Good kayakers never even consider paddling without a lifejacket a.k.a. a PFD.

A Fisherman's PFD offers a large number of handy pockets for your gear. It also might save your life or at least save you a ticket!  See some kayaking PFD's in our Paddler Supply Store.

 

 

 

Kayaks on Lower Mountain Fork River
Lower Mountain Fork River.  Paddle the LMF River !

 

 

 

Kiamichi River near K-River Campground in southeastern Oklahoma.
Kiamichi River near Antlers, OK -  Canoe the Kiamichi !

 

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Dylan and Thomas Canoe the Kings River in Eureka Springs, AR
Kings River Float Trips near Noel, Missouri.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Paddle Routes of the Inland Northwest: 50 Flatwater and Whitewater Trips for Canoe & Kayak

 

 


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Kiamichi River Whitewater near Antlers, OK
The Kiamichi River near Antlers, OK

 

The Mountain Fork River - Class II kayaking in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
Lower Mt. Fork River - Broken Bow, OK

 

Sharing our kayaking photos on Flickr has been a wonderful experience.  The feedback we have gotten from our Flickr Contacts has improved our kayak photography immensely. You can also find us on Facebook now.

 

 

 

Kayaks for Oklahoma

For the last 6 years Dianne has paddled a Heritage Angler 9.5 kayak that we bought at Academy Sports in Tulsa. We are big fans of Heritage Kayaks. They have great features for a very affordable price.

Recently, Dianne decided to give Old Town Kayaks a try, so we bought her a Vapor 12 Kayak.

Although we only go Kayak Fishing occasionally, Dianne has really enjoyed the added stability and storage space that a kayak rigged for fishing offers.

The old Perception Swifty 9.5 foot kayak that Tom paddles has been discontinued by Perception Kayaks. Tom likes rugged, brightly colored kayaks with comfy seats and foot pegs.  The Swifty was a great fit for Tom.

 

 

 

 

 

Class II Whitewater all Summer long!

Mountain-fork-river.jpg (47608 bytes)
Mt. Fork River - Broken Bow, OK

 

 

The White River in Arkansas offers cold water paddling on the hottest of Summer days.
Misty Mountain Hop - The White River near Buffalo City, Arkansas.

White River Float Trips

 

 

 

The Spring River - Paddle from southern Kansas to northern Oklahoma.
Spring River near Quapaw in NE Oklahoma.

 

Kayaking Classes in Oklahoma:

 OKC Kayaks

The OKC Outdoors Network

Chesapeake Boathouse

ACC Red Dirt Paddlers

Oklahoma Float Trips Planning

Canoe and Kayak Spots in the Oklahoma Area

Sunset Kayaking On  Okmulgee Lake - a photograph by Thomas P. Jones in 2008.

My wife Dianne and I love paddling our kayaks in the rivers and lakes of Oklahoma. However, it can be quite a bit of work planning and executing successful boating trips. Even for tame-water-paddlers like us, getting the right info at the right time can be difficult.

You have to know what bodies of water are worth paddling, know where to find the put-ins and take-outs, monitor the river levels, arrange shuttle services and find camping spots or other local lodging resources. 

On this site we try to help our fellow canoeing fans find the information they need to find the best canoe trips and kayak adventures around Oklahoma.  Canoeing and kayaking on the Illinois River & The Lower Mountain Fork River got us hooked on paddling.  We hope you try it it too!

Dianne just got this new Old Town Vapor 12 XT Angler Kayak from Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, OK.Can't find any kayaks for rent where you live?  We can help you buy a kayak. However, I always recommend renting them a few times before buying.  Renting kayaks is a good introduction to paddling as it is usually only available on safe, easy waterways. Also hauling kayaks is no cakewalk, leaving them at the takeout and heading immediately for the nearest BBQ joint is a fine luxury indeed. Also lake paddling is very different from running rivers with whitewater, you will want to choose your boat accordingly.

