Rental spots differ by whether they offer flatwater paddling or river trips with shuttle service, as well as the types of watercraft available, such as single, tandem, or sit-on-top kayaks. Some locations include paddles, life jackets, and dry bags in the base rate, while others charge extra or require advance reservations for weekend launches. A map pin shows where the launch site is, but it does not tell you if the location caters to self-guided beginners or experienced paddlers tackling moving water.
Lotus 14
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Current Adventures Kayak School
1032 Lotus Rd, Lotus, CA 95651
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EarthTrek Expeditions
7340 State Hwy 49, Lotus, CA 95651-9757
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Sierra Whitewater
6400 CA-49, Lotus, CA 95651
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Action Whitewater Adventures
6260 State Highway 49, Lotus, CA 95651
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WET River Trips
5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus, CA 95651
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Mother Lode River Center
6280 CA-49, Lotus, CA 95651
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H2O Adventures - American River Rafting
6400 CA-49, Lotus, CA 95651
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Sierra Whitewater Rafting
5461 Bassi Rd, Lotus, CA 95651
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Whitewater Excitement
6580 State Hwy 49, Lotus, CA 95651-9755
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All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
1026 Lotus Rd, Lotus, CA 95651
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Action Whitewater
Lotus, CA
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Raft California - American River Rafting
6500 State Highway 49, Lotus, CA 95651
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Beyond Limits Rafting Adventures
7321 River Park Dr, Lotus, CA 95651
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Tributary Whitewater Tours
6500 Ca-49, Lotus, CA 95651
San Diego 11
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Aqua Adventures Mission Bay
1548 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109-8304
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La Jolla Kayak
2199 Avenida De La Playa, San Diego, CA 92037
Monday – Sunday 9am – sunset
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Redline Fishing Kayaks and Paddleboards
3780 Hancock St, San Diego, CA 92110-4328
MON – FRI 9AM TO 4PM, SAT – SUN 7AM TO 5PM
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La Jolla Sea Cave Kayaks
2164 Avenida De La Playa, San Diego, CA 92037
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Everyday California Kayak, Surf & Snorkel
2261 Avenida De La Playa, San Diego, CA 92037
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Just Kayak
4090 Dawes St, San Diego, CA 92109
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SUP California
4080 Dawes St, San Diego, CA 92109-5012
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West Coast Paddle Board Rentals
2592 Laning Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
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Discos Paddle Surf
5000 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92106-2386
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San Diego Dive & Kayak
2727 De Anza Rd, San Diego, CA 92109
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SD Glass Kayak
Mission bay, San Diego, CA 92109
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Sierra South Mountain Sports
11300 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238
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Mountain & River Adventures
11113 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238
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Whitewater Voyages
11316 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238
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SoCal Camping
100 Mountain Dr, Kernville, CA 93238
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Eagle Rafting
13226 Sierra Way, Kernville, CA 93238
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SoCal Rafting
11101 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238
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Kern River Rafting
11101 Kernville Rd, Kernville, CA 93238
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Pirate Coast Paddle Company
1131 Back Bay Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660-7405
Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat–Sun 10am–6pm
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Southwind Kayak Center Rental Base
100 N Bayside Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Mon 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 9am–5pm
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Newport Sea Base
1931 W Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663-5030
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Lido Paddle Sports
3300 Via Lido, Newport Beach, CA 92663
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Paradise Paddle
505 S Bay Front, Newport Beach, CA 92662
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Rock Kayak
845 Embarcadero #11, Morro Bay, CA 93442
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Morro Bay Paddlesports
1215 Embarcadero Ste. B, Morro Bay, CA 93442
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A Kayak Shack
Stat. Prk. Marina Parking Lot, On The WATER!, 10 State Park Rd, Morro Bay, CA 93442
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Central Coast Outdoors
10 State Park Rd, Morro Bay, CA 93442-2430
Monday - Sunday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM
Napa 4
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Napa Valley Paddle
Napa Valley Paddle, 100 Riverside Dr, Napa, CA 94559
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Napa Valley Kayak
700 Main St, Napa, CA 94559
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Willis Construction Co.
