So you’re getting bored of your usual kayaking destination and are planning a new adventure – river kayaking. Great idea. The rush of powering through a Class III rapid is exhilarating. You have a river in mind and all you need now is to learn how to kayak a river.
Most of my river kayaking time has been spent on the Ottawa river in northern Ontario. Some of those rapids can be absolute beasts. More than once my party and I have been forced to exit the river and portage around a rapid that was having a particularly ornery day.
From this experience, I’ve learned a few things about how to kayak a river.
There are five big ideas to consider in order to kayak a river safely and successfully. You need to:
- Learn the characteristics of the river,
- Select the right kayak for the river (and your abilities),
- Arrive with kayaking skills,
- Know the basic principles of reading a river,
- Plan transportation back to your vehicle.
You don’t need to be perfect at any of these (except the last one), but the more prepared you are, the more confident you will feel and the more fun you will have.
Table of Contents
Learn what’s waiting for you down the river
Each river has its own personality, with sections of smooth, flowing water followed by sections of choppy whitewater. Even currents that seem light can prove surprisingly dangerous, so it is important to grant rivers respect. They are stronger than us.
Basic river jargon. The direction that the river water flows is called ‘downstream.‘ Similarly, the direction that the water flows from is called ‘upstream‘. When sitting in a kayak facing downstream, the right side of the river is called ‘river right‘, and the left side of the river is called ‘river left‘. So when you are telling your buddy to look for your lost paddle river left, he/she will know where to go.
Rivers are described by a Class System. The higher the class, the higher the level of difficulty of a particular set of rapids. A Class II rapid is considered straightforward with a wide, clear channel that is fairly easy to navigate. A Class V rapid is described as long, obstructed and violent with large waves that are unavoidable and chutes that are complex.
Rivers are also described by the number of feet they drop over the course of a mile: Gradient, the volume of water that flows over the course of a second: Volume, and the variety of characteristics that make it unique: Style.
As you learn about the characteristics of the river you are planning to kayak, it is important to identify the location of the key rapid runs and their level of difficulty.
Water level can change on a daily basis. Some rapids become more aggressive with a higher water level, while some rapids actually get more violent when the water level decreases. Bear this in mind.
Having identified the various rapids along the river as well as their levels of difficulty, the next step is to learn about their individual features and hazards.
Current. The current is the flow of water in the river. A choppy rapid can actually have several different currents, depending on the obstacles located along the rapid.
Rocks. Rocks are like icebergs. There is often a lot more going on below the surface of the water. Rocks that are visible above the water alter the flow of the water surface. Rocks located below the water surface can change the currents, create waves and prove quite dangerous.
If you are paddling an inflatable kayak, pay particular attention to risky, rocky areas, lest you find yourself with an air leak requiring a repair.
Holes. Holes are features of rapids created by water flowing over a rock or other obstruction near the river surface. The water folds in on itself on the downstream side of the obstruction creating a feature that can either be awfully fun or incredibly dangerous. Smiley holes have edges that curve downstream and are typically considered friendly. Holes that frown have edges that curve upstream and tend to want to hold onto your kayak and push you back into the middle.
Before you embark on your day in the river, ask more experienced paddlers if there are any particularly unfriendly holes that should be avoided.
Strainers. A strainer is an obstruction that allows only limited amounts of fast-moving water to pass through. The force of the current pins rocks, debris, kayaks and kayakers against the obstruction while the water rushes through the small openings. These are very dangerous. Avoid them!
Low head dams. A low head dam is another hazard to be avoided. This is a drop in the river that creates a uniform hole the entire length of the hazard. The angle of ascent is steep and there are no exit routes. They are typically man-made. Low head dams can hold on to boats as well as swimmers and are not safe to run.
Waterfalls. You know what these are – water flowing over a rock shelf and dropping a long way. Not for the faint of heart and certainly not for novice kayakers.
There are many other features and hazards in running rapids, but the above list is a good start.
Select the right kayak for the river (and your abilities)
The best kayak to select is the one that is designed for what you want to do. More than anything, the body of water will dictate the best kayak for the job.
