The U.S. Coast Guard recently released their 2023 Recreational Boating Statistics. The annual report is a bellwether of boating safety, measuring how well everyone who recreates on the water is handling priority number one—returning home safe. In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard reported a record drop in year-over-year boating fatalities, going from 636 in 2022 to 564 last year. The 11 percent decrease would be cause for celebration if it weren’t for one disturbing detail for our sport—deaths involving paddlers actually increased in 2023.
The WSF hopes to reduce paddling deaths through safety awareness programs. | Image: Rad Pozniakov/Unsplash
Why the 2023 Coast Guard report shows an unsettling trend in paddling
Paddlesports were involved in 183 fatalities in the 2023 report, a five percent increase from last year. This means paddlesports account for 32.5 percent of the total deaths reported in 2023—second only to open motorboats.
In an article summarizing the report, Jim Emmons, executive director of the Water Sports Foundation (WSF) shares, “The number of people involved in paddling incidents, and especially those who don’t come back to their loved ones, is unacceptable. Paddling fatalities continue to increase even as overall boating deaths are declining. Since most incidents are preventable, recreational paddling safety advocates including the U.S. Coast Guard, state agencies and non-profits must rally together to reverse this trend.”
The WSF identifies another significant number if you breakdown the report further. Of those who died in paddling accidents, nearly three quarters had less than 100 hours experience in the activity, and well over one-third had less than 10 hours experience. It’s the people making their introduction to paddling who are most at risk. A factor that has been exacerbated since the recreation boom over the past four years.
WSF executive director Jim Emmons (center) with Dick’s Sporting Goods store managers and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. | Image: WSF
The WSF is a national nonprofit boater education organization based in Orlando, Florida and founded in 2003. In 2016 the nonprofit launched the first U.S. Coast Guard grant-funded project designed to increase awareness of paddlesports safety.
A large part of the equation is finding a way to provide basic safety education, and the best venue for this may be meeting entry-level paddlers at the point of sale.
The WSF has managed to bring big names in paddlesports retail to their cause. Last year, the WSF worked with retailer Tractor Supply to encourage more safety promotion in their stores. This led to the inclusion of lifejackets around their kayak displays.
The WSF also scored a big win recently with the recruitment of Dick’s Sporting Goods as paddling safety ambassadors. According to the WSF, “Corporate managers pledged to promote more safety recommendations online and in stores, including the importance of wearing life jackets and taking a free paddler safety course.”
The free online courses will be implemented by the American Canoe Association.
The WSF adds that, “The effort positions Dick’s Sporting Goods as a safety leader among large non-specialty retailers, which sell the majority of entry-level paddle craft in the United States.”
Employing non-specialty retailers to spread the word on safety holds a promising potential of reaching the largest demographics of the sport, and if successful can play a key role in reducing fatalities in paddlesports.
Feature Image: Hyperlite, courtesy of the Water Sports Foundation
The Paddling Mag team is thrilled to announce we have won the Best Magazine: Special Interest award and the Magazine Grand Prix award at Canada’s prestigious 47th annual National Magazine Awards. These accolades are a testament to the exceptional work, creativity and passion of our incredible team and talented contributors, who shape the magazine’s success.
Paddling Magazine wins two National Magazine Awards
The Magazine Grand Prix award celebrates the publication that demonstrates overall excellence in bringing its publishing team together to create an outstanding product. Judges praised Paddling Mag for its user-friendly design and engaging content, noting, “From the very first turn of the page, Paddling Magazine was easy to navigate, fun and informative to read.” They were impressed by the magazine’s ability to “draw us into its world of technique, cool gear, and—most impressively—breathtaking photography of the places to be discovered.”
Art director Michael Hewis and editor-in-chief Kaydi Pyette proudly accept the Grand Prix for 2024.
More than 200 publications enter the awards each year, and we are honored and humbled to be recognized alongside industry giants like Canadian Geographic, Toronto Life, Macleans and The Walrus. Paddling Mag’s art director, Michael Hewis, and editor-in-chief, Kaydi Pyette, proudly accepted these awards at the gala on June 7, 2024, where the winners were announced. They were thrilled to represent the magazine and the amazing team behind it.
“From the very first turn of the page, Paddling Magazine was easy to navigate, fun and informative to read.”
—National Magazine Awards jury
“This is such an honor. Winning these awards is a testament to the incredible effort our team puts in every day to celebrate paddling in all its forms and connect with our readers in a meaningful way,” said Pyette.
Let the celebration begin!
“None of this would be possible without our incredible readers, contributors and partners who bring such richness to our pages,” added Hewis.
This magazine began as a dream scribbled on the back of a bar napkin in 1998. Back then, founder Scott MacGregor’s big idea was to create Rapid, a North American whitewater paddling magazine. In his very first Off The Tongue editorial, MacGregor wrote, “I’m not about to sit here in my duct-taped plastic desk chair and predict the future of this magazine, but I do have a few ideas.”
While receiving the highest honor in Canadian magazine publishing wasn’t on his radar then, MacGregor saw the magazine’s potential to evolve and adapt. In that same editorial from 26 years ago, MacGregor wrote: “As Rapid matures it will take on many different forms, constantly changing, evolving and striving to be the best magazine possible.”
From those early days, Paddling Magazine has grown into a leading voice in the paddlesports community and beyond. We want to extend a massive thank you to the paddling community for your continued support and enthusiasm. Your passion fuels our mission to deliver the best of paddlesports. None of this would be possible without you.
If you’re not already a subscriber, you can dive deeper into the world of paddling with a subscription to Paddling Magazine. If you’re passionate about paddling adventures and value top-notch storytelling, subscribing is the perfect way to ensure you never miss out on our exclusive content. From thrilling expedition stories to expert tips and the latest gear reviews—Paddling Magazine is crafted for enthusiasts by enthusiasts.
Subscribe now and let us bring the adventure to your doorstep. If you love paddling, you’ll love Paddling Magazine.
If you’re going to roll out some new boat-building tech, there is no more fitting way to do so than slapping it on a completely new boat. This is exactly what Esquif Canoes has done with the new Huron 17, the first of their canoes to be made with their T-Formex Lite material.
The Huron series has included the existing 15 and 16—both inspired by Esquif’s Prospector series. For the Hurons, Esquif has kept most of the Prospector design, but reduced the freeboard. With the lower profile on the sides, the Huron is easier to paddle in wind and is significantly lighter.
Now the Huron 17 provides a longer 17-foot boat in the series, but there’s a catch; with the introduction of T-Formex Lite, the canoe is the lightest yet. In fact, the Huron 17 is a foot longer but a pound less than the 16.
