Whitewater Kayaking Classes

Learn to Kayak on Idaho’s Payette River

Why Choose Cascade Kayak School for Your Kayaking Class?

Whitewater kayaking is a challenging and dynamic life-time sport and Cascade Kayak School can help you solidify your kayaking foundation or take your skills to the next level.

Our Curriculum

For over 30 years, Cascade Kayak School has developed and refined the most effective instructional concepts and methods to help you learn and advance in this exciting sport.

Our Instructors

Top level kayakers in their own right, our instructors are also excellent teachers and communicators who are passionate about sharing the sport of kayaking with you.

Our River

The Payette River features ALL levels of whitewater within one hour of Boise, Idaho. It’s the perfect place to learn, practice and advance your kayaking skills.

Kayak Class Options

Why Join a Kayaking Class?

Shorten the learning curve with Cascade Kayak School’s professional instruction. Gain time in the boat under expert direction and safety to increase your kayaking skills in a cooperative learning environment. 

Kayak Class Reviews

  • Title

    "​​Absolutely excellent experience all around. Great training, well organized and super fun. Cascade raft and kayak made the whole experience smooth and rewarding. 

    Great communication, excellent guide to student ratio. Felt safe the whole time. I did the intro to white water kayaking. They made learning a hard sport fun, safe and fairly easy."

    Dawn

  • Slide title

    "Cascade Raft & Kayak is a top-notch place to get on the river. My second year taking a 2 full day kayak clinic. They have great teaching systems, instructors are very safe and aware of your competency and safety and super fun! You will learn loads of skills and grow in competence at your pace and skill level. Highly recommend! My whole experience has been A+!"

    Don

  • Slide title

    "I have been attending the Gold Medal Camps for several years in a row. It's the BEST way to tune up after winter and learn new skills, no matter your level, while having fun with a great group of people and staff. The confidence they give me makes a huge change in my kayaking! Thanks, Cascade!"

    Jessie

Kayak Classes FAQs

  • Do I need any kayaking experience to sign up for the Introduction to Whitewater class?

    Nope. In each of our introduction classes we often have students who have never been in a kayak before as well as those who might have tried kayaking in the pool, inflatable kayaking on the river, or even done some hardshell kayaking. A roll is not necessary. Our 3-1 student to instructor ratio ensures that we can accommodate a variety of skill levels while keeping everyone safe and challenged.

  • What will I learn in the Introduction to Whitewater Kayaking class?

    Over the two days of class we’ll focus on building a strong technical base in kayaking that will be reliable as you continue in the sport. Starting with a foundation of proper balance and body position and moving through all the paddle strokes, the curriculum is designed around concepts applicable at all levels of kayaking. As far as specific river skills, we’ll work on lots of boat control, eddy turns and ferries. By the end of the weekend, you should be ready to tackle the class III rapid, Climax, near Horseshoe Bend. While we do not teach rolling in this class, we offer roll sessions where you can schedule an hour of pool-time with one of our instructors to focus on the roll.

  • What experience do I need for Cascade Kayak School’s Gold Medal Camp?

    The Gold Medal Camp is designed for the intermediate to advanced paddler. While our low student-to-instructor ratio allows us to accommodate a range of skill-levels, participants should at least have experience kayaking class II-III whitewater and be able to roll. If you have any questions about whether this clinic is suitable for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us with questions. 

  • What about learning to roll a kayak?

    Yep, it’s a great skill and we’d be glad to help you with that. In our group river classes, we focus on teaching you the skills you need to stay upright since hopefully that’s where you’ll spend the majority of your kayaking time. However, the roll is a confidence-booster and is certainly more convenient than taking a swim, so schedule a roll session with one of our instructors. We have found that a short session dedicated to rolling is the most effective way to learn. If you wish to dedicate some time to rolling, that can be incorporated into a private or small group lesson.

  • Do I need to bring by own kayak or other equipment to the class?

    It’s not necessary to bring any kayaking equipment for your class (it’s all included), but if you have your own, you can definitely use what you are familiar with. Our instructors are well-versed in all types of kayaks and equipment and would be happy to answer any gear questions you have. Cascade Kayak School is also a demo center for ZET Kayaks if you’re looking to try before you buy.