Where to Go Rafting & Kayaking

Middle Fork of the Salmon River Paddling

Rafting in Mountain States, United States

From the Boundary Creek put-in to its confluence with the Main Salmon 100 miles away, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River offers some of the most remote whitewater in the contiguous U.S. The river threads its way through the 2.7-million-acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness-- the largest roadless tract of land in the contiguous United States--culminating with the infamous Impasaable Canyon, named by Lewis and Clark when they passed through the area in the early 1800s. The same Class III-IV rapids they deemed impassable, however, draw river runners in droves. The best thing about the Middle Fork, of course, isn't its solitude or raft-soaking rapids. It's the nine riverside hotsprings scattered throughout the trip that can make you look like a well-ripened prune after each day of paddling. ROW (Middle Fork of the Salmon), (800) 451-6034

Review by Eugene Buchanan

Photo by zachcollier

Paddling Torres del Paine's Rio Serrano

Kayaking in Magallanes, Chile

Declared Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in 1978, the Torres del Paine National Park, (located in the Chilean Patagonia) in internationally renowned as one of the most beautiful, unspoiled and remote places of the planet. In southern border of the park the trip starts paddling the Serrano River, a swift but calm flow in normal conditions. A two day paddle will take us to the sea, visiting Serrano Glacier and paddling among the icebergs and the Patagonian landscape.

Review by Martin Costa

Photo by

Paddling between the Lofoten Islands

Kayaking in Nord-Norge, Norway

Norway’s remarkable fjords and sharp coast side mountains set the region apart as a paddling destination. The other obvious advantage is the sunlight. At the right time of year the sun hovers on the horizon until the early hours allowing additional time to set up camp and more exploration. The granite shards which are the Lofoten Islands are a good choice for sea kayakers with plenty of small harbour communities to get supplies from, white beaches where you can camp and remote, silent places to get away to. Wildlife lovers will also appreciate the local whale population who in quieter harbours will come up and nudge your boat. If you prefer your adventures to include more than just paddling you can take a day out to climb some of the granite peaks you’ll see lining the shoreline, choose carefully though, some are suitable only for experienced rock climbers, while others fit hikers will find no trouble. The paddling is fairly easy going on relatively calm seas, but the environment can be unforgiving so unsuitable for total novices unless you’re with a guide. The water is kept marginally warmer than you would expect it to be by the Gulf Stream. Bodo, Andenes or Reine are the usual starting points for explorations of the Lofoten Islands, Reine was originally built as a fishing village and is probably the most authentic of the main settlements if you’re interested also in the culture of the place.

Review by Tim Cullen

Photo by flickr user jurek d.

Paddling Lake Superior and America's Great Lakes

Kayaking in United States

The vastness of these lakes is difficult to comprehend if you have never seen them for yourself: it's more like being on a freshwater sea than on a lake, if it's rough the waves can get up to six metres high and if it's really rough up to ten metres…on a lake, but then these are the biggest lakes in the world.

Isle Royale is the largest island in the world's largest lake; this is rugged rocky country where the high cliffs look and are crumbly so mind your head when you paddle too close, varied with expanses of flat shoreline where trees hug the waterline. It is also home to the world's longest studied predator-prey relationship....a 50 year old study of Wolves and Moose in a closed island system.

If you go far enough from the lodges, into the remote parts where you'll find the best paddling you may also see some of the region’s wildlife.

Paddlers are spoilt for choice, beginners can go out for day trips or learn their craft in the local schools, experts can take off for as long as they like (to give an idea of the size the circumference of Lake Superior is about 1,000 miles, which would take you about a month of hard paddling to get around.) and there is something for everyone in between.

You have the option to stay in comfortable lodges or to camp if you're on the move.

Review by Michael Gray

Photo by flickr user mandj98

Kayaking Kenai Fjords National Park

Kayaking in Alaska Northwest, United States

Alaska is a perfect choice if you love experiencing really remote and spectacular places. The dramatic and humbling coastline ridged by glaciers (and the ensuing icebergs) and rocky outcrops is home to bears, birds, seals, whales and other marine life. The swells can match the drama of the surroundings with 20 foot tides and huge waves coming in off the open ocean.

Up here there are limited campsites but they're well maintained, many providing anti-bear boxes to keep your food in; you need to bring everything in and out with you on trips to Alaska's National Parks.

This kind of adventure is good for three star paddlers and up (intermediate level.), you need to be able to tackle the swell and manoeuvre around rocks and icebergs in and out of the fjords. You also need to go with knowledgeable guides, good gear and radio equipment, just in case, and you need to be prepared to suffer through unfavourable weather and bugs - but the views and the paddling will make it well worth your while. Keep in mind that for more remote trips you will need to arrange transport to your start point which can add to the cost of a trip.

