What we’re about
With Canoe and Kayak Paddlers strangers are welcomed as friends and friends become like family. We are the only FIVE STAR rated paddling Group in the SF Bay Area. Our group is good for recreational canoe and kayak paddlers. We feature paddling with friendly folks once you know the basics. We are not a guide service therefore you must already have basic paddling skills.
Our trips are intended to be friendly and social for people who have paddling experience. Trips vary from easy, appropriate for almost anyone, to trips which require a moderate level of physical fitness and Intermediate boating skill. We seldom do "advanced" level trips. However, all paddlers must expect and be prepared for sudden changes in weather and currents which are common in the SF Bay Area.
Most trips are appropriate for canoes and kayaks. Canoes of 15 to 17 feet are common and touring kayaks not less than 12 feet, our trips do not allow folding boats, inflatable boats or SUP's. Our trips are four to six hours long and between six and twelve miles in length, and include a lunch stop along the shore. We paddle reservoirs, lakes, rivers, SF Bay, creeks, sloughs, and estuaries.
To join us you need basic skills including getting in and out of your boat, paddling in a straight line and being able to steer and control your boat in windy conditions. You should be in normal physical condition, able to paddle at an easy pace for an hour or two at a stretch without a real break. You need to be able to climb unassisted in and out of your boat in a variety of places, including steep banks, high docks, etc., and you must be able to keep pace with other paddlers.
Canoe and Kayak Paddlers is totally non-commercial. We are not a guide service. All activities are simply opportunities for boaters with appropriate skills to paddle together. The trip coordinators are not required to have training in boating or outdoor safety or carry emergency equipment. We are not experts.
All water sports are potentially dangerous. Participants must assess the appropriateness of their own physical condition, skills, and equipment for any activity, and make their own decisions about safety. If you are not sure if your skills and equipment are appropriate for a trip discuss it with the trip coordinator before starting on a trip. We recommend that all paddlers take lessons in boat handling, safety, and rescue. A life jacket must be worn while on the water.
Our goals:
· Share paddling as a safe, enjoyable, and congenial experience
· Introduce members to new places to paddle
· Create opportunities for members to increase their paddling proficiency
· Offer a central communication hub through our website
· Provide social, informational, and recreational gatherings associated with the sport of paddling
Upcoming events
1
Estero de Americano – Rated: L2 Easy IF light wind
Valley Ford Franklin School Road & Marsh Road, California, CA, USTo join C&KP Meetup trips after December 1, 2025, there is no fee, however please ensure that you’ve signed the Western Sea Kayakers annual liability release that’s available online at https://form.jotform.com/JLAagency/western-sea-kayakers-waiver
If the wind is less than 10 mph, THIS PADDLE SHOULD BE ON EVERYONES MUST DO LIST !
Meet 9:00 am, on the water by 9:30 am.
Cross Roads: Valley Ford Franklin School Rd. and Marsh Rd. 94972
Valley Ford, CA
No inflatables, Oru’s or SUP’s. Minimum boat length 12 feet.
Estero Americano may be the most beautiful paddle in the Bay Area; winding through wild, open ranch land to a gorgeous beach on the Ocean that is not accessible by car. The paddle is 12 miles round trip - longer than usual. We will move at a steady pace and we need to keep everyone together. There are no places to get out of the boat before the beach. Consider your speed and stamina. The put-in is right beside the bridge.
No facilities and few bushes. Put-in can be steep and muddy, the launch site is totally unimproved - no beach, dock, toilets, etc. - it can be awkward getting in and out of a boat - not recommended for those with mobility issues. Bring normal safety equipment.
Directions: From town on Valley Ford, take Valley Ford Road/Franklin School Road, south for 1 mile to bridge. Just past the bridge turn left onto Marsh Road, then immediately turns left onto dirt track parallel to bridge.
PLEASE READ THIS: The organizers of this trip are not experts, not professional paddlers and do not necessarily have safety training or carry any safety equipment. Each paddler must have the training, experience and equipment required to complete this paddle safely, and must assume all personal risks. A Coast Guard approved life jacket or Personal Flotation Device must be worn by everyone while on the water.
Rain or strong winds may cancel this trip. Check your email the night before for information and updates regarding this trip.
This trip is sponsored by Western Sea Kayakers
Trips Rating L2 explained
This trip is good for Experienced Beginners with light chop on the water and wind less than 10 mph. The trip may challenge the forward progress and directional control of novice paddlers. We will stay within ½ mile of a shore line, where currents will be less than 1.5 mph and waves less than 8 inches. Total distance 7 to 10 miles with a short break for snacks or lunch.
Recommended skills are Forward and Reverse strokes, sweep, draw and bracing strokes are helpful. Paddlers should be able to perform deep water rescue as both swimmer or rescuer in calm water, maintain a 2.7 mph pace for up to 1 hour, and have basic piloting skills.
Level 2 Paddlers plan to stay in mostly calm conditions but have the skills and knowledge to venture beyond swimming distance from shore and may tour along a shoreline with many easy landing options. You can enter and exit your boat without assistance. You can manage a little wind and choppy water, but plan to head to shore for protection if the wind is greater than 12 mph. You can perform deep water rescue with assistance5 attendees
Past events
385