Esquif accomplished this through a new version of T-Formex and some thoughtful tweaks to the Huron’s outfitting.
“What [Jacques Chasse] decided was T-Formex is really an evolution,” David Hadden, Esquif’s director of business development and U.S. sales shared with us at Canoecopia 2024. “It’s always changing because he’s always thinking about how he can make it better. And the big thing we’re focused on now is how can we make it lighter.”
Our first look at the Esquif Huron 17. | Feature Image: Paddling Magazine Staff
Introducing T-Formex Lite
The new T-Formex Lite material helps make T-Formex lighter by varying the thickness throughout the canoe’s hull. This allows less material in less essential areas while also allowing reinforcement in other places on the boat.
The Huron’s weight savings don’t end there, however. Esquif has also looked over the canoe’s outfitting to see what could be trimmed. They reduced the thickness of wooden items such as the seat bracket and thwarts. Esquif even reduced the number of rivets joining the gunwales to the hull by changing the spacing between each. Hadden calls it an optimization that has brought the Huron 17 down to a weight of 59 pounds. One pound less than the shorter Huron 16 still using their traditional build.
This is all to say, the Huron 17 in T-Formex Lite isn’t intended for every paddler. The Lite while still tough will have more flex and less strength than the traditional T-Formex build. Hadden says, if you’re a river runner or expedition paddler hundreds of miles from the launch you’ll want to look toward the traditional T-Formex. But for canoers seeking a lighter option for portaging, cartopping or the cottage, the T-Formex Lite holds the answer you’ve been looking for.
Minneapolis-based kayaker Devin Brown firmly believes “there’s a portal, a version of me that I’m supposed to meet.” She hopes to discover that person on a source to sea expedition down the Mississippi River, starting May 28.
Brown, 38, is setting out to be the first Black woman on record to paddle what she calls the “Nile of North America,” from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. She’s making the journey to help her grow as a person, but also to encourage other Black, Indigenous and People of Color to discover the outdoors.
“It takes people seeing people that look like them out there doing these things for them to take interest,” Brown says.
Devin Brown beginning her journey in the rain. | Photos: Courtesy Devin Brown
A quintessential American waterway
The Mississippi River flows 2,320 miles across 10 states. It doesn’t escape Brown that the Big Muddy is a watery corridor spanning vast landforms, ecosystems, communities and histories. The Mississippi carves a path through the heart of the continent and plays a central role in American culture—for better or worse.
“Civilizations have consistently established themselves along rivers for survival and the Mississippi is no different,” Brown notes. “Indigenous peoples navigated the river, created ceremonies around the river, birthed and died on this river. Enslaved peoples used the river as a source of economy in the back channels, collecting Spanish moss to fill mattresses. They also used the river to escape to the North, knowing that once they hit the Ohio River tributary, they were free.
“And then you have the colonizers who have recreated her banks, sold goods and people up and down the river, installed locks and dams, and polluted her at some times beyond recognition in certain areas.”
Brown embarking on some open water portions of the trip early on. | Photo: Courtesy Devin Brown
Brown crossed Lake Winnibigoshish on day five. | Photo: Courtesy Devin Brown
Finding meaning on the Mississippi
Brown was born in New Jersey and she considers herself lucky to have discovered kayaking and the outdoors as a youth at the Frost Valley YMCA camp in New York’s Catskill Mountains. She spent 12 summers at the camp. Years later, she returned as an adult to lead sea kayak trips for campers on the Gulf of Maine. The opportunity to leave a stressful career and reconnect with nature was “the time of my life,” Brown says.
Brown relocated to Minneapolis in 2014, drawn by the “graceful power” of the Mississippi River. She says she’s faced plenty of barriers—including 80-hour work weeks, the cost of outdoor gear and a car accident last April—to get a chance to paddle its entire length.
Brown has already received plenty of help along the way. | Photos: Courtesy Devin Brown
Brown doing a temperature check of Lake Bemidji the day before setting out. | Photo: Courtesy Devin Brown
What’s more, as the mother of a six-year-old son, Brown says she “doesn’t have the luxury of taking 100 days to paddle down the river.” So she’s also decided to take a crack at the speed record for paddling the Mississippi, which currently stands at 55 days. Plenty of precipitation this spring has increased her odds of accomplishing this goal.
Ultimately, the journey is an expression of someone who has “fallen hopelessly in love with the Mississippi River,” Brown says. “Life is short. We try so hard to find purpose, meaning and joy in life. Kayaking is something that gives me joy and this trip just seems right.”
Rafters on the Hells Canyon section of the Upper Klamath River. | Feature photo: Noah’s River Adventures
“It’s a five-eagle day,” exclaimed rafting guide Katie Duffie as we glided into a calm eddy to admire a young bald eagle perched above our heads. It was summer 2023, and we were catching our breath on a remote stretch of the Upper Klamath River in Oregon. As the bald eagle winged its way overhead and upriver in search of lunch, I couldn’t help but think its hunting was about to get a whole lot better. It was a fleeting thought as Duffie prepared us for the next rapid.
Dragon was one of six named class IV rapids with a steep drop followed by two jagged submerged rocks—dragon’s teeth—and a set of drenching waves at the end. It was on a heart-pounding five-mile section of the Upper Klamath, known as Hells Corner, part of a longer 13-mile stretch of exhilarating big water. Even in drought years, when other rivers were too low to raft, the Upper Klamath had a reputation as one of the best summer whitewater rivers in the West. Its flow depended on a combination of geography—a steep, narrow canyon constricting the river—and hydrology, a water flow of 1,000-3,000 cubic feet per second. Its flows wouldn’t have existed without an assist from a hydropower dam just upriver, the John C. Boyle. And they don’t exist now.
My day trip was one of the last guided rafting trips on the Upper Klamath, taken on the cusp of its historic transformation. Construction has begun to demolish four aging dams on the Klamath, including the John C. Boyle. It’s the world’s largest dam removal project and aims to return historic salmon runs to the Klamath—once the second-largest in the lower 48 states—and free 400 river miles on one of the most culturally important rivers in the western United States. The implications for river enthusiasts will ripple for years to come.
Last call on the Klamath River
Rafters on the Hells Canyon section of the Upper Klamath River. | Feature photo: Noah’s River Adventures
What’s the dam problem?
The Klamath’s restoration is part of a national reevaluation of dams on America’s rivers. According to river conservation nonprofit American Whitewater, there are 50,813 miles of whitewater rivers in the U.S. If you superimpose a map of major rivers with the locations of the 92,075 dams inventoried by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, you’ll discover only a handful of rivers flow freely—California’s Smith River, Montana’s Yellowstone, Idaho’s Salmon and Alaska’s Yukon all flow hundreds to thousands of miles undammed. The actual number of river-blocking dams in the U.S. far exceeds the official inventory, according to American Rivers, since the Army Corps inventory only includes dams higher than 25 feet or ones posing significant flood risk downstream.
