Lakes

Rivers

Paddling Around Lake Champlain

©Peter J. Coleman 2005
Email: petercoleman@gmavt.net
Web: www.petercolemanphotos.com

Batten Kill Canoe Ltd.                                                                                                                           Statewide
Canoeing, Hiking  
Jim      Walker 
6328 Historic Rt 7A, Arlington, VT 05250 
Phone 800-421-5268 or 802-362-2800  Fax 802-362-0159  
Email:    canoe@battenkill.com 
Web:   www.battenkill.com  
Professional and dynamic travel organization that operates distinctive canoe and hiking  trips for individuals, groups and families.  Comfortable inns, guided day trips, canoe rentals, and trips offered around the world.

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Bert's Boats LLC                                                                                                    Northern Vermont, Stowe/Smugglers
Canoeing, Kayaking, Camping, Tours, Rentals & Sales
Ken Roberts
73 Smugglers View Road, Jeffersonville, VT. 05464
Phone: 802-644-8189
Email: tours@bertsboats.com
Web: http://www.bertsboats.com/

Bert's Boats, the areas first canoe and kayak tour business, and now the best! Paddle in the heart of Vermont's beautiful Green Mountains. Whether you canoe Vermont or kayak Vermont, with us you can swim, picnic, fish, or just take in our beautiful scenery. Guided or self guided tours available. Group tours of any size and 2 day overnight camping tours are available. Everything about us is customer service - oriented, with an emphasis on "Custom". "Our tours and lessons go when you do." If you want to fit in a training ride at a moments notice give "Bert" a call. If you only want to rent canoe/kayak equipment on a daily or more extended basis, we do that too! Transportation provided for all tours, as detailed during reservation. Bert's Boats also offers sales & service of ZRE - Zaveral Race Equipment! Now offering a 4 day Outdoor Enthusiast Combo Adventure. Hike 2 days on Vermont's famous Long Trail followed nonstop with a 2 day Paddle Adventure on the Lamoille River.

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Bold Paths Adventure Travel                                                                                                       Northern & Central Vermont
Connecticut River Kayaking, Youth Camps, Women's Programs
Bonna Wieler
107 Miller Pond Road, Thetford Center, VT. 05075
Phone: 802-333-3549
Email: bonna@boldpaths.com
Web: www.boldpaths.com
We have many years of experience taking people on the water and running camps for children. Now we are putting this happy experience to a new use in our family travel, women's travel and kayaking adventures. Our trips are small, intimate and personal. We offer paddling half day, full day, and overnight trips on the Connecticut for up to 10 people that may be scheduled at your convenience. We provide all the necessary equipment and a certified guide/instructor. We can arrange luxury trips based at a beautiful bed and breakfast, or inexpensive trips based at a local camp. We particularly welcome groups of boy scouts and girl scouts, and other organizations for young people. We offer family tours and women's tours on request. Please visit our website to see examples of what we can do. This year we want to take you to Slovenia, Croatia, Tuscany, New England and Texas.

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Brooks To Bays Nature Tours                                                                                                         Northern & Central Vermont
Birding, Wildlife Watching, Canoeing, Kayaking, Nature Hikes,
Jeremy Brooks
238 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Vergennes, VT. 05491
Phone: 802-318-1956
Email: brookstobays@yahoo.com
Web: www.brookstobays.com
Fun and Relaxing Group and Personal Paddling Tours in Vermont's Natural Beauty. A Safe and Educational Outdoor Experience with a Professional Vermont Naturalist. Are you ready to spend some time relaxing on a gently flowing river, cruising the historic Lake Champlain, or exploring a pristine glacial lake? Are you ready to be surrounded by the many sights and sounds of Vermont's wildlife and wild places? And all of this while getting great exercise, meeting new friends, and spending some quality time outdoors. If you are ready to come away from an outdoor experience with a knowledge of the natural world that will forever change the way you see the woods, waters, and wildlife around you... then come explore with me on a paddling adventure, and see what I mean.

