The best canoeists in the country will come to Maine this summer to compete for a national championship.

For the third year in a row, the American Canoe Association Whitewater Nationals will be held on Maine’s Penobscot River from June 28 to July 2. This will be the final year the ACA Whitewater Nationals are held on the Penobscot.

The event is held on a historically important and beautiful 9.5-mile section of river, between Old Town and Eddington. The section of river was returned to its free-flowing state following the removal of the Great Works and Veazie Dams.

Online registration for the various events will open April 1 at Paddle Guru.com. Four disciplines will be contested — Downriver Open Canoe; Kayak; SUP and United States Canoe and Kayak Association Wildwater — for men, women and youth ages 10 and up.

Maine’s whitewater race schedule is available at MaCKRO.org, and the regatta’s website is Penobscotriverwhitewaternationalsregatta.com. Visit their Facebook page here.