In this video, I discuss my method to planning a kayak river trip and river selection. Learn my methods, resources and theory about planning the perfect trip.
Another informative series for those of us relatively new to kayak campiing. There's no education like getting out there and experiencing it, but you have definitely helped accelerate the learning curve...and my desire to get more time on the water!
Good video and good points I like the one about it looks good on a map lol yep never know till you are there. The rivers we paddle camping places change by the day except say a camp ground. South Florida just go like 18" of rain and here in central Florida we got a few. Even the spring fed rivers can very in height due to drought conditions effecting what might or might not be a camp site when you get there.
Snowy River Man Thanks! Where do you live? We have a few smaller trips later in the summer. Im thinking about doing a subscriber trip in the near future...
Great video with lots of great information. I will say that getting out to walk will usually slow you down a lot more than having a lot of flat water on the river usually. Out west there aren't usually a lot of rivers that you can both camp on and get lunch on every day. Only restaurant food I will usually eat is directly before or directly after the trip. For the rivers I float, cell signal is directly related to where the bluffs are at in relation to the river, so if the bluffs are pretty close to the river you are almost guaranteed to have no service. So for a river like the Buffalo in Arkansas you will have no cell service for most of the length of the river, to get cell service you would have to hike above the bluffs and somewhat back to civilization. For the other two rivers I kayak a lot Elk River (MO) and Illinois (OK) cell signal is pretty much everywhere along the river and never really that far from civilization, however the Restaurant food can only be found where people are wanting to put in and out for day trips.
Good points. In Alaska, I was onced dropped in a place with no road for 500 miles. Satellite phone was the only option for communication and there was zero civilization outside the occasional native village. This would be an epic RK trip that I hope to do again in the future...definitely no fast food!!!
Great video. Looking forward to watching your New River trip videos. Maybe one day I can join you guys on one of your adventures. Hint... Hint... What do ya say, Yank? How about tossing a fellow kayaking medic an invite! LOL. Safe travels, guys!
+River Kings LOL, most definitely. I'm always looking for an excuse to get on the water, so if y'all plan any day outings somewhere locally, let me know. would love to join along.
Wow-I usually plan for a trip differently- Usually I'm at work, Pedro texts me and says pack up the truck- we're floating from X date to X date, on X river.... He flashes the River Kings spotlight in the night sky, and we assemble like sheep for another adventure.....
I'll be going out for the first time in a dropstitch inflatable. Is the Colorado River in the Yuma, AZ area a good one for a first trip? My research says possibly but the last thing I want to do is end up hurt or dead because I was wrong
Not sure what part of NC you're in, but I do enjoy floating the rivers with you even if its on my computer. Do you ever make it down towards Charlotte area on your adventures?
Thanks KatYakn, I used to get down to the ww park often during the summer. Now a days not so much. Maybe I should plan a trip down that way...Actually, I am looking at a catawba trip at some point...hmmm
River Kings I've fished the catawba a few times. It's a good paddle for sure. I'm planning on a late summer/early fall trip hopefully down the first broad starting at 74. This video has certainly helped me out on what Google Earth can do that's for sure.
Nice. In the next vid, I will go into a little more detail on printing and laminating the maps as well as gear preparation for the trip...Hopefully it will pull it all together. I will be in touch about the catawba.
I have messed around on Google Earth a lot and I have never found the fly action…that is cool. My wife fears that she has lost me for the rest of our Thanksgiving break! LOL!
Question for you. How do you determine what flow rate of a river is best / safest? I am planning a neuse river in Raleigh trip. I can see the flow gauges, but have no idea what flows are ideal. High flow to avoid rocks? Low to avoid dangerous fast flow? Or right in the middle? Any info you can provide would help. I am looking here: waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv?site_no=02087183
Good question. Translating those USGS gauges to flow rates suitable for paddling can take time. There are some great resources out there. I use American Whitewater as my go to for anything whitewater related. There are some books such as Paddling Eastern North Carolina that have tons of great info as well.
@@RiverKingsKayak thanks, I've got Paddling Eatern North Carolina on the way to me and have heard good things. Thanks again, keep up the great informative videos!
@@Yakyak89 i have def considered that one. I have it all mapped out. We just prefer more action, mountain scenery and more current really. I have done the entire Haw River/Cape fear source to sea. Including a solo trip Saxapahaw to open ocean - 241 miles in 6 days. Was an amazing experience. The crew just much prefers the mountain rivers...
Heyo- Camping along the banks of Virginia rivers is different. You mention "if you can camp below the high water mark, your good to go." Virginia still has a ridiculous law stating that the property owner owns all the rocks along, and riverbed below. You may be arrested for simply stepping out of your boat! This goes way back to English rule and was called the "Kings Grant."
![โรงเรียนดัดสันดาน นักเรียนเถื่อน..!! [โรงเรียนไดเม่]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vRKPeXn4Fl4/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm just getting into kayaking up here in Northern WI . I'm learning so much from your channel, I can't thank you enough.
That's awesome! It's just keeps getting better, but those first kayak years are special! Enjoy it! Thanks for tuning in.
Another informative series for those of us relatively new to kayak campiing. There's no education like getting out there and experiencing it, but you have definitely helped accelerate the learning curve...and my desire to get more time on the water!
You should do a video on how you utilize your Garmin Etrex 20. I just bought one and am clueless on how to use it / download maps / create trips.
thats a great suggestion! Thanks!
A lot of great info ! I anxiously await that trip video. That last one was great.
We are all ready to go and trying to burn off the days until we launch. Thanks and thanks for watching PO!