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Clearwater Sports                                                                                                                   Central Vermont   
Kayaking, Canoeing, Mountain Biking, Snowshoeing  
Barry  Bender  
Route 100, Waitsfield, VT  05673 
Phone  802-496-2708  Fax  802-496-2317 
Email:    clearwatersport@madriver.com
Web: www.clearwatersports.com 
Come Canoe the Mad River Valley!  Scenic views, guided day trips, family and group trips, team building, River clinics, canoe and kayak rentals, shuttle service, guided mountain biking and hiking trips,  extreme sledding , camping gear and full service retail outlet.   Customize your trip.  

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Extreme Adventures of Vermont                                                                                                             Southern Vermont
Mountain Biking, Hiking, Kayaking, Rafting, Orienteering,  Ice Climbing,  Rock Climbing, X Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Caving, Mountaineering
Willy Williams
3342 Weston-Andover Road Andover VT. 05143
Phone: 802-875-5626
Email: extremeadventuresvt@yahoo.com
Web: www.extremeadventuresvt.com
We can customize any trip that you would like to try, with any of the activities we offer, and with any type of camping or lodging you would like. Don't hesitate to ask. Most of our trips take place in Vermont. We are BASED in ANDOVER VT.  However a lot of trips take place out of Vermont in places like; MA’s Deerfield river valley and Berkshire hills.  We are open to many options on where our trips take place.  If you have a request please ask us we will try to accommodate you.

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Green Mountain Adventures & Middlebury Mountaineer                                                     Central Vermont
Gear, Snowshoeing,  Fly Fishing, Kayaking, Snowshoeing, Telemark
Steve Atocha
2 Park Street Middlebury VT 05753
Phone: 802-388-1749
Email: info@mmvt.com 
Web: www.mmvt.com
Middlebury Mountaineer has years of experience providing people with top-quality gear and apparel and is ready to show you the best places to hike, fish, paddle or ski. We offer professional guided services for fly fishing, kayaking, caving, rock climbing, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. Top quality rental equipment from Wilderness Systems, Patagonia, Petzl, K2, Scarpa and Atlas are provided for all guided trips. Come learn the basics or refine your skills, Green Mountain Adventures will personalize any full or half-day tour to fit your needs. We hope to see you out on the river or in the mountains!

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Green River Canoe & Kayak                                                                                         Northern Vermont
Guided Canoeing, Kayaking, Rentals and Shuttle
Scott Peterson 
1073 Junction Hill Rd, Jeffersonville, VT. 05464 
Phone:  802-644-8336 Toll Free: 800-347-8266
Email: info@sterlingridgeresort.com  
Web: www.sterlingridgeresort.com/canoe.htm
Enjoy guided canoe trips for 2 1/2  to 4 hours, extend your trip for picnics, swimming or fishing options. We also offer an exclusive guided canoe trip to Boyden Valley Winery for a wine tasting and tour, Tuesdays through Sunday. Canoe and kayak rentals are available with shuttle backup. Groups are welcome and alternative times and customized tours can be arranged. Serving the public for over seven years.

2000 Guide of the Year

Kroka's Expeditions                                                                                                         Southern Vermont
Canoeing, Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting, Rock Climbing, Winter Camping, Sea Kayaking, XC Skiing
Misha & Lynne Boudreau  
767 Forest Road,  Marlow, NH,  03456
Phone 603-835-9087
Email: info@kroka.org 
Web: www.kroka.com 
Adventure for schools and organizations, summer Adventure programs, and private guiding for climbing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, caving, snowshoeing, back-country skiing and much more.

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Maine Island Kayak Co.                                                                                     Our Maine Connection
Sea Kayaking
Tom Bergh 
70 Luther Street, Peaks Island, ME. 04108
Phone  800-796-2373
Email: info@maineislandkayak.com        
Web: www.maineislandkayak.com
Offering a wide range of sea kayak trips and instructional courses. We welcome all levels of paddlers.  Glide silently through protected bays, landing in untouched, remote beaches, paddling along wave swept cliffs, and exploring the seas outer islands. Expand your skills in beautiful surroundings.

