Warm up with these kayaking events



Recent Wednesday evening social paddle, Lake Natoma

Has warm weather finally arrived in Northern California? Let’s hope so, since so many kayak events are coming up – here’s a sample:  California sea kayaking lake kayaking river kayaking

Paddlefest is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, at Lake Natoma near Folsom. This California Canoe & Kayak event is the granddaddy of all demo days in the area, with a large selection of kayaks and gear, free seminars, and manufacturer reps available to answer questions.

There’s a $10 fee (adult) to demo boats and a $10 day use fee to park at Nimbus Flats if you don’t have a park pass. (And wouldn’t this be an excellent time to buy a state park pass? It will easily pay for itself this summer, plus it supports our parks in tough times. See the park story below.) Tip: Get to this event early in the day, it can get very crowded. You also might be able to snag a free PFD from the California Department of Boating and Waterways.

And once you’ve geared up, it's easy to find organized, weekly paddling dates. Check out the Lodi Paddle Club’s sunset paddles at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays on Lodi Lake. Join the club to go to this freebie. Also check the club site for a free, monthly paddling clinic courtesy of Dan Arbuckle at The Headwaters kayak shop.

Back in Sacramento, a Wednesday evening social paddle is held by CCK at Lake Natoma. Check the link for details and fees.

For more commercial and non-profit kayaking events and trips, check out the club and store links on the right-hand side of this page. California sea kayaking lake kayaking river kayaking

© 2011 Glenn Brank