Top Paddling Schools

While by no means comprehensive, this is a good list to find a paddling school in your area. It has schools from Washington state to Vermont. The list is arranged in three categories: Whitewater Kayaking, Canoeing, and Sea Kayaking. Happy paddling!

WHITEWATER KAYAKING

Adventure Quest
PO Box 184, Woodstock, VT 05091
802/484-3939
http://www.AdventureQuest.org
Whitewater and outdoor adventure instruction and programs for kids, teens, and families by whitewater gurus such as Shane Benedict, Scott Shipley, Bill Farley, Whitney Lonsdale, and others. The school has programs at A.Q. East in Vermont and A.Q. West in California.

California Canoe & Kayak
Half Moon Bay, Rancho Cordova, and Oakland, CA
800/366-9804
http://www.calkayak.com
With 27 years of whitewater kayak, sea kayak, and canoe instruction and three locations in the San Francisco Bay area, CCK has masses of devoted graduates.

Cascade Kayak School
7050 Hwy 55, RIO, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho 83629
800/292-RAFT or 208/793-2221
http://www.cascaderaft.com
Payette River kayak school run by the Long family and a cast of amazing characters who know how to kayak and how to teach kayaking.

Four Corners Riversports
PO Box 379 Durango, CO 81302
800/426-7637
http://www.riversports.com
Durango has fantastic whitewater and paddling resources, and Kent Ford is a master instructor.

Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 Hwy 19 West
Bryson City, NC 28713-9114
(888) 662-1662, ext. 600
http://www.nocweb.com/instruction.htm
Most of the other schools on this list are offshoots, in one way or another, from NOC, which has been at it for more than 25 years. Offers kayak and canoe courses.

Otter Bar
Box 210, Forks of Salmon, CA 96031
530/462-4772
http://www.otterbar.com
I personally recommend this school, which offers cutting-edge instruction along with ridiculously good food, roomy hot tubs, and gorgeous landscape.

Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center
10281 Hwy. 50, Howard, CO 81233
Reservations: 800/255-5784
http://www.rmoc.com
Arkansas River kayak school in the middle of a hundred miles of river, ranging from easy first-day-in-the-boat water to expert runs.

Sierra South Mountain Sports
Box 1909, Kernville, CA 93238
800/376-7303
http://www.sierrasouth.com
I can also personally recommend this gem of a kayak school on the Wild and Scenic Kern River, surrounded by the Southern Sierra.

Sundance Expeditions & Kayak School
14894 Galice Road, Merlin, OR 97532
541/479-8508
http://www.sundanceriver.com
One of the US's oldest kayaking schools, 26-year-old Sundance is another instructional trendsetter. Courses on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River.

Zoar Outdoor Paddling School
PO Box 245, Charlemont, MA 01339
800/532-7483
http://www.zoaroutdoor.com
It's probably the best-known and most reputable school in New England, with a lot of satisfied graduates.

CANOEING

Bob Foote
Route 1, Box 183, Cleveland, Oklahoma 74020-9712
281/844-6854
bobfoote1@aol.com (Email is best when Bob is out on the road, please check his schedule on the Instruction Page.)
http://www.bobfoote.com/instruction.htm
Foote is a recognized leader in canoe sport. His address may say Oklahoma, but as his schedule shows, he's wherever the canoeing's good.

Charles River Recreation
2401 Commonwealth Ave., Newton, MA 02466
617/965-5110
http://www.ski-paddle.com/cano/canoe.shtml
This group of avid paddlers takes advantage of the Lakes District of the Charles River, an historically canoe-dense waterway.

Hanging Rock Outdoor Center
Store: 232C Moores Springs Rd., Westfield, NC 27053
336/593-8283
Office: 30 Glenwood St., Winston-Salem, NC 27106
336/765-4477
http://www.hroconline.com
A stone's throw from the entrance to Hanging Rock State Park, HROC offers thorough canoe and kayak instruction on some great water.

Madawaska Kanu Centre
PO Box 635, Barry's Bay, ON K0J 1B0 Canada
Summer: 613/756-3620
Winter: 613/594-5268
http://www.owl-mkc.ca
Located on the Madawaska River, near Algonquin Park, MKC is a whitewater resort, with gourmet meals and comfortable accommodations. Using the warm, dam-controlled Madawaska, Petawawa, and Ottawa rivers, the 27-year-old school offers instruction in canoe and whitewater kayak.

Maine Guides Online
122 Front St., Suite 333, Bath, ME 04530
207/443-4326
http://www.maineguides.com
Collection of Maine-based guides who offer canoe instruction. There's also a listing of whitewater kayak and sea kayak guides.

School of Wilderness Arts & Technology
Palmer Rapids, Ontario, Canada
613/758-1092
http://www.mv.igs.net/~wildtek/white.htm
Offers instruction in whitewater canoe, sea kayaking, and whitewater rescue on the lower Madawaska, the Petawawa, Ottawa, and Opeongo rivers, and on large local lakes.

SEA KAYAKING

Canyons and Coastlines Kayak School & Adventure Sea Kayak Tours
502 W. Cypress, Phoenix, AZ 85003
602/258-4142
http://www.canyonsandcoastlines.com/
The first of its kind in Arizona, this is a brand-new school in a place where folks crave water. Not surprisingly, instructors are passionate paddle sports lovers. The owner's middle name is Kanu.

The Kayak Academy
11801 188th Ave SE, Issaquah WA 98027
206/527-1825
http://www.kayakacademy.com/
Small course. Knowledgeable instructor who focuses on building solid skills.

Puget Sound Kayak Company
PO Box 908, Vashon, WA 98070
206-463-YAKS (9257)
http://www.pugetsoundkayak.com
Started as Vashon Island Kayak, this 5-year-old operation is devoted to advancing the sport of sea kayaking.

Southwind Kayak Center
17855 Sky Park Cir. #A, Irvine, CA 92614
800-SOUTHWIND (768-8494)
http://www.southwindkayaks.com
Courses range from first strokes to open ocean to surf zone paddling. Because it is the most popular paddle sports outfitter and school in the Los Angeles/Orange County area, Southwind's graduates are legion.