PASS HOURS
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Whitewater Kayaking + SUP
Paddle class II-IV rapids on the world’s largest manmade whitewater river.
Paddle class II-IV rapids on the world’s largest manmade, recirculating whitewater river. The Wilderness Channel features standing waves, holes and powerful eddy lines, while also splitting into the pool-drop Instructional and Freestyle Channels. The Competition Channel has a steeper, more continuous nature that culminates in Big Drop.
Green CircleNovice
Blue SquareIntermediate
Black DiamondExpert
Options
Difficulty i
Green CircleNovice
Blue SquareIntermediate
Black DiamondExpert
Qualifiers
Whitewater Kayaking
Difficulty:
Age:
Prerequisites*
Whitewater Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Difficulty:
Age:
Prerequisites*
Prerequisites
The Whitewater Center defines an experienced kayaker as one who has experience in Class III whitewater and owns all of their own kayaking equipment. If you are not an experienced kayaker, we offer instructional packages.
Difficulty:
Age:
Pass Options
- All Access Pass (Day Pass, Two-day Pass, Annual Pass)
- Single Activity Pass
Kayak Instruction
Private lessons and group instruction is available to learn and develop paddling skills.
Where to Check-in
River Center
What is the difference between whitewater and flatwater kayaking?
Whitewater kayaking is performed in rapids of varying difficulty using specific kayaks. Flatwater kayaking is done on calm bodies of water using recreational style kayaks. Flatwater requires little or no experience while whitewater kayaking requires instruction, prior experience and specific equipment.
Flatwater kayaking is included in the Annual Pass, Day Pass, and Single Activity Pass and takes place on the Catawba River. Whitewater kayakers may access the whitewater channels with the purchase of a Day Pass or a Single Activity Pass.
Do I need previous experience to whitewater kayak at the USNWC?
You must be an experienced kayaker to paddle our channels. We define an experienced kayaker as one who has experience in Class III whitewater and owns all their own kayaking equipment.
If you are not an experienced kayaker, we offer kayaking instructional packages.
What kinds of kayaks are permitted on the whitewater channels?
Whitewater-specific kayaks and canoes are the only boats, other than guided rafts, that are allowed on the whitewater channels. Private inflatable crafts that are whitewater-specific, such as Catarafts (Shredders, Paddle Cats) and Inflatable Kayaks (Duckies) are permitted. Please note that there is a limit of 2 people per private craft. Private rafts, oar rigs, and framed inflatable crafts are not permitted regardless of size.
Frontier of Firsts
Follow the experiences of a whitewater kayaker and an Alaskan bush pilot during a whitewater expedition in Southern Alaska, as similarities in their respective passions emerge in pursuit of exploring three unrun rivers.
Forbidden Fruit
After decades of work, American Whitewater succeeded in opening access to Yosemite National Park for paddlers. The park hosts a number of rivers ranging from Class I floats to multi-day Class V+ epics, including the Merced River above Nevada Falls. On...