Planning your first Channel Islands kayaking trip feels overwhelming until you understand the pieces. Ferry schedules, tour operators, island choices, and cave conditions all need to align for that perfect day on the water. After paddling these waters through every season and helping dozens of friends plan their adventures, I've learned that success comes down […]

With over 840 miles of coastline stretching from the misty redwood forests of the north to the sun-drenched beaches of the south, California stands as one of the world's most diverse kayaking destinations. During a recent April morning on Convict Lake, I watched the Sierra Nevada peaks mirror perfectly in water so still it looked […]

The morning mist was just lifting off Lake Willoughby when I first dipped my paddle into Vermont's waters. That was 12 years ago, and I've been hooked ever since. Between the covered bridges reflecting in calm waters and the blazing fall colors framing every paddle stroke, Vermont has become my go-to destination when I need […]

The morning fog was just beginning to lift off the Connecticut River as I pushed my kayak into the water at Haddam Meadows. A great blue heron took flight from the shallows, and somewhere in the distance, I heard the distinctive chirp of an osprey. That moment, back in March of this year, reminded me […]

Last July, I paddled out from Edgewater Beach just as the sun was painting Cleveland's skyline gold. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame gleamed in the distance while freighters cruised past, their wakes gently rocking my kayak. That's when it hit me – Cleveland might just be one of the most underrated kayaking destinations […]

Last July, I watched the sunrise paint the limestone cliffs of the St. Croix River gold while paddling my fishing kayak through glass-calm water near Taylors Falls. A bald eagle swooped down 20 feet from my bow, snatching a smallmouth bass from the surface. That moment reminded me why Minnesota offers some of the most […]

There's a moment on the Kansas River when the morning sun hits the water just right, turning the prairie sky into a canvas of gold and rose. That was the moment I knew Kansas had been keeping secrets from outsiders. Three years and hundreds of paddling miles later, I'm still discovering new sandbars, hidden coves, […]

Last summer, I watched my paddle slice through water so clear I could count individual rocks 20 feet below. The Wood River's turquoise current pushed my kayak through a corridor of aspens while Mt. McLoughlin loomed in the distance. After paddling in 15 states, I can honestly say Oregon spoiled me – and it'll spoil […]

The first time I portaged around a low-head dam on the Maquoketa River, I had no idea what I had avoided. A local paddler later told me that particular dam had claimed three lives in the preceding decade. That moment changed how I approach every Iowa river. After 20 years of paddling the Hawkeye State's […]

The prairie wind carries a different kind of paddling promise. When I first loaded my kayak for a North Dakota adventure, I expected flat farmland and not much else. What I discovered changed everything I thought I knew about Great Plains paddling. Over the past few seasons, I've explored more than 40 distinct waterways across […]