May 30, 2026 - The nation’s largest flatwater kayaking event is making a return on West Virginia Day.

The 2026 Tour de Coal will launch at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, according to event organizers.

Paddlers prepare for launch at Meadowood Park in Tornado, West Virginia.

Photo: Coal River Group

The annual event begins at Meadowood Park in Tornado and meanders 11 miles to St. Albans by way of the Coal River.

The fundraising effort benefits the Coal River Group, a nonprofit that works to keep the waterway clean.

For additional information, including registration, click here.