“What makes a river attractive for whitewater boaters, a high gradient with lots of flow, also makes a good site for a hydropower dam,” says Dr. Thomas O’Keefe, a river ecologist and Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director for American Whitewater. Where dams and whitewater boating opportunities overlap, American Whitewater advocates for protecting navigable rapids and the interests and safety of those who enjoy running them.
While controlled water releases at some dams benefit outfitters and boaters by providing reliable flows, the ecological toll is undeniable. Dams block fish migration, alter natural river flows, and can significantly degrade water quality through impoundment and pollution concentration.
The Copco Reservoir on the Klamath was frequently overrun in summer by a bright-green toxic algae bloom, which can cause liver damage and poses risks for fish, wildlife and communities downriver, including the Hoopa and Yurok tribes. Poor water quality from the Copco Reservoir contributed to a massive fish kill in 2002, prompting renewed calls to undam the Klamath. It took another 20 years of advocacy to reach an agreement with the dam owners and transfer ownership to the non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corporation, beginning the process of removing the dams and restoring the river.
Certainly, dams have their utility. They provide flood control and hydropower electricity, and the reservoirs they impound can store water for farmers and cities, and create recreational opportunities and barge transportation. For those reasons, the U.S. was on a tear to build dams in the last century, at the rate of four a day from 1930 to 1970. But if the 20th century was the era of dam building, the 21st century is looking to be the era of selective unbuilding.
Many of these older dams, which have a design life of 50 to 100 years, are becoming unsafe and at risk of failure, overrun by silt and crumbling concrete structures. Dam operators have also run afoul of the Endangered Species Act, which requires building fish passages or replenishing stocks to prevent severe decline or extinction of endangered salmon and other species. In many cases, the profits from hydroelectric generation, which can be replaced by renewable wind and solar, aren’t enough to offset the costs for repair and for protecting fish, leading to the designation of a deadbeat dam.
Restoration’s ripple effects
Dam removal, deadbeat or otherwise, can’t come soon enough for the Indigenous communities whose identities and ways of life are deeply intertwined with impacted rivers. A study published in Environmental Research Letters in 2023 estimated more than a million acres of tribal land in the U.S. have been flooded by dams, adding to centuries of land seizures and forced displacement.
New coalitions between tribes, government, scientists, outfitters, nonprofits, whitewater enthusiasts, anglers and farmers are finding opportunities to remove dams that have outlived their usefulness and to restore rivers and fisheries. In 1999, the federal government determined for the first time the benefits of a hydroelectric dam were outweighed by the harm it caused to aquatic habitats and fisheries, leading to the removal of Edwards Dam on Maine’s Kennebec River.
For big hydro dams, unbuilding is not an easy or quick process. Removing two dams on the Elwha River in 2011, the largest dam removal project in the country at the time, required an act of Congress and took three years to complete. For over a century, these dams blocked salmon from accessing 90 percent of the watershed and caused a population crash. The subsequent restoration led to a resurgence in Chinook salmon numbers, allowing the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe to resume limited fishing in 2019. Boaters also returned to explore the restored Elwha Canyon, once blocked by a dam, through a class IV section paddlers cheekily call That Dam Rapid.
Crews deconstruct Copco 2, one of the four Klamath dams slated for removal. | Photo: Shane Anderson // Swiftwater Films
Another success for boaters was the teardown of Condit Dam on Washington’s White Salmon River. On October 26, 2011, a hole was blasted through the bottom of the 125-foot-tall dam, releasing an enormous plume of charcoal-gray water down the river and draining the reservoir in hours. A year after removal, kayakers and rafters were running class III to class V rapids on the White Salmon, past the former dam site and extending the paddle for an additional five miles through the former reservoir to the Columbia River. Salmon and steelhead also found their way back to historic spawning grounds above the former dam, though not in full force as they still have to negotiate the gigantic Grand Coulee Dam three miles downstream.
Whether the Klamath dam removals will be as successful remains to be seen, but work has ratcheted up. The first of the four dams, Copco 2, was torn down in fall 2023, opening a section of river called Ward’s Canyon, which had been dewatered since 1925. In January 2024, tunnels were opened at the bottom of the three remaining dams to drain the reservoirs behind them. Construction crews will work simultaneously beginning in March, dynamiting and tearing down the structures with heavy equipment and hauling away debris.
The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) expects the dams on the Klamath will be gone by year’s end. During reservoir drawdown, mudflats emerged from the former footprint. Restoration crews, including members of the Yurok tribe, will plant millions of native seeds to restore and stabilize soils along the riverbank. Crews will also connect tributaries and restore salmon spawning grounds to create more habitat on the free-flowing river. The removal of four dams in such a short timeframe is a feat of planning and engineering and is considered the best way to clear the river of reservoir sediment quickly, as too much turbidity depletes oxygen and harms fish.
Dam removal can be a paradoxical topic for boaters and outfitters who care about both river health and reliable whitewater. While removing the John C. Boyle dam marks a significant win for river restoration, it also ushers in a new era for whitewater rafting on the Klamath, necessitating adjustments from both outfitters and enthusiasts.
Water releases from the John C. Boyle had been a mainstay for a handful of southern Oregon rafting companies for four decades. Despite the hit to business, “We strongly believe dam removal will lead to a healthier Klamath River system and, if done correctly, would also be good for surrounding communities and local economies,” the Upper Klamath Outfitters Association stated.
But transformation isn’t without growing pains.
“It hurts,” said Bart Baldwin, owner of Noah’s River Adventures, which has run trips on the Upper Klamath since the 1980s. The Hells Corner trip made up between 40 and 60 percent of business. “It’s one of—if not the best—whitewater trip west of the Rockies. You have warmer water, beautiful scenery, and mile after mile of rapids.”
The Hells Canyon section on the Upper Klamath River had a reputation as one of the best summer rafting experiences in the West. | Photo: Indigo Creek Outfitters
In 2023, Noah’s and other Upper Klamath River outfitters offered big water summer trips for the last time, serving an estimated 4,000 clients and generating more than $500,000.
“It’s bittersweet, like saying goodbye to an old friend,” added raft guide Duffie, who guided my trip last year through Hells Corner below the John C. Boyle dam. “I’m sad to lose big exhilarating whitewater all summer. But I’ll be happy to see the river free and wild again and excited to see what new stretches of whitewater open up.”
