers are now in stock and will be mailed soon to everyone who requested one. If you haven’t gotten yours yet, there are still a few left in each category — message us for details!

To help cover costs, a suggested $5 donation to the Verlen Kruger Legacy is greatly appreciated.

https://krugerlegacy.com/donate/

05/03/2025

We had a fantastic time at the 2025 Hugh Heward Challenge! Thanks to all who participated!

Fun Fact: Did you know that two of Verlen Kruger's children attended? Christine and Daniel. Some of you may have had Dan help you move your boat!

05/02/2025

THANK YOU Quiet Adventures Society for the generous donation of bottled water at the 2025 Hugh Heward Challenge!

Quiet Adventures Symposium 2025 is a wrap! Another successful event at the MSU Pavilion! We will let you know when QAS 2026 will happen! To relive some of the fun from QAS 2025, visit Youtube, Facebook, Podcasts and more to check out videos and podcasts from the event. Check out all the other ...

05/01/2025

Check out these great photos from MGROW! Do you have any photos to share? Drop them below.

Address

Portland, MI
48875

Website

http://krugerlegacy.com/

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