PLAYBOAT THE OTTAWA 2012 !
Valley Mill Kayak School is excited to offer this trip again in 2012. Last year's trip was amazing, with perfect river levels on the Ottawa at negative 1ft. We spent long play sessions at Garburator, Push Button, and Baby Face, as well as getting in a few full river runs of the Main Channel. It was a perfect week!

Staying at Wilderness Tours made the trip even better, with the cedar cabins we rented, continental breakfast every day, lunch provided on the river, and fantastic dinners at Rafters. It was also great to hang out with all our Canadian friends.
Join us on our next trip to the Ottawa, the third week in August for another week of kayaking the beautiful rivers of Ottawa and Quebec. This is an all-inclusive trip designed for intermediates with a solid whitewater roll. We will be playboating,and river running, so bring a playboat for this trip and be ready for long play sessions at some of the best waves and holes in North America. After a long day on the river, prepare to unwind, relax, and have fun at the #1 resort on the Ottawa= Wilderness Tours.

This is a video tour of the WT facilities.

ALL meals, transportation, lodging, instruction and guiding are included in this package. Cost is $900 per person.

A non-refundable deposit of $300 is required to reserve your space for this trip.We will be staying at the best place to be on the Ottawa- Wilderness Tours. Call to sign up! (301)840-7388
We usually rent cedar cabins at WT, but there are many options available

****** We begin booking in APRIL. Sit On Top trips start on the river in MAY (conditions permitting) trips run until the end of Sept.******

The GROUPON VOUCHER has expired, but we have extended the expiration to Oct. 1st of 2012 to give people more chances to redeem their vouchers.

**** You MUST CALL to schedule all trips*****

Sit On Top Kayaking Trips on the Potomac River just minutes from DC From early May through the end of Sept.

The Jackson Riviera sit on top kayak

A video about the Jackson Kayak Riviera, which we use in our sit on top kayaking trips.

A Jackson Riviera tour of the Mather Gorge, Potomac River. The Riviera is perfect for summertime fun!

Take a scenic and exciting trip on the Potomac River on a Jackson sit on top kayak. Valley Mill is proud to be the only school in the DC area to offer this type of adventure. We use the Jackson Riviera sit on top kayak for this trip. Quite possibly the simplest to use kayak on the market, the Rivera was inspired by a group of outfitters who wanted a kayak that was very stable, easy to paddle, comfortable, required no maintenance, and fit paddlers of almost any size. These same features make the Riviera just the ticket for those who want an easy to use, hassle free kayak for just having fun on the water.

The Riviera features a super comfy molded-in seat, four carry handles, and skid plate at the very rear of the boat...perfect for those who tend to drag rather than carry. The beauty of paddling this type of kayak, is that if you fall off, you just climb back on! There’s no feeling of claustrophobia that you sometimes get by paddling a closed-deck whitewater kayak.

This year we will be operating all sit on top kayaking trips out of Riley's Lock in Darnestown MD, just 20 minutes from DC. (See our Directions page on how to get to Riley's Lock)

During this trip you will learn some strokes, and learn how to climb back on the Riviera from the water, and learn some river running concepts . You will get to run some easy class 2 and 2+ rapids. When the Potomac is low it’s the perfect summertime activity, and a great way to cool off!

All gear is supplied for this 3 hour trip. You must weigh between 100-275 pounds, and be able to swim, and be in reasonably good health. You will be required to carry your kayaks to and from the river a short distance. You must have sturdy footwear for portaging, and that will stay on your feet if you take a swim. Flip flops, clogs, and other loose fitting footwear are unacceptable !

Trips run WEEKENDS ONLY from early May to Oct.,1st (* weather, and river conditions permitting*)

The Cost is $89 per person You must CALL TO SIGN UP ! (301)840-7388

The ‘Whitewater Experience’: Guided tours and lessons in the new Dynamic Duo, two- person kayak!