Before work began, KRRC commissioned a group of hydrologists and whitewater boaters to evaluate potential changes to river flow and impacts on boating after dam removal. While acknowledging summer flows will be lower through Hells Canyon and require higher technical skill to navigate, the newly opened Ward’s Canyon will provide “exciting new whitewater boating opportunities,” according to the commissioned report.
Thanks partly to American Whitewater advocacy and commercial outfitter requests, the restored Klamath River should offer easier access with more put-in and take-out locations. Previously, more than 90 percent of boating was commercial due to the difficult logistics and rapids. The trickiest part for outfitters in the future will be timing.
“Flows will be more variable,” said Duffie. “It will be weather dependent, and we’ll watch snowfall and rain closely.” The best whitewater opportunities in Hells Corner will shift to spring, between March and May, rather than summer and fall, when dam releases artificially boosted the flow from less than 1,000 cfs to 1,500-2,000 cfs.
Noah’s River Adventures owner Baldwin is considering how to pivot his business once the river opens again in 2025. “I have to be open-minded; our guests have to be open-minded,” he said. Baldwin will run spring trips but said it will be a different experience with wetsuits rather than shorts and sandals. “It might be sleeting at the put-in. They’re still going to have a good time and remember the experience for a long time, but on a 100-degree day, they’re not worried about water splashes because it feels so good,” he added.
Baldwin might offer fishing trips or multiday floats through parts of the river previously off-limits or flooded by reservoirs. He’s testing smaller, lighter boats to get through rapids with lower flows. The readjustment the Upper Klamath River outfitters face is unique but also increasingly common as more dams are dismantled and rivers freed. Eighty dams were removed in the U.S. in 2023, according to America Rivers. The organization predicts another 90 to 100 will be removed this year, with the number of dam removals growing at 10 percent per year.
Now that removal is underway, Baldwin looks forward to seeing how the river sorts itself out. “I’ve always thought, ‘This sucks this has been taken away from us,’” he said. “But I’ve been down to see the river flowing again with no artificial peaking; it affected me more than I thought it would.”
As part of the Paddle Tribal Water program, a group of Indigenous youth is learning to whitewater kayak to become the first people to paddle the restored river from source to sea. | Photo: Paul Robert Wolf Wilson
First call on the Klamath
Everyone will have to wait until 2025 to boat the undammed Klamath, but the rights for first descent belong to a special group of Tribal youth organized by Rios to Rivers. For two years, Indigenous youth from the Yurok, Hoopa, Karuk and other local tribes have been learning whitewater kayaking skills in preparation for a 400-mile journey from source to the sea. Whitewater is a new experience for some intertribal youth; others have a deeper relationship with rivers.
“I grew up on the Trinity and Klamath rivers, knowing those are our home places and our sacred places, where all of our food came from and a lot of who we are in our culture,” said Danielle Frank, a Hoopa tribal member and the developmental coordinator for Rios to Rivers’ Paddle Tribal Water program. She was born right after the 2002 fish kill on the Klamath and was submersed in the climate movement from a young age. Her father was a frontline activist who fought to remove the Klamath dams.
“We’ve been hearing about this for a long time, and it’s finally here,” she said. “It’s a pretty momentous occasion, and celebrating it with these kids is pretty special.” Frank is currently studying environmental science and hopes to become a fisheries biologist so she can continue spending time on the water.
While learning to whitewater kayak is essential to Rios to Rivers, the training program is more than a recreational pursuit. It’s also about healing and reconnecting to a culture that once navigated these waters in canoes.
“Technically, this is not a first descent,” Frank said. “Our people have been in this river on canoes since time immemorial.”
Frank and the other Rios to Rivers leaders are planning the weeks-long trip next summer with 28 Indigenous youth, primarily from the Klamath River basin. In the process, they traveled to the deconstruction sites and learned how the river and its salmon populations will be restored. They’ve met with elders and members of the Shasta tribe to discuss the tribe’s sacred connection to Ward’s Canyon. Part of being responsible for the first descent, she points out, will be modeling ways to show respect and honor the river’s sacred places. Along the way, she wants participants to develop their leadership skills and reflect on how the river and their futures are intertwined.
“I hope we can teach these kids there’s a reason to stay home and build a life around the river. With a restored river, I hope it’s another avenue for them, rather than leaving the reservation.”
Mary K. Miller is a journalist from the San Francisco Bay Area. A grant from the Society of Environmental Journalists supported her reporting on this story.
This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.
Rafters on the Hells Canyon section of the Upper Klamath River. | Feature photo: Noah’s River Adventures
On May 6, Jackson Kayak announced the purchase of Werner Paddles, forming an alliance between two powerhouse paddlesports brands that have been in operation since 2004 and 1965, respectively.
The acquisition was eight months in the making, but according to Emily Jackson, marketing director at Jackson Kayak, the company had been looking for acquisition opportunities for the last year and a half.
“Basically we have a very large factory and there’s only so much we can produce out of that factory as far as kayaks go,” she explains. “So we’d been looking to find a company we aligned with to potentially bring in production in Sparta, Tennessee.”
The priority was to find a company representing similar synergies as Jackson, such as offering higher end products and working with dealers. Then came word that Werner Paddles was facing challenges manufacturing paddles at their factory in Washington.
Feature photo: Peter Holcombe
“We recognized we had the solution for that in a sense of manufacturing in Tennessee is just a great state,” says Jackson. “It’s a lot more affordable. And it’s a very easy state to manufacture goods in in comparison to the Pacific Northwest.”
Conversations between the two companies began. According to Jackson, Bruce Furrer, owner of Werner Paddles, was deciding between moving the company or selling. At the end of the day, selling Werner made the most sense.
“Anyone that’s manufacturing on the West Coast right now is definitely struggling with the rising cost,” says Jackson. “Paddlesports as a whole doesn’t match the levels of inflation with how much it requires for us to actually produce these goods.”
It was a “perfect storm,” continues Jackson, for Jackson Kayak to have space for Werner Paddles in their factory and to be able to help them continue their legacy.
What’s in store for Werner
For the time being, paddles will continue to ship from Washington, while Jackson Kayak and Werner work to set up production in Tennessee. The goal is to begin manufacturing all Werner paddles in Tennessee in August.
Another component of the acquisition has been working to bring the Werner team to the Southeast. All employees at Werner were extended an invitation to make the move.
“The moving of the product, the moving of the machinery, all that is one thing,” says Jackson. “But then it’s also getting the right people in our factory for a period of time to ensure that the paddles are made to at least the same level of quality, if not even better eventually.”