Sometimes, Dianne and  I even leave Home Sweet Oklahoma to paddle in Arkansas, Missouri or Texas. I can't help you perfect your Eskimo Roll, but I hope to share with you some ways to enjoy Oklahoma life when it is simply too sunny to go bowling. We get out from time to time with a group called the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers. We also try to post all of the upcoming kayak demos and paddling classes that we hear about on our Oklahoma kayaking blog.

Most years in Oklahoma, you will find there are some sunny 60 degree days ...sprinkled throughout the winter months.  For winter paddling, Dianne and I look for sheltered waters you won't find on many tourist maps. You can find them listed on our Oklahoma paddling blog and leave us your comments and tips as well. Get in on the discussion, maybe you will meet some other local kayakers. We are also members of the Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers Group, a great group for Sooner State kayak and canoe

From Our Oklahoma Kayaking Blog  

 

Current Oklahoma Kayaking Blog Postings

 

Dripping Springs Lake near Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Kayaking on Dripping Springs Lake near Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

 

In addition to Oklahoma's officially recognized scenic rivers, we also frequent the  paddling spots not listed on the official records as scenic...but we like them. I think the Lower Mt Fork River provides the finest canvas for scenic nature photography that any Oklahoma pixel hound could ask for. We also enjoy paddling some of Oklahoma's lakes and reservoirs.

Let us know which Oklahoma rivers and creeks you enjoy paddling by leaving a comment on our blog. We own an RV lot on the North Canadian River a few miles upriver from Lake Eufaula, so expect to see plenty of pictures from our kayak trips on that river.  If you have a little time, check out our online stores listed below. They help pay the hosting costs to keep this Oklahoma Kayaking information available online for free.

Scenic Rivers in Oklahoma

There are six eastern Oklahoma rivers covered by the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission: The Barren Fork River, the Illinois River, Flint Creek, Lee Creek, Little Lee Creek and the Upper Mountain Fork River. 

Online Stores

This site is authored by paddlers and for paddlers. We provide location information for Oklahoma kayaking and canoe enthusiasts, camping spot reviews, river reports, kayak launches, outfitters lists and more.  

Oklahoma rivers running too low, try some flatwater kayaking on Oklahoma's lakes!

Illinois River Float Trip!

I took a vacation day from the job recently to paddle the Illinois River in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. At just over four feet, the level was perfect now for paddling!  We chose to kayak the river on a weekday, so my wife Dianne, friend Greg and I were all able to  ovoid the weekend crowds and see some of the local wildlife.  Check my Flickr photostream for more pictures or our blog for a trip report from our most recent float trip.

Bald Eagle Photographed during our May 29, 2009 float trip on the Illinois River near Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
Bald Eagle on the Illinois River

 

Tulsa County Conservation District Water Festival and Creek Cleanup on Crow Creek September 12, 2009 from 7am until 7pm. Enjoy a fun run, art show, educational booths, vendors, and a kid's zone. Meet at Tulsa Riverparks between 21st and 41st Street.

Oklahoma PaddleTales Blog - Canoe & Kayak Oklahoma Read our trip reports here. Leave us a comment!

Kayak Oklahoma Blog Logo
Visit Our Blog

Got some trip advice...email us or drop a comment in on our blog

Old Town Kayaks

Choose a Spray Skirt for Your Kayak


 

Oklahoma Flatwater Paddlers - Great Group for Oklahoma kayakers. Paddling is safer and more fun with friends, meet some of ours!

Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission - Important news and events for paddlers can occasionally be found at the OSRC website.


Got a specific Oklahoma float trip destination in mind?  We have detailed pages on many Oklahoma waterways.  Most Okies float the Illinois River, but that is only the beginning of great canoeing spots in the Sooner State. Want to talk paddling?  Hit me up on Twitter, Flickr or Facebook - Username: FreeWine.


Seen Any SUP Boards Yet?

