*This self guided, audio tour is included (free) with all single kayak rentals for a limited time. Upgrade your tandem or SUP rental at checkout for just $19.99.
Modern technology is wonderful but it can also be overwhelming. 24/7 news, 'Santa' delivering packages daily and the NFL is not just for Sunday's anymore. So, to counter-balance the digital onslaught we are upgrading your basic rental with location-based audio to help connect you viscerally to the environment that surrounds you. A sprinkle of 'jungle cruise magic' for real rivers, lakes & streams to nurture curiosity in nature and established a sense of place. Real sunsets, real birds, true stories, early explorers, diverse cultures and wave after wave of economic boom & bust. It all happens on water!
*Now enhanced by Yak Audio! As you enjoy your time on the river, you can use this audio guide to explore points of interest along the way. We'll share snippets of history, culture, and ecology to give you a sense of the rich diversity that makes the Napa River - and the entire Napa Valley - so unique.
Enjoy the Napa River at your own pace - mute the yakking anytime!
Duration: 1-3 hours | Distance: 2.5 – 8 miles | Difficulty Level: Easy, beginners
Starting Point: Kennedy Park or Cuttings Wharf
Your tour begins in South Napa wetlands with expansive views and a panoramic skyline stretching from Mt. Veeder to Atlas Peak and Coombsville. Your flotilla will experience the full transition from wetlands to forest, gliding along a path of least resistance. As the river narrows a mild current ushers you through Downtown into the forest canopy of the Oxbow Preserve where shorebirds make way for kingfishers, turtles, and the occasional otter or beaver. As one of the most biologically diverse regions in the San Francisco Bay Area, Yak Audio will elevate your connection to nature, history and the environment that surrounds you. Enjoy ecological history of the Napa River past and present and learn about its rich habitat and native American fishing village.
Duration: 1.5-2.5 hours | Distance: 3.5 – 5.4 miles | Difficulty Level: Medium
Starting Point: Trancas Park
Discover the most northerly reach of San Pablo Bay, nearby vineyard, marsh, mountain views and wildlife in this truly diverse experience. Get a chance to paddle the morning ebb tide on the Napa River into the riparian forest, the Oxbow Preserve, downtown, and beyond. Observe a complete transition from forest to wetland and the renaissance of downtown Napa.
Note: Paddleboarders must be pre-screened for this tour. Requires a morning high tide, riding the outgoing tide
NOTE: Napa Valley Paddle also offers customized Premium Packages for self-guided tours that include picnic lunches & snacks, wine tasting, oyster tasting, and more
Napa River Awaits You!! What Are You Waiting For??