For the meantime, Jackson Kayak will be maintaining the product lineup at Werner, with a plan of using the rest of the year to assess what’s being offered and ensure the lineup is sustainable. In other areas, changes have happened right away, such as bringing reps back onto the Werner team—positions that were eliminated during the pandemic.
Jackson says the company is grateful to Furrer for trusting them with Werner.
“With the resources we have, the space we have, the factory in Tennessee, the team we have, the reps we have—I’m really excited because I think it’s going to reinvigorate even more energy back into Werner.”
Imagine this: You’re paddling a clear and calm river, when suddenly, you see a large, gray shape ahead of you. As you get closer, you realize it’s a manatee. It comes up for air, dives down and continues under your kayak. You lean over to get a good look at it passing several feet below.
Drifting in search of manatees on the Weeki Wachee River. | Photo: Sarah Phinney
Seeing a manatee from a kayak, or atop a paddleboard, can be a humbling experience. Manatees can be, on average, 10 feet long and weigh up to 1,200 pounds. While their size is intimidating at first, they are beloved for their gentle demeanor, playfulness and curiosity.
Globally, manatees can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Amazon basin, and West Africa. No matter where you are in the world, it’s important to keep a few safety tips in mind:
1. Space is key
If a manatee starts to change its behavior because of your presence, you’re too close. Surfacing manatees are capable of flipping kayaks and paddleboards.
2. No sharing
Do not give manatees food or water. It may encourage them to swim closer to people or boats and it can change the way they forage.
3. Research local rules
Manatees are protected to some extent in every country they inhabit. Familiarize yourself with local laws. Violations in some places are punishable by jail time.
Florida has some of the most extensive protections for manatees, and for good reason.
Manatees inhabit the state’s coastal waters, rivers and springs. In the winter, manatees flock to warm-water sites, including springs and even power plant discharge canals.
While federal and state agencies continue to investigate a high level of manatee mortalities on the Atlantic coast, the most recent population estimates in the state range from 8,000 to just shy of 12,000. Because of that, you have a high chance of seeing manatees in the wild, especially if you visit the following places. These destinations are also highly accessible to paddlers, with outfitters providing rentals and guided tours and designated launches.
A manatee just hanging at Three Sisters Springs. | Feature photo: Maurice Rivenbark/Visit Florida
1 Crystal River, Florida
Citrus County, Florida, known as the Manatee Capital of the World, has some of the best opportunities globally to kayak with manatees. In fact, it’s one of the only places in Florida where you can respectfully swim with them too.
The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1983, protects Three Sisters Springs where hundreds of manatees congregate in the winter to stay warm in the spring water that remains 72 degrees year-round.
Kayak tours are available in the area, but the Three Sisters Springs can be closed off to swimmers and kayakers during the winter for the safety of the manatees gathering there. However, you’ll still see plenty coming and going from the springs in nearby canals.
Visitors who have their own kayaks can launch from nearby Hunter Springs Park. There is a small fee to park. Arriving early is best because the number of spots is limited. Plus, manatees are known to be more active and playful in the morning.
Exploring Silver Springs. | Photo: Sarah Phinney
2 Silver Springs State Park in Ocala, Florida
Silver Springs State Park in Ocala is a top spot for seeing manatees no matter the season because some are year-round residents.
If you visit, you’ll quickly understand why humans have been drawn to the Silver River for at least 10,000 years. The stunning scenery and crystal clear water are mesmerizing. In fact, more than 30 springs have been documented in the upper part of the Silver River.
Kayaking tours are available through multiple vendors, including clear kayaking tours, that help paddlers see the depths of the springs where manatees, fish, turtles and alligators may be swimming below.
Those who have their own kayaks can launch inside the state park for a small fee and arrange for transportation back upriver after a five-mile run. Whether you’re on a tour or paddling independently, be sure to keep your distance from the Glass Bottom Boat Tours that run daily inside the state park.
The manatees are an added bonus to an already incredible paddle on the Weeki Wachee River. | Photo: The Rodriguez Group/Visit Florida
3 Weeki Wachee River in Weeki Wachee, Florida
The Weeki Wachee River is known for mermaids, manatees and magnificent surroundings. The head spring of the river is inside Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, where you can also catch a world-famous mermaid show.
Paddlers who want to begin their journey near the head spring can rent from inside the state park or reserve a spot to launch privately. Only a certain number of rentals and private launches are allowed per hour so it’s very important to reserve in advance, especially on weekends.
Manatees can sometimes be spotted swimming upriver during cooler months. There’s also a good chance of seeing them at a spot called Hospital Hole, just before Rogers Park. However, those who rent through the state park will not pass Hospital Hole because the exit for renters is just shy of three miles downriver, whereas Rogers Park is about 5.5 to six miles downstream.
4 Manatee Springs in Chiefland, Florida
Manatee Springs State Park, along the Suwannee River in north Florida, is home to one of Florida’s largest freshwater springs. A staggering 35 to 150 million gallons of crystal clear water flows from the first magnitude spring every day.
The area serves as an important refuge for the marine mammal, especially from November to April when many are regular visitors to the spring. Tours that center around manatee education are offered at the park. A launch is available for public use for those who want to explore this wondrous waterway on their own.
5 Indian River Lagoon in Titusville, Florida
Manatees can be spotted all throughout the year at the Indian River Lagoon. While it stretches 156 miles long, one of the best places to look for manatees is by visiting the Haulover Canal Kayak Launch at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
There are a number of tour operators in the area and you can also launch your own kayak. It can be quite popular, especially between July and September, when many are out on the water into the evening hours to experience the bioluminescence.
The phenomenon occurs when dinoflagellates illuminate a green-blue color when the water is disturbed by kayaks, paddles, boats, manatees, and more. It’s one of the coolest ways to see these gentle giants.
If you’re causing a manatee to change its behavior, you’re too close. | Photo: Sarah Phinney
Where else to see manatees
While the Sunshine State is considered to be the top spot to kayak with manatees, the marine mammals can also be spotted as far west as Texas and even as far north as Massachusetts during the warmer months of the year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. However, sightings here are less predictable than in Florida.
Travel Belize suggests visiting Swallow Caye, an island a few miles off the coast of Belize City where manatees are sometimes spotted on the seagrass beds inside the wildlife sanctuary. While Belize is said to have the largest population density of manatees in Central America, the population estimates are still a fraction of the numbers found in Florida.
Orton went missing on May 16 while paddling with a group on the lower Melezza River in the Ticino Region of Switzerland. Community pages shared that Orton had become trapped in a recirculating feature and had not resurfaced.