Good video and good points I like the one about it looks good on a map lol yep never know till you are there. The rivers we paddle camping places change by the day except say a camp ground. South Florida just go like 18" of rain and here in central Florida we got a few. Even the spring fed rivers can very in height due to drought conditions effecting what might or might not be a camp site when you get there.
I have been watching your videos and loving them. Sometime I would love to get out there with you guys for a trip.
Snowy River Man Thanks! Where do you live? We have a few smaller trips later in the summer. Im thinking about doing a subscriber trip in the near future...
River Kings I live in SE PA. Just outside of Philly
River Kings I'd like to be in on that trip
Great video with lots of great information. I will say that getting out to walk will usually slow you down a lot more than having a lot of flat water on the river usually. Out west there aren't usually a lot of rivers that you can both camp on and get lunch on every day. Only restaurant food I will usually eat is directly before or directly after the trip. For the rivers I float, cell signal is directly related to where the bluffs are at in relation to the river, so if the bluffs are pretty close to the river you are almost guaranteed to have no service. So for a river like the Buffalo in Arkansas you will have no cell service for most of the length of the river, to get cell service you would have to hike above the bluffs and somewhat back to civilization. For the other two rivers I kayak a lot Elk River (MO) and Illinois (OK) cell signal is pretty much everywhere along the river and never really that far from civilization, however the Restaurant food can only be found where people are wanting to put in and out for day trips.
Good points. In Alaska, I was onced dropped in a place with no road for 500 miles. Satellite phone was the only option for communication and there was zero civilization outside the occasional native village. This would be an epic RK trip that I hope to do again in the future...definitely no fast food!!!
That would be a pretty awesome trip to take!
Great video. Looking forward to watching your New River trip videos. Maybe one day I can join you guys on one of your adventures. Hint... Hint... What do ya say, Yank? How about tossing a fellow kayaking medic an invite! LOL. Safe travels, guys!
If we keep going bigger and bigger on rivers, we may need 3 medics!
+River Kings LOL, most definitely. I'm always looking for an excuse to get on the water, so if y'all plan any day outings somewhere locally, let me know. would love to join along.
Nice & Informative. Good job man. 👍
Thanks!
Good Video Good Information.
Thanks, Shane!
Wow-I usually plan for a trip differently- Usually I'm at work, Pedro texts me and says pack up the truck- we're floating from X date to X date, on X river.... He flashes the River Kings spotlight in the night sky, and we assemble like sheep for another adventure.....
And why out of 7 days of footage does my swim make this video too?I'll see you soon Pedro!
Because you are the star! Im just there to capture the magic...I'm thinking we may have a star studded cast this year ;)
I'll be going out for the first time in a dropstitch inflatable. Is the Colorado River in the Yuma, AZ area a good one for a first trip? My research says possibly but the last thing I want to do is end up hurt or dead because I was wrong
Hey DitPW! I really have zero knowledge on that area whatsoever...wish I could help!
I live in Foothills of NC....What book do you recommend for New River VA?
I am not sure. I might reference the American Whitewater website for that.
Not sure what part of NC you're in, but I do enjoy floating the rivers with you even if its on my computer. Do you ever make it down towards Charlotte area on your adventures?
Thanks KatYakn, I used to get down to the ww park often during the summer. Now a days not so much. Maybe I should plan a trip down that way...Actually, I am looking at a catawba trip at some point...hmmm
River Kings I've fished the catawba a few times. It's a good paddle for sure. I'm planning on a late summer/early fall trip hopefully down the first broad starting at 74. This video has certainly helped me out on what Google Earth can do that's for sure.
Nice. In the next vid, I will go into a little more detail on printing and laminating the maps as well as gear preparation for the trip...Hopefully it will pull it all together. I will be in touch about the catawba.
I have messed around on Google Earth a lot and I have never found the fly action…that is cool. My wife fears that she has lost me for the rest of our Thanksgiving break! LOL!
I've been there!!
Question for you. How do you determine what flow rate of a river is best / safest? I am planning a neuse river in Raleigh trip. I can see the flow gauges, but have no idea what flows are ideal. High flow to avoid rocks? Low to avoid dangerous fast flow? Or right in the middle? Any info you can provide would help. I am looking here: waterdata.usgs.gov/nc/nwis/uv?site_no=02087183
Good question. Translating those USGS gauges to flow rates suitable for paddling can take time. There are some great resources out there. I use American Whitewater as my go to for anything whitewater related. There are some books such as Paddling Eastern North Carolina that have tons of great info as well.
@@RiverKingsKayak thanks, I've got Paddling Eatern North Carolina on the way to me and have heard good things. Thanks again, keep up the great informative videos!
Follow-up.. ever considered the neuse river trip from falls dam in Raleigh to New Bern? Surprised y'all haven't done that.
@@Yakyak89 i have def considered that one. I have it all mapped out. We just prefer more action, mountain scenery and more current really. I have done the entire Haw River/Cape fear source to sea. Including a solo trip Saxapahaw to open ocean - 241 miles in 6 days. Was an amazing experience. The crew just much prefers the mountain rivers...
Makes sense. I figured as much. Thanks again!
Heyo- Camping along the banks of Virginia rivers is different. You mention "if you can camp below the high water mark, your good to go." Virginia still has a ridiculous law stating that the property owner owns all the rocks along, and riverbed below. You may be arrested for simply stepping out of your boat! This goes way back to English rule and was called the "Kings Grant."
john duke thanks John we stay a little stealthy
Do you sell your River King t-shirts to non-kayakers? 🛶
LM Hines I havent, but could...I will make an order and put them for sale...good suggestion! You will be my first sale.