Paddle boards have been used successfully for many years as rescue boards by the Red Cross, the military, and scores of summer camps. Surfing novices have found Stand-Up-Paddle boards a great way to be introduced to the sport of surfing as the paddle provides an additional means of support and balance. The Standup Paddle Board makes catching even the smallest of waves, even the ripples, simpler. Paddle boards are now being used in traditional surfing settings and also on flatwater like lakes or bays as a means of aerobic exercise or as a platform for fishing.

 

 

 

"The movement of a canoe is like a reed in the wind. Silence is part of it, and the sounds of lapping water, bird songs, and wind in the trees. It is part of the medium through which it floats, the sky, the water, the shores….

There is magic in the feel of a paddle and the movement of a canoe, a magic compounded of distance, adventure, solitude, and peace. The way of a canoe is the way of the wilderness, and of a freedom almost forgotten.

It is an antidote to insecurity, the open door to waterways of ages past and a way of life with profound and abiding satis0actions. When a man is part of his canoe, he is part of all that canoes have ever known." –SIGURD F. OLSON, The Singing Wilderness, 1956

 

Kayak Oklahoma Web Log

See our kayaking weblog page for trip details and links to Google maps to get you there! Read about Oklahoma's unofficial scenic rivers like the Spring River and the Lower Mountain Fork River as well as our trips outside of Oklahoma to other Ozark waterways. You can even grab some cool kayaking t-shirts or other great gifts for Oklahoma adventure seekers.

 

How To Register Your Oklahoma Canoe or Kayak

Registering canoes and kayaks in Oklahoma is a painful, if not particularly costly process.  I don't claim to understand it, but I can point you in the right direction.  The OKC Outdoor Network keeps a very helpful page on the subject.

Your local lakes and river may have additional permit requirements that go beyond state boat stickers and boat registration numbers.  Texas doesn’t require registration of paddle-powered canoes and kayaks.

Okmulgee Lake Kayaking


Paddling Magazines

Kayak Fishing 

Remember you must have an OKC Boating Permit to use Lake Overholser, Lake Hefner or any of the other water resources in the Oklahoma City area.

 

100 Weird Ways to Catch Fish by John R. Waldman

River Maps

 

For our family, kayaking is quickly changing from a hobby to more of a lifestyle. Since we have to manage quite a bit of Oklahoma kayaker resources, I thought it would be handy to have the whole thing on the web and maybe some other folks could benefit as well.

Expect us to post campground reviews, trip reports, Oklahoma paddling photos and news about great outdoor fun happening all over the Ozarks. Although we live in NE Oklahoma, we love to visit our Ozark neighbors and we occasionally even stray into Texas.



Oklahoma Arbuckles Attractions

Search Our Oklahoma Road Trips Site:
 
KAYAKING Paddling Tee Shirt Paddle America T-Shirt PADDLE OR DIE Kayaking Tee Shirt
KAYAKING Paddling Tee Shirt

T-shirt features a kayaking between the rocks scene like in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
Paddle America T-Shirt

Heavy duty, high quality paddlers t-shirt.
PADDLE OR DIE Kayaking Tee Shirt

A Paddle or Die T-shirt ...just about says it all.
PADDLING Tee Shirt Kayak Garage - Life is Crap T-shirt Short Sleeved 100% Cotton Water Sport - Kayak - T-Shirts
PADDLING Tee Shirt

Colorful kayaks combine to create a cool kayaker t-shirt.
Kayak Garage - Life is Crap T-shirt Short S...

Funny kayaker t-shirt.
Water Sport - Kayak - T-Shirts

This kayak t-shirt comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
1.5mm Hyperflex 50/50 Poly Fleece & Neoprene Long Sleeve Top got kayak? Men's Sweat Shirt in 2 colors Small thru 3XL PADDLING Kayaking Long Sleeve Tee Shirt
1.5mm Hyperflex 50/50 Poly Fleece & Neoprene
 
Poly Fleece separates are the latest technological advance in wetsuits.
got kayak? Men's Sweat Shirt in 2 colors
 
Long sleeve kayaker sweatshirt.
PADDLING Kayaking Long Sleeve Tee Shirt
 

Kayaking Store

 

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