PASS HOURS
10:00 am - 7:00 pm
Flatwater Kayaking + SUP
Discover the waterways and natural wildlife by flatwater kayak or stand-up paddleboard.
Flat water kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding take place on the Catawba River and Long Creek. Discover local wildlife and paddle around islands to create your own adventure.
Green CircleDifficult
Blue SquareMore Difficulty
Black DiamondMost Difficult
Options
Difficulty i
Green CircleDifficult
Blue SquareMore Difficulty
Black DiamondMost Difficult
Qualifiers
Flatwater Kayaking (Tandem/Solo)
Difficulty:
Age:
4 years old (Tandem)/
8 years old (Solo)
8 years old (Solo)
Flatwater Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Difficulty:
Age:
8 years old
Where To Check-In
Flatwater Trip Talk
What is the difference between whitewater and flatwater kayaking?
Whitewater kayaking is performed in rapids of varying difficulty using specific kayaks. Flatwater kayaking is done on calm bodies of water using recreational style kayaks. Flatwater requires little or no experience while whitewater kayaking requires instruction, prior experience and specific equipment.
Flatwater kayaking is included in the Annual Pass, Day Pass, and Single Activity Pass and takes place on the Catawba River. Whitewater kayakers may access the whitewater channels with the purchase of a Day Pass or a Single Activity Pass.
Is there a place that you can swim on the Catawba River or at the Whitewater Center?
No, Whitewater Center does not permit voluntary swimming in the whitewater channel or on the Catawba River during regular operating hours. There are specific events or races where swimming is included and authorized. For more information on specific swimming events, you can reference the Race Series and River Jam tabs.
Am I able to leave my personal belongings unattended while participating in the flatwater activity?
No, personal items should not be left unattended at any point during your visit to the Whitewater Center. You may hold onto your items while participating in flatwater activities, rent a storage bin or single-use locker at one of our guest service outlets or secure your belongings in a personal vehicle.
Frontier of Firsts
Follow the experiences of a whitewater kayaker and an Alaskan bush pilot during a whitewater expedition in Southern Alaska, as similarities in their respective passions emerge in pursuit of exploring three unrun rivers.
Forbidden Fruit
After decades of work, American Whitewater succeeded in opening access to Yosemite National Park for paddlers. The park hosts a number of rivers ranging from Class I floats to multi-day Class V+ epics, including the Merced River above Nevada Falls. On...