One of the really nice things about paddling in Alaska is to be able to sidle up to an iceberg and chip off a piece of 1,000 year old ice to have in your single malt at the end of a days paddling. Make sure you pack your drysuit.

Review by Michael Gray

Photo by flickr user lbeefus

Sea Kayaking Patagonia's Coast

Kayaking in Magallanes, Chile

If your taste for adventure runs to large scale scenes of dramatic tide water glaciers, coastlines littered with icebergs and the occasional whale and big water then Patagonia's coastline is worth a look. Paddling amongst the fjords between systems of channels gives the feeling of being an intrepid explorer.

This is the kind of place where you need to go with people who know what they're on about and with reliable gear. Locals tend to have the best knowledge, but the language barrier may be an issue so having some Spanish will help.

There is some public land set aside for camping but in this kind of setting there are limited options with only a few inlets offering suitable flat, dry ground.

You need to be an outdoor enthusiast but not necessarily a very experienced kayaker, you can go tandem with a local guide. You're also conveniently located near the Torres del Paine for more huge scenery.

Review by Michael Gray

Photo by flickr user machimon

Paddle the Klinaklini River

Rafting in Manitoba, Canada

This is a trip for lovers of spectacular scenery: the mountains are tall and snowcapped, the lakes are bright blue and there are icefields at the beginning and pretty, warm grasslands and a fjord at the end. As far as wildlife goes there are bears, salmon, bald eagles, wolves, cougars and mountains goats hiding in the forests and marshlands you pass and who will watch you as you negotiate some of the rivers narrow but towering canyons, which can be a bit intimidating.

This is best done as a long trip, the whole river is just under 200kms and all the really remote and pristine bits are along the middle section which are hard to reach by land. There are really nice places to camp along the rivers edge The white water is class two, three and four, so pretty exciting in places but more technically challenging than adrenalin ramping.

Review by chris.woodgers

Photo by flickr user jurvetson

Canadian Rockies Whitewater

Kayaking in Kelowna, Canada

After many years wandering the globe in search of whitewater, waves and snow I find myself living in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, a place I will likely call home for the foreseeable future. One of the main reasons for this is the kayaking, the rockies and central British Columbia has more rivers than one could hope to paddle in a lifetime. From Class 1 runs in stunning valleys to some world class playboating to steep unrelenting creeks, Canada’s west coast can dish them all up and more. In perspective, Canada is home to 20% of the worlds freshwater, only being topped by Lake Baikal in Russia, so from when the first flakes of snow begin to melt in April all the way through until November kayaking is possible. (Though the prime months are May until September) The water here is cold and clean, though with the right equipment there is nothing better than kayaking on a hot summers day on a cold glacial melt river. Simply put, Western Canada is one of the most spectacular places I have visited and as far as a kayaking, rafting, riversports destination is is tough to beat.

Review by Simon Coward

Photo by flickr user Dawn Endico

Sea Kayaking the Bay Islands

Kayaking in Honduras

Good for a wintertime trip between February and April, most people know Honduras for it's snorkelling and diving but it is also a great place for kayakers for much the same reasons. Looking over the side of your kayak and seeing the reef and marine life below you through up to 60 feet of clear water is pretty special, the water is around 30 degrees and the interior is mountainous, tropical and on a huge relief creating dramatic seascapes. There are numerous route possibilities but most begin in Roatan. From there you can paddle along the coast, do day trips or even head inland for some white water action (you only have to travel half a mile inland from the sea to hit 2,700 metre high mountains and class IV paddling on the water that cascades down them.). When coming to Honduras most people will plan a couple of extra activities as well as their paddling trip, you can see the Mayan ruins or else do a few days diving or snorkelling, but it's probably worth a week to ten days. There is something for all standards of paddler. The only problem with kayaking in Honduras is that there isn't any public land to camp on so you have to plan your trip carefully in advance to make sure you have somewhere to stay (but you don't need to worry about a language barrier, English is the main language.)

Review by Michael Gray

Photo by flickr user peter.macdonald

Trinity River

Rafting in Deep South, United States

The Trinity is a beautiful clear-green tributary of the Klamath, which is the major watershed of Northern California. Often overlooked due to its relative remoteness, this river makes a great side trip of an exploration of California's coastal redwoods. Part of what makes the Trinity so special is that it has a run for everyone: from numerous tube friendly flat-water floats to the commonly run class III Pigeon Point section, to the creeky North Fork, and the rugged, remote, and challenging South Fork.

But the whitewater pride and joy of the Trinity is the Class V Burnt Ranch Gorge, a steep and stompy romp through a very narrow gorge. This run is favored by kayakers and rafters who enjoy running raft-width slots at what feels like terminal velocity.

Review by Hata Hill

Photo by flickr user infomatique