Madawaska River Adventure
This trip is designed as the perfect introduction to whitewater packrafting - an opportunity to begin learning about paddling these dynamic boats. Along with basic packrafting skills and paddling strokes, we will introduce you to moving water and help you learn the basics of whitewater river paddling. From reading rapids to picking routes, whitewater manoeuvres and what to do in the event of a swim, we’ll help you get comfortable on the river.
Course details:
Where: Palmer Rapids and the Lower Madawaska River
Duration of course: 3 days, 2 nights
Maximum Participants: 8
Skill Level: Beginner
Guide Ratio: 1:4
Cost: $815
Trip Dates:
Trip 1 - June 14th - June 16th, 2024
Trip 2 - August 16th - August 18th, 2024
Day 1 Itinerary: We meet at Paddler Co-op at 8:30 a.m. After get-to-know-you’s we will fit paddlers for gear and rafts and go over some boating basics on land. We will then get on the water and practice basic strokes as we paddle up to the lower set at Palmer Rapids. In the late morning we begin our whitewater specific lessons on reading river features and moving water safety. After a lunch break around noon we will continue with the basics of paddling in moving water and complete runs of the lower set.
Day 2 Itinerary: Guests will drive their personal vehicles to the Greater Madawaska Canoe and drop their vehicles at the takeout point of the Lower Madawaska River. A short shuttle trip to the put-in at Aumond’s Bay and we begin our overnight river adventure! As we paddle the flat water sections of the river you can take in the scenic natural beauty of the Canadian Shield. At each rapid we will take time to scout and continue to develop our river reading skills. There may be opportunity to play and practice paddling skills at some rapids. We camp that night at one of the many campsites on the river, enjoying a roaring fire and a delicious camp meal.
Day 3 Itinerary: After a delicious breakfast on the river and packing up camp we resume our whitewater adventure, paddling and playing in the remaining rapids on the lower Mad. After finishing the river we return to the take-out and our waiting vehicles, for the journey home.
What’s Included:
All meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 3.
All necessary packraft and river gear: packraft, life jacket, helmet, wetsuit, paddle, river safety kit, dry bags for packing your gear.
Professional guides trained in river travel, wilderness safety, and first aid.
On water instruction.
Group camping equipment: stoves and cookware, tents, thermarests, camp shower, hand wash station, camp chairs, rain shelters, emergency communication devices.
Camping fees at Paddler Co-op on day 1.
Shuttle transportation to the Madawaska river put-in from Greater Madawaska Canoe.
What’s Not Included:
Transportation to/from the course locations.
Transportation from Paddler Co-op to the Greater Madawaska Canoe shuttle location on day 2.
Personal items and clothing, sleeping bags.
Alcoholic beverages.