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Moxie Outdoor Adventures                                                                                         New England
Whitewater Rafting, Team Building, Kayaking, Fishing, Camping, Lodging, Mountain Biking  
Cliff & Michelle Stevens 
HC63, Box 60 West Forks, ME 04985 
Phone  800-866-6943
Email: rafting@moxierafting.com
Web: www.moxierafting.com 
Located just over the Vermont border in Charlemont, Massachusetts! Come whitewater rafting with us on the Deerfield River We offer full and half day trips for families to fanatics. We also raft the Kennebec, Dead and Penobscot rivers in Maine, come check us out!

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North Star Canoe Rentals                                                                              Connecticut River   
RR 2, Box 894, Cornish, NH.  03745 
Phone 603-542-5802
Email: info@kayak-canoe.com
Web: www.kayak-canoe.com
Canoe the Connecticut River!  Sumner Falls Day Trip, Covered Bridge Trip, Overnight Camping Trips, Canoe Rentals, Rafting Trips, Shuttle Service, Maps, Information and more.

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Spikehorn Ridge                                                                                              North Central Vermont
 Fishing, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Nature Hikes, Wildlife Photography, Canoeing
Miles McCue and Reilly McCue
P.O. Box 135 Washington VT 05675
Phone: 802-439-5836
Email: spikehorn@earthlink.net  
Web: www.spikehornridge.com
Some of the rivers that we commonly guide both day and multiple day canoe trips on throughout the spring summer and fall include:
the Winooski river, the White river, and the Lamoille river, all of Vermont, the Connecticut, the Merrimack river, and the Androscoggin, all of New Hampshire, and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway of northern Maine. There are also literally thousands of ponds and lakes in northern New England that offer some spectacular canoeing opportunities.

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Umiak Outfitters                                                                                                                        Central & Northern Vermont
Kayaking,  Canoeing, Snowshoeing
Steve Brownlee
849 S. Main Street Stowe Vt. 05672
Phone: 802-253-2317 Fax: 802-253-2551
Email: paddle@umiak.com
Web: www.umiak.com
Vermont’s Leading Paddlesport & Snowshoe Center.  Daily scenic river trips, lakeside rentals, car-top rentals, instructional classes, kids camps, tours, group trips, private lessons.  Flat water, quiet water, whitewater. Full retail store.  All staff are American Canoe & Kayak certified instructors.  5 locations  in Stowe and Burlington area.

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Vermont Adventure Tours at Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center                                                                                 Southern, Central - Vermont
Canoeing, Kayaking, Ice Climbing, Orienteering, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Winter Camping,  Women's Challenges, Youth Programs
Steve and Sherry Lulek
223 Woodstock Avenue Rutland VT. 05701
1-802-773-3343
info@vermontadventuretours.com
www.vermontadventuretours.com
Vermont’s Only One Stop Adventure Center, specializing in rock and ice climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, paddling, wilderness survival, orienteering, fly fishing, adventure teambuilding, summer camps,  and wilderness medicine courses. Gentle four to five hour paddles are offered at GMRCC. Our canoe trips takes you under three covered bridges and gives participants a scenic view of Vermont from a much different perspective. Basic canoe and water navigation skills are learned. No experience necessary, canoes, personal flotation devices, and paddles provided. This course will be scheduled for private groups upon request, it will only run with a minimum of 6 participants.

