Camping By Kayak

Camping By Kayak

A guide to self-support whitewater kayaking.

River Guides

Rafting the waterfall on the Laurel Fork of the Cheat. Photo by Art Barket.

Laurel and Dry Forks of the Cheat River (WV)

Location: West Virginia, USA Length: 34-50 miles Days: 2-3, with much longer options available Class:...

Babine / Skeena (BC)

Location: British Columbia, Canada Length: 103-113 miles Days: 3-5 Class: III+-IV Craft: kayak, packraft, raft...

Lower Dolores (CO)

Location: Colorado, USA Length: 47-170 miles Permitted: Yes (free permit, no lottery) Days: 2 or more Class: II-III...
Selway River above the Moose Creek confluence.

Selway River (ID)

Location: Idaho, USA Length: 47 miles Days: 1-5 Class: III-IV (IV+ at high water) Craft: kayak, packraft...

Dog River (Ontario)

Location: Ontario, Canada Length: 45 miles Days: 5 Class: IV-V Craft: kayak, canoe Season: Snowmelt...

Cheat River (WV)

Location: Preston and Monongalia Counties, WV Length: 36 miles Days: 2 Class: IV Craft: kayak...

Petawawa River (Ontario)

Location: Ontario, Canada Length: 55 miles Days: 3+ Class: IV Craft: kayak, canoe Season: May-August...

Tuya River (BC)

Location: British Columbia, Canada Length: 106 miles Days: 4-6 Class: II-IV (V) Craft: kayak, packraft...
The final portage of day two: an impressive ~50' lake-to-lake cascade that could maybe go...for the right person...and the right (higher) water level. Or maybe not.

Kusawa River (BC, YT)

Location: British Columbia and Yukon Territory, Canada Length: 38 miles Days: 3-5 Class: IV-V Craft: kayak, packraft...
A fun rapid on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum in Iceland.

Jökulsá á Fjöllum (Iceland)

Location: Iceland Length: 131 miles Days: 4-7 Class: IV(V) Craft: kayak, packraft, raft Season: May-September Permitted: No Map: click...
The river level is always "perfect" on the Middle Fork of the Salmon!

Middle Fork of the Salmon (ID)

Location: Idaho, USA Length: 100 miles Days: 2-5 Class: III-IV Craft: kayak, packraft, IK, SUP (low water)...
Camping on the gravel bar at Indian Hot Springs. The hot springs were incredibly hot, but a pipe and a bathtub let's you find the right temperature for a soak.

Jarbidge – Bruneau (ID)

Location: Idaho, USA Length: 70 miles Permitted: self-issue at put-in Days: 2-4 Class: IV (V) Craft: kayak; packraft...
Egor Voskoboynikov powers through part two of the three-part "Fall Creek Rapid" on the South Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho.

South Fork Salmon River (ID)

Location: Idaho, USA Length: 53 miles Days: 2-3 Class: III-IV (V at higher flows) Craft: kayak, packraft...
Art Barket paddles High Falls on the Shavers Fork of the Cheat. Photo Abed Borsa.

Shavers Fork of the Cheat River (WV)

Location: West Virginia, USA Length: 52-140 miles Permitted: No Days: 2 or more Class: I-IV Craft: kayak, raft...
A paddler boofing on the Lower Gauley. Photo Jeff Macklin.

Meadow / Gauley (WV)

Location: West Virginia, USA Length: 40 miles Permitted: No Days: 2 Class: V Craft: kayak, canoe, inflatable Season:...
Adam Herzog in Super Corkscrew on the Upper Chattooga River. Photo by Cooper Lambla.

Chattooga (NC, GA)

Location: North Carolina and Georgia, USA Length: 50 miles Permitted: Yes Days: 2-3 Class: I-V Craft: kayak Season:...
Kate Bowman walled in above Skull in Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River.

Westwater Canyon (UT)

Location: Utah, USA Length: 19.5 miles Permitted: Yes Days: 1-2 Class: III-IV Craft: Any Season: Year-round Gauge: click...
Jake Risch paddling a big rapid on the Moisie River in Quebec.

Moisie (Quebec)

Location: Quebec, Canada Length: 232 miles Permitted: No Days: 10 Class: III-V Craft: kayak Season: August-September Map: click...
Christian Woodard on Widowmaker, Middle Owyhee.

Middle Owyhee (OR)

Location: Oregon, USA Length: 40 miles Permitted: No Days: 2-3 Class: III-IV (V) Craft: kayak; packraft or IK...