Following the event, the British news outlet the Mirror published a statement from a spokesperson from Ticino Police: “Shortly before 2:45 p.m. in the area of Palagnedra, a man who was previously in a kayak was reported missing in the Melezza River. The searches—currently unsuccessful and still ongoing—began immediately and involve agents from the cantonal police and, in support, from the Ascona police as well as rescuers from the Locarnese and Valli Ambulance Service.”
The Daily Mail reported that following Orton’s disappearance, a group of 15 kayakers continuously conducted search efforts within the river corridor.
On May 30, 2024, the Ticino Police stated, “Shortly before 1 p.m. in Locarno, the lifeless body of the man who disappeared on May 16 while kayaking in the Melezza was found in the waters of Lake Maggiore. The alarm was triggered by a sailor who found the body in the water and immediately notified the emergency services.”
Remembering Bren Orton
Orton was one of the most gifted paddlers of his time. He was known for aerial freestyle displays on high-volume river waves and descending demanding sections of river around the world, including one of the tallest waterfalls ever run—128-foot Big Banana Falls.
More so though, Orton will be remembered as an ambassador of the sport, bringing a grinning ear-to-ear stoke both on and off the water. He was a person who provided encouragement to paddlers of all abilities he encountered. And through the authentic and welcoming persona he displayed on his online platforms, including the Senders YouTube channel, he fostered a connection with countless others.
In the weeks since Orton was first reported missing, the evidence of his impact on the sport has continued with outpourings of admiration and tributes from across the whitewater community.
Dane Jackson: “13 years, 17 countries, and not a single second together was time wasted. I look back on some of the best times of my life and so little of it I didn’t have you with me. As long as we were together, it didn’t matter where or what we were doing, it was going to be the best time. […] You were the best on and off the water, your creativity and motivation inspired me and so many others, and will continue to do so. I am grateful for the joy you brought to my life, and everyone else around you.”
Shane Simoneaux: “I’ll never forget the feeling I had when I listened to this voice message from Bren. I was still just about a year into kayaking and sending him videos to review and give me tips. He made me feel like I had a chance to be a really good kayaker (even though I was probably still a mega beater). I’m sure I’m not the only person he made feel this way either. To have someone you respect so much speak to you this way propels the human spirit to do more, and to really believe in yourself.”
Laura Hofberger: “I hope you knew what a positive effect you had on people. You were not only a good friend but also an idol for me. You always inspired me to try to be my best version, to be more like you. You were an even better person than a kayaker. And that says bloody a lot. You were kind to everyone, did everything with all your heart, celebrated life and chased your dreams. You truly lived.”
Huw Butterworth: “I can’t explain the influence you had on me, and saying that I would not be where I am right now if it wasn’t for you is not an overstatement. You helped me with little things like making sure my camera was set to the right settings, and bigger things like pushing me to make the right moves in my paddling career. I will always aspire to have high levels of stoke and kindness like you!”
Zack Mutton: “I’m grateful for the friendship I shared with Bren. In the last 3 years he was with me for some pivotable life moments on the water and was there for me when I needed it most off the water. It goes without saying he was one of the best well rounded paddlers in the world and invaluable to the kayaking community as a whole. He loved sharing his stoke for kayaking and took time for people that looked up to him. Bren helped me to mature as a paddler both skill wise and mentally. He wasn’t afraid to be harsh and tell me how it was sometimes, and he stood for what he knew was true & right. I came to hold a lot of respect for him and he will continue to influence my life. As life goes on I will try to live my life as Bren did: courageously and bravely approaching life’s adventures head first, one at a time.”
Emily Jackson: “I remind myself of the difference between Living and Being Alive- and the blessing of being surrounded by individuals that know the difference. If you take time to listen to Bren’s videos, interviews, podcast you’ll notice he was incredibly self aware of this truth and pursued living life to the fullest […] May we use Bren’s energy to prioritize the passions and people that make us feel the most alive.”
Minnesota’s more than 10,000 beautiful lakes and abundance of wild rivers make this a place seemingly purpose-built for canoe tripping. With so many tempting options to choose from, it can be challenging to know where to start. Thankfully, the state is also home to plenty of professional outfitters offering expertly guided trips to turn your paddling dreams into reality.
Guided trips are perfect for novices, families and individuals looking to join a group. But these all-inclusive getaways also offer a pampered alternative to roughing it for more seasoned canoe trippers. Say goodbye to freeze-dried meals; treat yourself to the luxury of being wined and dined on a fully outfitted trip.
Beyond convenience and amazing food, you can trust these local experts to take care of all the complex logistics, including permits and shuttles, providing top-notch paddling equipment, and planning the best itineraries to take in all the highlights. Whatever your canoeing skill level, your guides can help you brush up on technique, as well as keep you safe and offer interpretation to enhance your experience.
We’ve explored Minnesota’s top canoe tripping destinations to assemble a list of the best all-inclusive paddling escapes, including relaxing family getaways, challenging backcountry adventures and everything in between.
The trip: Boundary Waters Base Camp: Potlikker and Smoke with Chef Lachelle
If you enjoy exploring and eating locavore, join this four-day culinary wilderness adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA). Guests will spend their days paddling, portaging and foraging in Minnesota’s acclaimed canoe area, and their evenings learning, cooking and eating with Minneapolis-St. Paul chef Lachelle Cunningham.
The outfitter
Minneapolis-based Wilderness Inquiry has been leading canoe trips in the Boundary Waters’ million-acre wilderness since the 1970s. Their BWCA guided trips combine decades of intimate experience with top-notch food and gear. Trip options include a quintessential five-day canoe trip on Sawbill and Kelso lakes, a challenging seven-day expedition, or a relaxed five-day base camp and family canoe and hike adventures. For a more luxurious experience, choose their four-day lodge-based adventure centered out of stunning Wintergreen Lodge on White Iron Lake.
Best for
Adults seeking an introductory BWCA adventure and a meaningful exploration of natural foods.
Bonus perk you can’t resist
Themes of wellness and relaxation continue with guided movement exercises on the beach, yoga, breathwork, a sound-healing experience and forest bathing.
Travel the world-renowned Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness during the quiet season and see the boreal forest in all its fall color splendor. A late September departure ensures this six-day guided canoe trip takes in the best of the North Woods’ vibrant autumn displays, including showy aspen and golden birch. Wildlife is also on the move in the fall, increasing your chances of seeing moose, bear, otter and beaver—or even hearing the howl of wolves as you enjoy a crackling campfire.
The outfitter
Long-standing Ely-based outfitter, Piragis Northwoods Company, provides custom trips as well as scheduled guided canoe trips for groups with unique themes, including fishing trips, a women’s-only canoe trip, and a Boundary Waters stargazing canoe trip. Piragis also offers a practical “Jump Start” guide service, which includes a one-day primer with a professional guide to set you off on a successful trip. Boundary Waters gear rentals and partial and complete outfitting are also available.