If you are planning on spending the day floating slowly down a lazy river, then any kayak (that floats) will do. A recreational sit-on-top or sit-in will be just fine.
If you are heading out to your favorite fishing hole, then that inflatable pedal kayak will serve you well. **PRO TIP: If you are going fishing in a river full of tree stumps and sharp twigs, you might want to reconsider whether an inflatable boat is your best choice.**
If your plan is to play in the rapids, then select a whitewater kayak. These come in many shapes and sizes to accommodate both the water conditions as well as your ability to run rapids.
Whitewater kayaks are usually constructed with one of the following types of hulls: planing hull, displacement hull.
Planing hull. Kayaks constructed with planing hulls are highly agile and maneuverable. This can be helpful (and fun) for an experienced kayaker in rapids. However, what these kayaks gain in agility they lose in stability and speed – particularly on flat water.
Displacement hull. Kayaks constructed with displacement hulls have a section that pushes water aside, allowing the kayak to cut through flat water effectively. This makes the boat less agile when navigating river rapids.
Whitewater kayaks are also constructed with one of two types of chines: hard chines and soft chines. Chines are the portion of a kayak’s hull that sits below the waterline. Chines greatly impact how a boat handles.
Hard chines. Kayaks constructed with hard chines have strong, rigid contours on the part of the hull that sits below the waterline. These contours provide control and agility to the kayaker. The downside is that a strong current or hard obstruction can get ahold of the chines, making it difficult to maintain control of the boat.
Soft chines. Kayaks constructed with soft chines have a more rounded hull. Soft chines create more stability for the kayaker. However, they also require a lot more force to perform tight turns or other athletics.
Rocker. This is the amount of curvature measured from the bow to the stern of a kayak. The more rocker a boat has, the more agile and maneuverable it is. The flatter the rocker, the greater the speed and tracking ability of the boat. Given the amount of obstacles that need to be negotiated in a rapid run, a kayak with a higher rocker is recommended as it allows the kayaker to negotiate everything in front of her with greater ease and slightly more forgiveness.
If you are a novice when it comes to river kayaking, consider a kayak with a displacement hull, soft chines and a high rocker.
Arrive at the river with kayaking skills
It is one thing to arrive at the river with the right kayak for the job, but quite another to use it to its maximum potential. In order to maximize safety, reduce the likelihood of injury and keep you you in your boat, there are some kayaking skills that in which the kayaker should be proficient.
Kayak paddling positions. Your best chance of avoiding a shoulder injury while on the river is to review proper paddling technique.
Sit up straight but relaxed. This positions you in a neutral stance. For aggressive situations in which you want to take the weight off the stern of the boat, lean slightly forward. (This will require some abs.) For defensive situations in which you want to remove weight from your kayak’s bow, lean back.
The paddler’s box. The paddler’s box refers to the position of your hands relative to your torso. When holding the paddle in front of you, the rectangular space that is traced between your paddle shaft, your arms, and your torso, is the paddler’s box. This is a safe paddling position that will help you maximize the power of your stroke while protecting your shoulders. The principle is simple, when you make a paddle stroke, make sure that the paddler’s box is always intact. (Again, this requires fit core muscles.)
Strokes. There are a handful of key paddle strokes that will help you paddle rivers with strength and confidence. Among them are: Forward and Reverse Sweep, Draw Stroke, Stern Draw / Rudder, Bow Rudder / Bow Draw. Watching a YouTube video is way more effective than an essay at teaching these skills. Try this one here by Brad from REI.com. Find one you like. It takes many hours to perfect these strokes, but even a beginning understanding will go a long way to keeping you safe on the river.
Bracing. To remain balanced in your boat, learn and practice the Hip Snap, Low Brace and High Brace. These moves will serve to keep your boat upright as you run rapids.
Wet exit. When your kayak flips over – and eventually it will – you need to be able to get out of it while still in the water. The wet exit is a skill that should be practiced on land and in calm water before attempting it in moving rapids with sticks and mean fish banging into your face. Brad from REI.com teaches the wet exit here.