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Village Inn of East Burke                                                                                        Northeast Kingdom  
Canoeing, Guided Fly Fishing & Spinning for all species, Ice Fishing, Guided Hunting for moose, turkey, waterfowl and upland birds, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Snowshoeing, X Country Skiing, Downhill Skiing, Float trips
George & Loraine Willy
Box 186, E. Burke, VT 05832 
Phone 802-626-3161
Email:   villginn@yahoo.com
Web: www.villageinnofeastburke.com 
Experience charming and comfortable lodging with private baths, fireplace, living room, jacuzzi and guest kitchen.  Catering to the outdoors enthusiasts the inn offers guided hunts, fishing and river excursions.  Skiing at Burke Mountain is just 1 minute up the road! Right on Kingdom Trails with over 100 miles of trails waiting to be challanged.

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Wilderness Learning Center                                                                                                     New York & Vermont
Camping, Canoeing, Nature Hikes, Survival, Wildlife Photography, Women's Challenges, Youth programs
Marty Simon
435 Sandy Knoll Road Chateaugay NY 12920 
Phone: 518-497-3179 
Web: www.weteachu.com  
Email: weteachu@dishmail.net 
The WILDERNESS LEARNING CENTER  is a full time school devoted to teaching groups and individuals about the outdoors. Our specialty is   wilderness survival. We run programs all year long, both here in New York and at several sites throughout the Northeast. We have Basic, Advanced, Advanced Adventure and Certification programs in wilderness survival. Also  we  run   wilderness First Aid programs for certification. We have certified Survival Instructors, Licensed New York State Guides and an American Red Cross Instructor Trainer on staff.

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Zoar Outdoor Center                                                                                                            Charlemont, MA.
Canoeing, Camping, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Whitewater Rafting, Gear
P.O. Box 245, 7 Main Street Charlemont, MA 01339
Phone: 413-339-8596
Toll Free: 800-532-7483
Email: bruce@zoaroutdoor.com
 Web: www.zoaroutdoor.com
 We're your New England adventure connection. From our convenient base in the foothills of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts, we offer whitewater rafting trips, white water kayak and whitewater canoe clinics and rock climbing adventures. Our Outfitters Shop is fully stocked with the hottest whitewater boats and accessories. Our paddling school, located on Massachusetts' Deerfield River, specializes in teaching whitewater kayaking and canoeing for beginner to advanced students using a progressive approach that tailors your lesson to you.

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Back to the Top

Whitewater Rafting and Kayaking

International Scale of River Difficulty

This is the American version of a rating system used to compare river difficulty throughout the world. this system is not exact; rivers do not always fit easily into one category, and regional or individual interpretations may cause misunderstandings. it is no substitute for a guidebook or accurate first-hand descriptions of a run.

Paddlers attempting difficult runs in an unfamiliar area should act cautiously until they get a feel for the way the scale is interpreted locally. river difficulty may change each year due to fluctuations in water level, downed trees, recent floods, geological disturbances, or bad weather. stay alert for unexpected problems!

As river difficulty increases, the danger to swimming paddlers becomes more severe. as rapids become longer and more continuous, the challenge increases. there is a difference between running an occasional class iv rapid and dealing with an entire river of this category. allow an extra margin of safety between skills and river ratings when the water is cold or if the river itself is remote and inaccessible.

The six difficulty classes:

class i: easy. fast moving water with riffles and small waves. few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.

class ii: novice. straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated "class ii+".

class iii: intermediate. rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated "class iii-" or "class iii+" respectively.

class iv: advanced. intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. a fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. rapids may require ômust'' moves above dangerous hazards. scouting may be necessary the first time down. risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. a strong eskimo roll is highly recommended. rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated "class iv-" or "class iv+" respectively.

class 5: expert. extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. what eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. at the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. scouting is recommended but may be difficult. swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. a very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential. because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond class iv, class 5 is an open ended, multiple level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc... each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. example: increasing difficulty from class 5.0 to class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from class iv to class 5.0.

class vi: extreme and exploratory. these runs have almost never been attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. the consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. for teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. after a class vi rapids has been run many times, it's rating may be changed to an appropriate class 5.x rating.

From American Whitewater.