Kayaking is a blast! It's fast-moving, exhilarating, challenging and hard to beat on a hot summer day. This is a great place to learn.

New River Kayaking in West Virginia

The New River is warm from late spring to the fall--a relevant fact considering you'll be spending a lot of time upside down. There are several moderate sections to run where you'll be able to practice your strokes, roll, ferrying, and peeling out in a gentle, non-threatening environment.

Also, because this is a paddling hotspot, there are scads of qualified instructors. Almost all the raft companies offer kayak instruction.