3-Day Whitewater Kayaking Course

If you already own your kayaking gear, you are welcome to bring it to practice in your gear. However, all gear is included, so it's not necessary if you would prefer to use our gear.

You'll want to be generally active, but you certainly don't need athlete-level fitness. When you're hardshell kayaking, you are individually responsible for paddling the kayak, making it inherently more physical than rafting. Even more important than physical fitness is a positive, adventurous attitude!

Our larger hardshell kayaks have a maximum weight range of about 250 pounds, but because all bodies are shaped differently, that can mean a lot of different meanings! The width of the cockpit (the part of the boat that you sit in) is about 21.5" wide, and you will need to be able to sit inside the cockpit to use a hardshell kayak. Another thing to note is that paddlers who are very top-heavy may have a more difficult time balancing. 

That said, if you exceed the weight limit but would still like to learn how to paddle, you're welcome to join the course and paddle an inflatable kayak, which has a maximum weight of 375 pounds. That way, you can still learn all of the technical aspects of kayaking, such as the basic strokes, entering and exiting eddies, and more.

No, you do not need to know how to roll to start kayaking! The Kayak Roll is the technique of rolling a capsized kayak upright. While the roll will be important as you progress, it's more important to learn essential paddling techniques to control your boat so that you can paddle efficiently and stay upright.

After arriving at the lake, the first thing we learn in the beginner course is the "wet exit," which is the technique used to get out of your kayak when you flip over. Your instructors will teach you everything you need to know in a calm, controlled, environment, so you can get comfortable with how it feels to be upside down before going out into a dynamic river environment.

Ages 15+ are welcome to join, but paddlers under 18 must take the course with a parent or guardian. While we don't have a specific minimum age, this course is not recommended for younger children - it's highly instructional and geared towards adults, so anyone under 18 should be comfortable in a structured environment.

We maintain a 1:4 instructor-student ratio to ensure individualized attention. Courses will have a maximum of 8 students.

‍Yes, you can sign up solo and you will be added to a group. Folks commonly join our kayaking courses solo, so you're likely to come out of the course with new friends and paddling partners! If no one else registers, you will be offered the option to reschedule or receive a refund.

No, but if you feel your guide has done a good job at keeping you entertained and sharing the wonderful river environment with you feel free to tip them. 12-30% is widely accepted as the industry norm; tipping is always appreciated but never expected.

Yes, there are changing rooms available so you can get into dry clothes as soon as you return!

We don't recommend bringing anything on the river that you don't want to lose. You'll be able to lock any valuables in your car, and we'll hold on to your keys while you're on the river.