Whitewater canoeing is exciting and can be relaxing at the same time.

Learn to River Canoe

Canoeing lets you experience the river in a whole new way. When the river runs smooth, nothing matches the serenity of gliding downstream in a canoe, leaving barely a ripple as you quietly approach birds, deer and other wildlife. When the water gets rougher, a canoe responds to the lightest touch of your paddle, giving you precise control over your nimble craft.

Want to stand out from the crowd? Try running the river in a canoe.

• Whitewater Canoeing classes for beginners to advanced
• No experience needed
• Small class sizes (2:1 student to instructor ratio)
• Safety is our number one priority
• Affordable way to learn to river canoe

Paddling A Canoe

Canoes may well be the most graceful of all river craft, but these boats aren't just pretty to look at: whitewater canoes can also make precision maneuvers and handle surprisingly strong rapids, thanks to high-tech materials, advanced designs and integrated safety features. Most river canoeing is done at the milder end of the whitewater spectrum, from easy Class I+ through Class III, though adventurous experts do take these boats down Class IV and V rapids. Many people find that, compared with kayaking, whitewater canoeing gives them just as much challenge and adventure while running less intimidating rapids.Some people are drawn to canoes for their elegant style, while others prefer a canoe's open design to the more enclosed feel of a kayak. Still others favor canoeing because it harkens back to a less adrenaline-charged time when outdoor sports were more about the journey than the destination. Whatever your reason, we invite you to come canoe with Kokopelli!

Instructor, Bill Cross, teaches a student the basics of whitewater canoeing.

Canoe Instruction Breakdown

We offer a full range of canoe instruction in both solo (one-person) and tandem (two-person) canoes, from flatwater up through advanced whitewater. Heck, we can even teach you how to roll or surf an open canoe just like a kayak! We customize our instruction to your exact needs and goals. You tell us what you want to learn, we'll build an itinerary to get you there safely.

So whether you're a complete novice who just wants to try out one of these graceful craft, an intermediate who needs some pointers on technique, a tandem team wondering how you can work together more effectively, or a kayaker who hankers to try an open canoe, we can help you reach your goals. To help you progress as quickly as possible, we focus on private or small group lessons with a maximum of three students at a time. Tandem students can come as a two-some, or we can work with just one person and teach you both the bow and stern positions.

Learn to Canoe Classes

Here's a sampling of what we offer. Remember, we will work with you to create a custom instruction plan that includes any one or more of these elements, in lengths ranging from a half-day to several days. And we'll choose just the right section of the Klamath or Rogue Rivers to match your experience and goals.

Introduction to Flatwater

Perfect for first-timers. We'll get you familiar with the boat and basic strokes on nearby Emigrant Lake (5 minutes from Ashland) or a calm spot on the Klamath or Rogue. If you have little or no canoeing experience, this is the place to start. We include training in safety skills you'll need when you head out onto moving water, including how to handle capsizes. If desired, this "flatwater primer" can be covered in a half-day morning session, and can be easily combined with an introductory downriver run in the afternoon.

Introduction to Moving Water

For those who have already gotten familiar with canoes on flatwater, we move on to basic techniques for your first river adventure. Using easy stretches of the nearby Rogue or Klamath, we teach you to read currents, navigate bends and shoals, catch eddies and more. Safety is our top priority as we teach you essential skills for safe river canoeing.

Paddling down the river in a whitewater canoe.

Introductory Whitewater

Here we move on to "broken water," introducing more advanced techniques for reading and running Class II rapids. Includes essential maneuvers like eddy turns, peel outs, ferries and basic braces, as well as how to navigate around rocks and through waves.

Intermediate Whitewater

For those who have learned to run easier rapids, we'll show you some tricks for more challenging intermediate whitewater up to Class III. Includes high and low braces, precision maneuvers for rocky rapids, how to use small waves and eddies to turn and ferry, and how to handle bigger waves and holes.

Advanced Whitewater

For experienced canoeists who want to take their skills to the next level. We use Class III whitewater to introduce advanced techniques that you can apply to more difficult rivers

Playboating

Learn to surf an open canoe! For experienced canoeists who want to learn how to surf, slalom and play.

Rolling

The ultimate open canoe maneuver, sure to impress everyone on the river!

COST:

• FULL-DAY OR MULTI-DAY LESSONS
• Without boat rental:
• SOLO: $175 per day for the first person, $115 each additional person.
• TANDEM: $200 per day for a tandem team, $175 for a single paddler sharing a boat with the instructor.
• Full-Day Boat Rental: add $30 per day. Includes canoe, life jacket, helmet and paddle.

• HALF-DAY LESSONS:
• Half-day lessons available only for flatwater instruction at Emigrant Lake or for canoe rolling or playboating/surfing. All other river lessons are full-day only.
• Without boat rental:
• SOLO: $110 per half-day first person, $70 each additional person.
• TANDEM: $125 per half-day for a tandem team.
• Half-Day Boat Rental: add $25 per half-day.

EQUIPMENT:

We offer full rental packages with that include canoe, paddle, personal flotation device and helmet. Or you can provide your own gear -- but please check with us first as many canoes are not designed for river or whitewater use.

Out of our control: A 5% BLM/USFS river usage fee will be added to the cost of all river canoeing lessons.

River trips are not without inherent risks. Kokopelli River Guides cannot assume responsibility for injury to raft / kayak / rental/canoe participants or loss of personal property. You will be required to sign a waiver and release prior to your trip.