Dynamic Duo in action! Photo by Linel Soto

We’re excited to be adding a couple new lessons to our program featuring the brand new two- person kayak from Jackson Kayaks- the Dynamic Duo.

The Dynamic Duo Whitewater Experience Level 1, (WE1)- Have you ever wanted to try whitewater kayaking, but were hesitant to go it alone in a single kayak? Then this course is for you! No prior experience is necessary! You don’t learn to skydive solo, so why learn to kayak solo? All you have to do is paddle, enjoy the ride, and have fun. We will put you in the front seat of this two-person kayak and our experienced instructor will guide you down the rapids as they sit in the back seat. It gives the term ‘backseat driver’ a good name. You will be running class 1, 2, and 3 rapids your first time in a kayak, whereas it would take you weeks, if not months, to be able to do the same thing on your own. Sign up for your first whitewater experience today! Call to sign up! (301)840-7388 Lesson Duration= 3 Hours Lesson Cost= $200 Lesson Location= Anglers Inn, Potomac

The Dynamic Duo Whitewater Experience Level2, (WE2)- Are you a beginner/novice kayaker who has been paddling before, but wants to run harder rapids than you can do solo? Then step up to the WE2 ! We’ll take you down the beautiful Mather Gorge or Little Falls sections of the Potomac in the Dynamic Duo. You’ll get the thrill of running class3 rapids in the comfort and stability of the Dynamic Duo. Your instructor will make sure you have a smooth, fun ride as you paddle down this awesome section of the Potomac River! Lesson Duration= 3 Hrs Lesson Cost= $200 Lesson Location= Anglers Inn, Potomac

The Dynamic Duo Whitewater Experience Level3, (WE3)- This is the trip for someone who really wants to run a river, but wants to do it with the safety and security of having a guide in the same boat with them. The Dynamic Duo is the perfect kayak to run this sort of river trip. You can choose from the following rivers/runs to get your whitewater fix; Cheat, Lower Yough, North Branch Potomac, Shenendoah , and more..You can even create your own custom trip- just call us with your idea and we’ll see if we can make it happen! Lesson Duration= 4hrs Lesson Cost= $280 Lesson Location= Rivers Everywhere!

NEW-Come kayak the Lower Gauley! We have 1, 2, or 3 day trips available Gauley Festival weekend in Sept. A solid roll and comfort in class 3 whitewater is required. Lodging/camping fees not included.
1 Day Lower Gauley Adventure- $175
2 Day Lower Gauley Adventure- $300
3 Day Lower Gauley Adventure-$450
(call to sign up! space is limited and camping is extra= We stay at the Confluence Resort in Fayetteville WV, multiple lodging/camping options are available!)

Guided trips available on the Lower Yough! (Private guided trips may also be scheduled- call us!) Lower Yough- $150 one day, and $225 two day guided trips available, and all trips are lead by experienced, certified guides. Call to sign up today

IMPORTANT: Our Cancellation Policy:We do NOT give refunds on any lesson, trip, or lesson packages purchased. If we cancel a lesson, due to high river levels, or inclement weather, we will issue a make-up date, according to availability on our schedule. We do not give refunds for any reason whatsoever. We will issue a credit towards future lessons, if needed, but no refunds will be given.You may transfer your lesson, or lesson package to someone else, but they must meet eligibility requirements prior to taking any lesson.If you need to reschedule or cancel your lesson, we require proper advance notice. You must contact us by close of business at least 48hrs prior to your lesson start time. For example;If your lesson is on a Saturday, and you wish to reschedule, you MUST contact us by 6pm on the Wednesday before your lesson. Failure to give sufficient notice, or not showing up for your lesson, is considered a “no-show” and you will forfeit your lesson and not be given a refund= NO EXCEPTIONS !!! If you cancel with proper notice, you may reschedule according to availability on our schedule.If you have any question whatsoever considering our policy, please don’t hesitate to call us! (301)840-7388 Thank You