To review:
- With your spray skirt attached, make sure that the grab loop is out and accessible. You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you are underwater and your grab loop is tucked under your spray skirt.
- Take a deep breath and flip over your kayak.
- Run your hands forward along the edge of the spray skirt to find the grab loop.
- Push the grab loop forward, then pull it back and remove the spray skirt.
- Pull your knees to the middle of the boat then push the boat away with your legs (the same motion as jumping but upside down and underwater).
**PRO TIP: When your canoe tips and you find yourself underwater, knock three times on the bottom of your hull (which you will find up top). This will alert other paddlers that you have capsized so they can provide help.**
If you are not interested in getting wet, I wrote an article all about staying dry in a kayak here.
Communicating while on the river. Rivers can be loud, especially if you are navigating a rapid run in your kayak. Communication between paddlers can be difficult, so a series of universal hand signals are used to clearly pass on important messages.
- One hand straight up in the air. Paddle held straight up. Means it is ok to come down and paddle.
- Two hands extended to each side. Paddle held in the air horizontally. Means STOP.
- One finger extended and spun in circle. Means catch an eddy and go to the side of the river.
- Vertical paddle swung from side to side. Signals distress.
- Point entire arm, hand, finger and/or paddle to an area. Means paddle in that direction.
- Closed fist held on top of your helmet. Means ‘are you ok?’
Over time and with practice, these kayak skills will all become second nature. When on the river, muscle memory will take over and your body will automatically do what is required. Boy are rapids fun when you get to that point in your kayaking development.
Read the river like a Hemingway
If you have never sat at the head of a rapid run, then your first time doing so can be intimidating. But, even the scariest of river currents are made of certain key features. In every rapid, you will find eddies and eddy lines, downstream Vs, rocks and hydraulics. Learning how to select a line through a rapid and then actually navigating your kayak through it is not only rewarding, but seriously fun.
It is best to learn how to read rapids on an easier, slow-moving river before setting out to run a more difficult Class III.
Downstream V. This is one of the most fundamental features of a rapid and one that we all strive to identify and master. Rapids are typically formed by rocks and other obstacles that are relatively shallow. Fast water moving over these obstacles creates waves and white, choppy water. It is this white, choppy water that defines the outer-edges of a Downstream V. Inside these edges is dark green water in the loose shape of a V (pointing downstream).
Current that is dark is usually deeper and free of obstacles. It is this dark water, contained within the edges of the whitewater, that shows you the path-of-least resistance for your kayak down the river.
Over time it becomes easier to identify Downstream Vs while sitting in your kayak. For novice kayakers, it is sometimes best to get a little higher to identify them. If you are plotting a line for a rapid that will really challenge your abilities, don’t be afraid to paddle to shore, exit your kayak and take a look at the rapid from a higher vantage point. This will help you identify the location of the Downstream Vs and plot a successful route.
Eddies and Eddy Lines. Eddies are spots along a rapid where the current flows back upstream. They are created when downstream currents flow around rocks or other obstacles and are then pushed back upstream. Eddies are good places for kayakers to take a breather while navigating a run of rapids.
Eddy lines are the edges where the upstream current meets the downstream current. In an aggressive rapid, eddy lines can be particularly unstable for kayaks.
Rocks (again). Rapids exist because fast water moves over and around rocks. If you are going to kayak rivers, then rocks will be part of your life.
I discussed rocks earlier but the topic is worth revisiting. Obviously, you want to do your best to avoid hitting them. To do this successfully, you need to look well ahead to locate the rocks that are visible. The current will want to push you to these rocks. To avoid a rock, don’t focus on the rock itself, but rather where you want your kayak to end up. Then, make moves early that will allow you to avoid the hazard.
If you find yourself zeroing in on a particular rock and a collision seems inevitable, actually lean towards the rock. Your instincts will try to do the opposite. However, the act of leaning in will push your kayak away from the rock, hopefully buying you enough real estate to avoid running into it.
