Kayaking & Canoeing One Week Top Itineraries

Hells Canyon Rafting, Snake River Idaho

Hells Canyon Rafting on the Snake River in Idaho straddles the borders of Idaho and Oregon and is the deepest river gorge in North America. According to Nez Perce tribal legend the mythical figure "coyote" dug Hells Canyon with a big stick to protect the tribe's ancestors in the Blue Mountains of Oregon from the "Seven Devils" across the gorge in Idaho.

• Explore Nez Perce National Historical Park
• Experience gorgeous scenery, sunlight and exciting Salmon river rapids on this Salmon River rafting trip
• Adventurous explorers will have a chance to swim through a rapid as we go through Cottonwood Creek
• Visit Green Canyon which is home of the famous Demon's Drop and Wright Way rapids

• Visit Stanley
• Enjoy hiking and fishing
• Enjoy casting a line into Loon Creek
• Discover Glacier National Park

• Explore the nation's newest protected Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River
• Enjoy this majestic, protected area filled with wildlife and beautiful scenery
• Visit to the East Fork and South Fork

• Explore Nez Perce National Historical Park in Spalding
• Visit the world’s largest fish hatchery at the Dworshak Dam
• Enjoy a ride in the Clearwater National Forest
• Enjoy drive about two hours to our put-in on the Salmon River
• Visit an ancient Chinese rock house

• Transit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and cruise Seattle’s picturesque waterfront
• Kayaking, paddle boarding, and skiff exploration in glacial fjords and the San Juan archipelago
• Hiking in Olympic National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mt. Constitution, and Washington State Parks
• Unhurried time for watching whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, eagles, and sea birds
• Explore scenic winding channels, temperate rainforest, and old growth forest
• Uncover Native cultures of the Pacific Northwest
• Time on your own for exploring quaint Friday Harbor and Port Townsend
• Hand-crafted cuisine including an oyster and clam tasting hosted by local growers

• On Bulls Island, accessible only by ferry, explore miles of pristine beachfront and maritime forest, home to more than 290 species of birds
• Kayak the freshwater Wambaw Creek to learn about the acidic plant tannins that have turned the water black over time
• Learn the human and natural history of Charleston while kayaking the harbor and hear tales of the city in Colonial times as you glimpse the beautiful gardens of 18th-century homes

• Bike the Virginia Creeper trail, with interpretive stops along the way
• Paddle sit-on-top kayaks down the North Fork of the Holston River with an experienced outfitter and stop along the river’s banks to learn about Appalachian Valley history and ecology
• Attend a performance at the world-famous Barter Theater, the State Theater of Virginia

• Kayak Sagamore Lake and larger waters nearby, paddling the same waters the Vanderbilts and other Gilded Age elites did before you
• Learn techniques for maneuvering your craft on flat water and tips for paddling in flowing rivers
• An evening of traditional Adirondack entertainment or education caps your adventure

• Paddle The Manitowish River, a locally famous area often described by renowned phenologist, John Bates
• Investigate a northern quaking bog by walking out on the mat of floating vegetation and examining the unique plant life there
• Learn canoe strokes such as backward, forward, draw, pry, rudder, sweep and J-stroke as you explore a low-traffic, six-mile stretch of the Upper Wisconsin River

• Explore miles of uninterrupted shoreline by canoe and kayak, stopping to learn about native cultures, throw replica atlatl’s and practice other skills used by prehistoric peoples
• Go rock-climbing on sandstone bluffs with experts who teach you the techniques you need to reach heights of 70 feet, and also experience the forest canopy on Illinois' only all tree-based zipline
• Enjoy the last evening with a beach cookout and a campfire and a sunset pontoon ride

• Hit the lake in a canoe, where you’ll learn how to paddle properly from your expert instructor, and take on a leisurely float trip down the river.
• Practice riding a horse in the equestrian barn before heading out on a trail ride through hardwood forests.
• Climb high above the forest on the Alpine Tower, swing through the air on the Alpine Swing, and enjoy a moonlight zip line adventure as you zip through the night sky.

• Experience a twilight paddle on the East River
• Paddle through the 10,000 Islands and learn the history of Calusa Shell Mound settlers who raised tomatoes on the islands in the early 1900s
• Learn about unique adaptations of flora and fauna from a naturalist in Big Cypress National Preserve

• Experienced instructors teach safe canoeing and hiking techniques to small groups of beginner to advanced students
• Natural history presentations illuminate outdoor field trips, as does a visit to the International Wolf Center
• Enjoy an evening paddle amid the haunting call of the loon; another evening explore the quaint town of Ely and happen upon a live outdoor music performance

• Enjoy a half-day Ozark style canoe trip down the scenic Courtois River
• Challenge yourself on one of the YMCA's Adventure Activities and get a taste of what flying feels like! Spend time at our Triangle Y Ranch meeting and learning about the horses

• This is a leadership course designed for ages 18 and Up
• Build core skills: Learn and practice wilderness, teamwork and leadership skills. Form a crew that supports and encourages one another, and in the thick of challenges, discover there is more in you than you know.
• Practice Outward Bound values: Learn to incorporate Outward Bound values into everyday life by pushing your own limits and seeking challenge as an opportunity for personal growth.
• Demonstrate mastery: As the course nears the end, take on more leadership and decision-making responsibilities. Work together to apply new skills and achieve team goals during this final phase of the expedition.
• What you’ll learn: Return home a stronger, more resilient individual. Discover increased self-confidence, improved leadership, and a desire to make a difference.

• Join naturalists for a walk around two of the Channel Islands, Anacapa Island and Santa Cruz, and learn the history of one of the few Native American tribes that took to the seas
• Snorkel with experts and get up-close to a stunning variety of underwater life
• Learn from expert instructors how to kayak and stand up paddleboard in calm harbor waters

• This is an outdoor leadership course designed for age 18 years and older
• Explore the beautiful, dramatic environment of the Sea of Cortez
• Enjoy Sea Kayaking  typically for Women
• NOLS courses teach wilderness and leadership skills on expeditions and in classrooms

• Desolation is one of the most scenic, historic and colorful waterway areas on the western rivers.
• Wildlife thrives: you may see mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, or waterfowl and desert birds, along with yucca, sage, numerous cacti and wildflowers. Huge cottonwood trees over untouched beaches offer exquisite campsites.
• Feel the power of the river pull as your oar or paddle raft drifts along the calmer sections of the Green. Desolation Canyon has an abundant supply of rapids; over 60 overall on this 84-mile trip.