With over 273 lakes scattered across the Lakes Region alone, plus countless rivers and 18 miles of Atlantic coastline, New Hampshire quietly holds some of the finest freshwater and saltwater paddling in the eastern United States. Whether you are searching for a tranquil morning paddle on glass-smooth water or an adrenaline-charged descent through Class III […]

Last month, my mailbox collapsed. Not from age or weather – from the sheer weight of kayaking magazines I had subscribed to during my "research phase" for a new fishing kayak. My mail carrier was not amused, but after 20 years of paddling and reading everything I could get my hands on about the sport, […]

I'll never forget the night my 12-foot kayak nearly became a submarine. It was 2 AM on the James River, and I'd just hooked into what felt like a Volkswagen with whiskers. My drag screamed as 40 pounds of blue catfish decided to test whether my anchor trolley was properly installed (spoiler: it wasn't). Twenty […]

Yes, kayaking at night is legal in all 50 U.S. states, but kayaks must display proper lighting and meet Coast Guard safety requirements between sunset and sunrise. Federal law requires an all-around white light visible from 360 degrees, though state and local regulations can add additional requirements or restrict access to certain waterways after dark. […]

After fifteen years of paddling, I thought my kayaking days were over when arthritis started making my knees feel like rusty hinges. My doctor told me to stay active, but every entry method I tried felt like a test of endurance I was failing. That was until I discovered there is an entire community of […]

There's something almost magical about dipping your paddle into South Florida waters at dawn. The sun hasn't burned off the morning mist yet, and suddenly a manatee surfaces beside you with a gentle exhale that sounds like a whale whispering secrets. That first encounter hooked me ten years ago, and I've been chasing those moments […]

Fifteen years ago, I stood at the edge of Walden Pond watching the morning mist rise as a great blue heron glided silently across the water. That first paddle in Massachusetts hooked me for life. Since then, I've explored nearly every navigable waterway from the Berkshire hills to Cape Cod's sandy shores, and brings more […]

Updated April — Last spring, I watched the morning mist lift off the Kentucky River as limestone cliffs towered 300 feet above my bow. A great blue heron stood motionless on a rock ledge, waiting for breakfast to swim by. After paddling across 38 states over two decades, that quiet moment in the Palisades still […]

There's a moment every kayaker remembers - that split second when the world tilts sideways and you realize you're going in. Mine happened on Lake Travis, cruising along the limestone cliffs when a motorboat wake rolled under my hull at exactly the wrong angle. One minute I was confident and dry, the next I was […]

Fifteen years of paddling Oklahoma waters has taught me one undeniable truth: this state is the most underrated paddling destination in the American heartland. From the crystal-clear Ouachita Mountain streams to the urban whitewater playgrounds of Oklahoma City, the diversity of paddle sports Oklahoma offers rivals states twice its size. Oklahoma kayaking has experienced a […]