Hydraulics. Fast water flowing over rocks and other obstacles creates waves and hydraulics. Waves are friendly and what you think about navigating when you set out on a river run. Hydraulics are more of a nuisance.
Hydraulics are found at the bottom of particularly steeps drops where the water behind the rock creates an upstream back-current that sucks your kayak back into it like the tractor beam of the Death Star. They are often identified by a pile of foam that has collected at the bottom of a steep drop.
Smaller hydraulics can be a nuisance if you get tangled up in one. Largeer hydraulics can be deadly, requiring great respect and a wide berth.
A great day of river kayaking is all about moving safely and effectively from one section of the river to the next.
Keep an ‘active blade’ in the water. When you have a blade in the water, you have more control over your kayak. When kayakers hit choppy water, they have the tendency to want to lift their blades out of the water. Doing this gives full control of your boat to the river. Rather, maintain some stroke, be it a forward, draw sweep or other move that keeps a blade in the water.
Move from eddy to eddy. When you come upon particularly challenging or taxing stretches of rapids, I have found that plotting a route that moves from eddy to eddy provides for some exhilarating paddling followed by a few minutes to decompress and plan for your next route. Just break the river into smaller sections.
How to catch an eddy. The move to exit the downstream and enter an eddy will require that you cross an eddy line. This will require some technique as the line where upstream and downstream currents meet is sufficiently powerful to flip your boat. Here’s how to do it:
- Look at the eddy you want to reach,
- Take a few strong paddle strokes to pick up speed before you begin your eddy turn,
- Point the bow of your kayak high up the eddy
- With an active paddle in the water, apply edge to the inside of the turn allowing water to pass under your boat to keep you stable,
- Make a wide arching turn from downstream flow into the eddy.
How to peel out of an eddy. Exiting an eddy through the eddy line can be a tricky proposition that requires some technique as well. To exit and eddy effectively:
- Approach the eddy line with speed,
- Point the bow of your kayak approximately upstream with a slight angle to the direction you want to go,
- With an active paddle in the water, apply edge into the inside of your turn as you cross the eddy line.
- Make a wide arching turn from the eddy back into the main current.
A little speed, direction and edge control will help you cross eddy lines effectively and with confidence.
While the list of items to consider when kayaking a river might seem daunting on paper (or more likely screen), a little practice to build up strength and muscle memory will have you looking in the right direction while making the right moves in no time.
Plan transportation from the river back to your vehicle
Let’s face it, eddies notwithstanding, rivers run in a single direction. This means that your ‘put in’ and ‘take out’ locations will not only be different, but likely far apart.
If you are paddling alone, I discuss how to shuttle solo here.
If you are traveling in a group, then you will need to coordinate the shuttling of kayakers and their kayak gear to and from the put in and take out locations along the river.
Here is a simple way to do it:
- Drive all the vehicles, gear and kayakers to the put in location.
- Unload all the gear and change into paddling attire.
- Place everyone’s post-kayaking clothes in their vehicles and drive all of those vehicles to the take out location. (Leave someone at the put in location to protect the gear.)
- Designate one vehicle as the ‘shuttle’.
- Drive everyone back from the take out location to the put in location. Hopefully this will only take one trip for the shuttle vehicle.
- Hit the water. Pack your car fobs/keys in a waterproof sack that remains attached to your person, not the kayak.
- Exit the water. Everyone gets changed in their warm, post-kayak clothing.
- Depending on where you will be spending the night, either send one vehicle back to the put in location to pick up the shuttle, or everyone drives to the put in location if it is en-route to your home/hotel/hostel.
This process can take some time so plan for not only the travel time, but also the time to enter and exit the kayaks to and from the river.
In extreme situations, the shuttling may take more time than the actual paddling. If you find yourself in this situation, those rapids had better be worth it!
Parting thoughts
Some of my best, if not most harrowing, days have been spent navigating the eddy lines of the Ottawa River. I have found that with some planning, the right equipment, a little bit of skill and good judgement, kayaking a river is not only within reach of most kayakers, but some of the best fun you can have in a boat.