I'm Fixin' To Give You A Paddlin'

The Boat People are good people. This is where we bought our Sunny. The deal was great, the sale was zero pressure, and the advice was sound.

This was a great trip. The Gualala is tidal so be sure to check the tides before you go. As you can see from the picture below we were stuck portaging our kayak quite a bit during this trip. But the river and the scenery is great. Bring swim trunks and look for the giant log / diving board about 30 minutes down river.

And if you want to complete the trip with a great place to stay check out The Sea Ranch.

Quick disclaimer. That address is to Burke’s Canoe Trips. You can choose to rent a canoe at Burke’s and get a shuttle back or you can put in for free and give it a go on your own. But don’t think that going on your own will be hard. This part of the Russian River is easy and beautiful. If you’re feeling frisky you can practically go from Burke’s to the ocean. Lots of forest, lots of beach, lots of swimming. If you see the River Dog in a kayak floating near you be sure to say hello.

Just the name sounds fancy. This reservoir hiding in the Santa Cruz mountains is arguably the prettiest paddling spot in the Bay Area. Redwoods and firs grow right down to the shoreline. An island beckons paddlers to BBQ. And after you’ve smelled the air and tasted the BBQ, take a hike along the shoreline and head up to get a view of this amazing lake from the top of the mountain.

This river can be fickle. You need to time it right or she’ll leave you stranded. The best time is after the rains have filled it up, usually in late winer or early spring. Any time other than that may leave much to be desired. But if you can get there during the sweet spot be ready for some amazing redwoods and cold swimming holes. The river is dotted with campgrounds so take-outs and put-ins are plentiful.