Columbia Kayak Adventures-Tours-Sea Kayak Tours and Instruction on the Columbia River

Tours All CKA tours and trips are instruction-oriented and aim to show you the fun and ease of paddling through beautiful places. The Inland Northwest and Columbia Basin is a beautiful, vast place with hidden waterways away from crowds. Warm sun is usual from March through October, making kayaking a perfect way to explore the rivers and long shorelines of inland lakes. CKA offers Half and Full Day tours, and Multi-Day tours. Each offers a different pace, but all will get you excited about kayaking; the fun, challenge and enjoyment of moving yourself along the water’s surface while watching the blue heron near shore or suddenly hearing the slap of a beaver’s tail. Deer, coyote, cliff swallows and hawks are just some of the wildlife you’ll see. New for 2008 - Tours from Clover Island to Sacagawea Park - see description below.
CKA provides high quality single and tandem sea kayaks and gear, plus a guide who is passionate about the places you’re paddling through and the skills you’re using. Upon registration, you are sent a description of meeting location, appropriate clothing and gear you may want to have, and other trip details. Please contact CKA with any questions about tours. If you don’t see what you’re interested in, or offered tours do not meet your schedule, please contact us at 509-947-5901, or check again soon. Personal tours can be created to fit your group. Registration information follows tour descriptions, below. Tours are frequently offered through the Richland Parks and Recreation and Kennewick Parks and Recreation; please check their web sites for additional tour days and times.
Half and Full Day Tours - 2008
Yakima Delta 3 hours; 5-8p Apr 9 & 23, May 21, Jun 4 & 18, Jul 15 Course Fee: $45 Prerequisite: None Enjoy a new view of the Yakima and Columbia Rivers! This tour goes from Bateman Island through the hidden areas of the Yakima Delta, exploring narrow waterways and islands. Look for great blue heron, hawks, beaver, deer and a local osprey nest; all from the level of the water.
Sunrise Yakima Delta Tour 3 hours; 5:30-8:30am; Apr 26, May 24, Jun 15, Aug 30 Course Fee: $45 Prerequisite: None Start at the break of dawn for a quiet morning of wildlife watching in the hidden reaches of the Yakima Delta. An early rise - we meet at 5:30 AM in April and 5:00 AM in May - will reward you with the chance to view wildlife and enjoy the cool morning calm.
Full Moon Tour 3 hours; Mar 21 6:30-9:30p; Apr 19 7:30-10:30p; Sep 15 6:30-9:30p Course Fee: $48 Prerequisite: Quickstart, Intro, or consent of instructor. The river is a different place at night; magical almost, as you paddle under a full moon. Put in near WSU and with a relaxed pace we travel around to the east side of the island where city lights are minimal. Enjoy floating downriver for a bit and absorb the sounds of the water and wildlife, then return along the shore listening for the slap of a beaver tail.
McNary Wildlife Refuge 9a-noon; Aug 31 Course Fee: $50 Prerequisite: None McNary Wildlife Refuge is home to an abundance of birdlife and small bays. Launch is near Two Rivers Islands and tour takes you across to other islands and inlets where pelicans, herons, possibly eagles and other water birds can be seen.
Hanford Reach Full Day; Jun 15, Jul 26, Aug 10, Sep 7 Course Fee: $95 Prerequisite: Quickstart, Intro, or consent of instructor. The journey starts at Vernita Bridge below Priest Rapids Dam and travels through numerous islands along the White Bluffs of the Hanford Reach, the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River. History is dramatic on the rivers’ south where you see preserved and active structures of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, while you pass a pristine area of 300-foot high cliffs that harbor cliff swallows, deer and hawks on the opposite bank. Bring a packed lunch to enjoy at a stop along the way, on this 18-mile paddle.
Special Reach Tour: Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science & Technology Full Day; Jun 15, Jul 13 & Aug 23 Course Fee: $109 This special Reach Tour will be led by a historian from the CREHST Museum, and will include discussions on local wildlife, the importance of the river to this area, and the history of the Hanford Nuclear Site.
Multi-Day Tours - 2008 Leave the routine and rush behind – traveling and camping by kayak takes you to places not easily accessible from land, but lets you bring those small comforts that would otherwise have to be carried on your back! These tours emphasize fun, but as in all CKA’s activities, we encourage active participation and include plenty of individual instruction. From efficiently loading a kayak with multi-day gear, to effectively paddling a loaded boat and paddling with a group; these trips will show you the enjoyment of moving through hidden waterways self-sufficiently. On multi-day tours, CKA provides high quality boats, equipment and gear (including wet suits if desired or deemed appropriate), plus much of the basics for camping. Additional gear can be rented at local outlets as necessary. Meals are usually provided in cost (check for each trip). We encourage meal prep and camp set-up participation as part of the experience! Upon registration, a complete itinerary, trip description, gear list, and suggested clothing and additional food lists are provided. Remember, group and individual gear will be packed in the boats and there is limited space, so pack accordingly.
Women-Only Kayak Weekend May 2-4; Friday evening, plus 2 full days Course Fee: $165 Prerequisite: CKA’s Quickstart, Intro, or Consent of Instructor Improve and refine your kayaking skills while enjoying the company of like-minded gals. Class is based at Deschutes State Park in Oregon, and will explore Miller Island and inlets along the Columbia. Topics will include kayak control and balance, paddling in wind, navigation, kayak camping, plus other interests of the group. Class starts at 6:00 Friday evening and ends Sunday afternoon; camping is available at the park, or lodging nearby.
Family Kayak Weekend August 15-17; Friday evening, plus 2 full days Course Fee: $150 adults, $100 ages 13 and under (with adult), includes boats and gear Prerequisite: Enthusiasm, ability to swim and willingness to participate in activities.
This trip introduces the family to the fun of traveling and camping by kayak. Family can be all in singles or a combination of singles and tandems. Friday evening will cover a quick introduction to paddling and safety, then we'll explore the lake and find a beach to camp Saturday night. Other topics will include kayak packing, trip planning, and activities for kids.
Registration You can register for any tour by calling Columbia Kayak Adventures at 509-947-5901, or sending an email to info@columbiakayakadventures.com. Or you can get a pdf registration form for printing, and mail it to CKA.	Click icon to get Acrobat Reader Free.
Payment is due at time of registration. CKA accepts VISA and MasterCard, cash or check. After registration, an informational sheet will be sent to you confirming your tour/trip time and launch location, plus information on things to bring, appropriate clothing or other helpful tips. Cancellation Policy Full payment is due at time of registration for classes and tours one-day or shorter in length. Full refunds are given if cancellations are made within 5 days of class or tour. No refunds are made if cancellation is made with less than 5 days notice, unless your space is filled. Multi-day classes and tours require a 50% deposit at time of registration and full payment seven days prior to the first class session. You will receive a full refund, less a $25.00 office fee if you cancel two weeks prior to class. No refunds are made for cancellations made within two weeks of the class or tour, unless your spot is filled, in which case you will receive a full refund, less the deposit. CKA reserves the right to re-schedule or cancel a class due to unsafe conditions or insufficient registration. We do not cancel due to rain.