Best for
Photographers, wildlife enthusiasts, those looking for relaxed-to-moderate daily distances.
Bonus perk you can’t resist
Don’t miss the impressive bookstore, featuring many outdoor titles, at Piragis Northwoods’ central location in downtown Ely.
This three-day adventure promises a fun-filled family camping experience along the beautiful and historic St. Croix River between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Marvel at a 200-foot gorge, Ice Age potholes and scenic rock formations sculpted by this National Scenic Riverway—widely considered one of the best canoeing rivers in the country. You’ll paddle spacious and stable 24-foot North canoes down the easy-flowing water, enjoying scenic campsites along the way.
The outfitter
A Minneapolis-based nonprofit specializing in equitable access to the outdoors, Wilderness Inquiry creates memorable journeys for families and youth. They’ll handle all the equipment, logistics and meals on this relaxing weekend escape—just bring your sense of adventure.
Best for
Families—easy paddling makes this a great option for all ages and abilities.
Bonus perk you can’t resist
Superb swimming in the clean, clear water of the St. Croix River.
Experience the magic of the Boundary Waters with others who identify as LGBTQ+ on this four-day, all-inclusive canoe camping trip. You’ll be geared up with the best canoeing and camping equipment, feast on mouthwatering meals, and enjoy days of both travel and base camping. This trip is queer-guided and focused on building community and learning with one another in a safe and supportive environment.
The outfitter
Ely Outfitting Company is a gay-owned business that supports diversity and inclusion in outdoor spaces. They offer personalized guided canoe trips for groups of up to eight, ranging from two to eight days, with longer expeditions available. Or choose from women’s-only, beginner or photography group trips in the Boundary Waters. Guides will teach you the camping and paddling skills you’ll need for future trips, while providing insight into the local history and your natural surroundings.
Best for
Friends and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
Bonus perk you can’t resist
Discovering waterfalls and wildlife while traveling in the wilderness with other bold members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Departing from Minnesota Highway 61, this three-day trip travels the remote eastern section of the famed canoe area. Explore a scenic region filled with spectacular bluffs, remote waterfalls and crystal clear waters, making this the perfect introduction to the Boundary Waters for beginners.
The outfitter
Border Lakes Tour Company is a Grand Marais-based outfitter that offers a range of Boundary Waters day and multiday guided trips. Scheduled group tours and custom private trips are available.
Best for
Solo travelers, couples, friends and families with all levels of experience.
Bonus perk you can’t resist
Dinner specialties include steak fajitas and Korean rice bowls.
Travel the historic Voyageur Highway through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on this six-day paddle-and-portage adventure. Expect a challenging route where you’ll pitch your tent in a new campsite every night, view captivating Indigenous pictographs and witness spectacular Basswood and Curtain falls. Rugged portages and deep wilderness round out this classic BWCA experience.
The outfitter
Piragis Northwoods Company is one of the vibrant businesses that makes downtown Ely such a great place to visit. From its Central Avenue location, Piragis offers rentals, outfitting and sales—along with a variety of popular theme-based guided canoe trips, including fishing, women’s and stargazing trips.
Best for
Adult canoeists looking for a challenge—this is a moving trip with many miles and many portages.
Bonus perk you can’t resist
Searching the sheer cliffs of Picture Rock for images of animals, birds and spiritual figures painted centuries ago by Indigenous paddlers.
From feisty smallmouth bass and northern pike to elusive lake trout and the tastiest walleye, the Boundary Waters is an angler’s paradise. Expertly tailored for die-hard anglers, Moose Track Adventures’ custom canoe trips offer an all-inclusive, guided Boundary Waters getaway with lots of great fishing and an insider scoop. Routes are selected based on your interests, desired intensity and skill level, as well as scenery and trip length.
With direct access to the BWCA near Ely, Moose Track Adventures’ experienced canoe and fishing guides specialize in helping anglers make the most of the Boundary Waters’ outstanding sportfishing. Enjoy a stay in the outfitters’ lakefront housekeeping cabins before or after your canoe trip.
Best for
Angling enthusiasts.
Bonus perk you can’t resist
Savoring your fresh catch, prepared gourmet by your guide.
According to Expedia, 71 percent of Canadians haven’t seen the northern lights—but they definitely want to. In fact, the travel hub’s survey indicated that a growing desire to witness the amazing kaleidoscope of colors that lights up the night sky, particularly in high-latitude locations, is the greatest travel trend of 2024. What better way to see the northern lights than on a paddling trip?
Aurora borealis, familiarly known as the northern lights, occur when strong solar storms pummel the Earth’s magnetic fields with charged particles. Just as meteorologists predict the weather, experts can also forecast the likelihood of northern lights. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting that northern lights will peak in the summer of 2025, as the sun’s magnetic field shifts and solar storms become stronger (don’t worry, this is a normal cycle). Short-term space weather forecasts are also available.
It is a special treat to see the northern lights dancing over your campsite on a canoe or kayak trip. It makes sense that northern, subarctic and polar destinations are the best places to paddle and see the northern lights, along with similar latitudes in the southern hemisphere. The best times to view typically coincide with later in the paddling season; not only is solar activity more pronounced as summer turns to autumn, shorter daylight hours as the seasons turn also makes for better viewing. Regardless of your position in the northern hemisphere, aurora borealis is most frequently observed in the northern skies. The opposite holds true for aurora australis south of the equator.
Expedia identified Finland and Churchill, Manitoba as the world’s top northern lights destinations. Our article showcases the best places to see the northern lights on a paddling trip. You may be surprised to learn you don’t have to travel to the ends of the Earth to witness shimmering night skies. Sea kayakers on the Great Lakes and in the Pacific Northwest stand a solid chance of observing the aurora on August trips, just as canoeists in the Boundary Waters, Algonquin and Killarney may be amazed by curtains of color radiating from the heavens on crisp, moonless nights.
Given its northern latitude, it’s no surprise Alaska abounds with opportunities to see the northern lights—as long as you plan your trip away from the long daylight hours of the solstice. Coastal Alaska, including Prince William Sound, is a sea kayaker’s dream, with remote yet mostly sheltered waters, glaciers and bucket-list wildlife, as well as good odds of seeing the northern lights in August. Guided sea kayak trips make this Alaskan destination doable for families and paddlers of all skill levels.
2 Wild Rivers: Alsek, Noatak and more
There’s no shortage of whitewater rivers in Alaska for paddlers to drool over. Guided raft expeditions on iconic waterways like the Tatshenshini and Alsek, which cross the panhandle from Canada’s Yukon Territory and Alaska, are truly adventures of a lifetime. Wild river canoeists can experience the immensity of Alaska’s interior on the Noatak and Koyukuk rivers, where the northern lights dance over Gates of the Arctic National Park. Don’t discount the lesser-known waterways like Birch Creek and the Gulkana River, where novice whitewater kayakers can experience the Last Frontier on guided trips.
Robert Service immortalized the northern lights-viewing potential of the Yukon in “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” The Yukon is truly larger than life, living up to the legends of Service and Jack London for its incredible wilderness, fascinating wildlife and immense rivers. The Yukon River is a classic, with the same backdrop that set the stage for the gold rush well over a century ago and generally flat water suitable for canoeists and kayakers. If you’re looking for mountain scenery and whitewater, check out the rivers cascading into the Peel River watershed, including the Snake, Bonnet Plume and Natla-Keele. Farther north, several Yukon Rivers are great for rafting and canoe trips to the Arctic Ocean. As with any subarctic paddling destination, the trick to catch the northern lights is to time your trip later in the summer, when darkness returns in the lands of the midnight sun.
There’s no better place for sky-watching than the treeless Barrenlands of Canada’s subarctic, including large chunks of the Northwest Territories. Classic Barrenlands rivers include the historic Coppermine. Farther west, the NWT shoulders into the Northern Rockies, giving rise to the South Nahanni River—with deep canyons and a massive waterfall ranking it amongst the planet’s most scenic waterways. Don’t discount sea kayaking trips here, too: a mid-August expedition on Great Slave Lake affords a solid chance to see the northern lights and to experience paddling the wilderness shores of a northern inland sea.
Nunavut is immense, spanning the subarctic Barrenlands to Hudson Bay and north to Canada’s Arctic archipelago. Latitude dictates northern lights-viewing potential: the odds are best if you come later in the summer, once darkness has returned. Nunavut is home to countless wilderness canoe trips and signing up for a guided trip opens this territory to all levels of paddlers. The Thelon River boasts incredible wildlife and minimal whitewater challenges, making it suitable for novices. At the other end of the spectrum, the Hood River features amazing waterfalls and some of the best whitewater canoeing in the North. Paddling the Soper River on Baffin Island, home to caribou, muskox and Arctic wolves, is truly an experience of a lifetime.
An expedition on Northern Ontario’s Missinaibi River is a trip all canoeists should experience—and makes for a tempting teaser for future canoe routes across the Canadian subarctic. The Missinaibi (and Moose River) flows across over 300 miles of boreal wilderness, serving as an aquatic highway between Lake Superior and the Arctic Ocean at James Bay. The river features spectacular waterfalls and good rapids to practice whitewater canoeing, and its northerly latitudes make it a good destination to watch for northern lights. You don’t have to paddle the entire river at once: guided trips isolate the Missinaibi’s greatest highlights and provide the unique option of accessing the river by floatplane.
7 Killarney Provincial Park
By day, Killarney Provincial Park is celebrated as the “crown jewel” of Ontario parks for its austere quartzite hills and lush mixed forests. By night, this wilderness park in Northeastern Ontario is recognized as an International Dark Sky Preserve. Like other popular canoe destinations, Killarney really shines when the crowds thin in the shoulder seasons. The longer nights of September and October make for the best opportunities for stargazing and watching for the telltale colors of northern lights. Several local outfitters make it easy to plan a trip and secure tried-and-true canoes and gear.
8 Lake Superior
Lake Superior is a world-class sea kayaking destination with incredible wilderness coastlines offering a diversity of paddling experiences. Pukaskwa National Park, located north of Wawa, is a highlight of the Greatest Lake, with over 100 miles of roadless shoreline beckoning advanced paddlers to explore. North-facing campsites may offer glimpses of the aurora in July and early August, which is also the best time to paddle on Lake Superior. A local outfitter is an asset in handling the logistics of vehicle shuttles and rental gear. Guided trips are also available for intermediate paddlers.
Michigan & Minnesota
9 Isle Royale National Park
Lake Superior is truly an inland sea, especially for paddlers exploring the wild coastline of Isle Royale National Park, accessible by ferry from Northern Michigan or Minnesota. Uninterrupted views across miles of open water set the perfect backdrop to view colorful aurora on August sea kayak trips. Isle Royale is the least-visited national park in the Lower 48 and its shoreline is rugged and exposed, making it a good destination for intermediate and advanced sea kayakers. Many options for guided trips are available.
10 Boundary Waters Canoe Area
The crowds thin come autumn in the world’s most popular canoe country, making September an ideal time to find solitude in Northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This vast mosaic of lakes and rivers spreads across over one million acres of north woods, making for plenty of options for experienced canoe trippers to plan a trip. Regional outfitters are great resources for trip planning, rentals and vehicle shuttles and guided trips are available for novices. Later in the paddling season, Boundary Waters’ night skies often deliver remarkable curtains of yellow and green northern lights for lucky paddlers to observe, making this one of the most reliable places to view the aurora in the Lower 48.
Washington’s San Juan Islands feel bucolic, set in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and defined by sheltered channels and quaint communities. But this popular sea kayaking destination is also one of the northernmost points in the continental U.S., contributing to its potential as a northern lights destination for paddlers. Plenty of options are available for guided trips, outfitting packages and rentals from local businesses.
12 Haida Gwaii
The magical islands of Haida Gwaii, far offshore mainland British Columbia, are a bucket-list sea kayaking destination for their great marine and terrestrial wildlife, dreamy hot springs and rich Indigenous culture. You can add northern lights to that list, too—with the possibility of viewing shimmering auroras over the watery horizon of Hecate Strait. Outfitters are available to help experienced sea kayakers plan their own Haida Gwaii adventure, and novice to intermediate paddlers can sign up for guided trips throughout the summer months.
Photo: Tobias Bjørkli/Pexels
Scandinavia
13 Norway
Norway’s fjords and crenulated coastline are a dreamscape for sea kayakers. A paddling trip in a place like Tromsø reveals Norway’s immense potential for adventure. You’ll find deep, rockbound fjords and secluded gravel beaches leading to awesome hiking opportunities. The colorful homes of small fishing communities make for great cultural experiences, too. Visit a bit later in the summer to round out the trip of a lifetime with northern lights.
In many ways, Finland is the Scandinavian analog to Canada: the country boasts fantastic canoe tripping opportunities in several national parks as well as the Finnish Lake District, a boreal paradise of interconnected waterways. Farther north, the boreal forest gives way to subarctic taiga in Lapland, home to reindeer and rocky shorelines closely resembling North American canoe country.
This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. 