1832 Soscol Ave Ste 109, Napa, CA 94559
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Enjoy Napa Valley
100 Riverside Dr, Napa, CA 94559
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Cal Coast Adventures at West Beach
45-99 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
09:00-17:00
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Cal Coast Adventures
736 Carpinteria St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
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Santa Barbara Adventure Company
520 E Haley St Ste A, Santa Barbara, CA 93103-3164
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Paddle Sports Center
117 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
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Sequoia Adventures
43365 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271
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Kaweah Whitewater Adventures
41933 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271-9400
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Mountain Descents
41811 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271
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Good Times Adventures
41667 Sierra Dr, Three Rivers, CA 93271-9406
Coloma 3
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American Whitewater Expeditions
5981 New River Rd, Coloma, CA 95613
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WHITEWATER CONNECTION
7237 Hwy 49, Coloma, CA 95613
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Action White Water Adventures
7421 State Hwy 49, Coloma, CA 95613
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Mirabel Park Resort Burkes
8600 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436
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Rubicon Adventures
CA-116, Forestville, CA 95436
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Burke's Canoe Trips
8600 River Rd, Forestville, CA 95436
Fresno 3
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Fresno Rafting Co.
10645 N Lanes Rd, Fresno, CA 93730
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Creative Home Concepts
466 W Fallbrook Ave Ste 110, Fresno, CA 93711
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Rlc Design Progressions
6222 N 1st St Ste 108, Fresno, CA 93710
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OC Paddlesports
16862 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 90742
Weekdays 9 AM - 5 PM, weekends 8 AM - 5 PM
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OEX Sunset Beach
16910 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 90742-2098
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Philip J Nielsen Design & Drafting
6131 Anacapa Dr, Huntington Beach, CA 92647
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Bigfoot Rafting
31221 CA-299, Junction City, CA 96048
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Six Rivers Rafting
38400 CA-299, Junction City, CA 96048
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Trinity River Rafting
31021 CA-299, Junction City, CA 96010
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Tahoe Paddle and Oar
8612 N Lake Blvd, Kings Beach, CA 96143
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North Tahoe Paddle
141 Secline St, Kings Beach, CA 96143
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Tahoe Paddle and Oar
8299 N Lake Blvd, Kings Beach, CA 96143
Lodi 3
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Lodi Boathouse Kayak and Stand Up Paddleboard Rentals
1101 W Turner Rd, Lodi, CA 95242
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Headwaters Kayak Shop
847 N Cluff Ave Ste A6, Lodi, CA 95240-0765
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Lodi Paddlesports Center
847 N Cluff Ave Ste A-6, Lodi, CA 95240
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LA River Kayaks
2900 Clearwater Street, Los Angeles, CA 90039
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LA River Kayak Safari
2825 Benedict St, Los Angeles, CA 90039
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LA Harbor Dragon Boat Club
3000 Shoshonean Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90731
Monterey 3
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Adventures By The Sea
299 Cannery Row Ste A, Monterey, CA 93940
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Monterey Bay Kayaks
693 Del Monte Ave, Monterey, CA 93940
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Adventures By The Sea
210 Alvarado St, Monterey, CA 93940
Oxnard 3
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Channel Islands Kayak Center
3600 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard, CA 93035-4136
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Blue Ocean Kayaking
3600 Harbor Blvd, Oxnard, CA 93035-4136
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Oxnard Dragon Boat club
4308 Tradewinds Dr, Oxnard, CA 93035
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American River Raft Rentals
11257 S Bridge St, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
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California Canoe & Kayak
11349 Folsom Blvd Ste C, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
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Headwaters Adventure Company
11349 Folsom Blvd Ste C, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
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Dogpatch Paddle & Kayak
701 Illinois St A, San Francisco, CA 94107
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City Kayak
40 Pier, San Francisco, CA 94107
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Ucsf Outdoor Programs
500 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94143-2203
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Kayak Tahoe
3411 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
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South Tahoe Kayak and Paddleboard
1004 Lakeview Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
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Truckee River Rafting
3100 US Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150-9214
Truckee 3
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Irie Rafting
7320 River Road, Truckee, CA 96146
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Tahoe Trips & Trails
10918 Brockway Rd, Truckee, CA 96161-2054
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Raft California
10068 Hirschdale Rd, Truckee, CA 96161-4500
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River's End Rafting (RER)
15701 CA-178, Bakersfield, CA 93306
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Kern River Contractors
5917 Meadow Oaks Ct, Bakersfield, CA 93306
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Big Bear Kayak Rentals
450 Knickerbocker Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315
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Big Bear Paddling
603 Landlock Landing Rd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315-2116
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ARTA California River Trips
24000 Casa Loma Rd, Groveland, CA 95321-9302
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All-outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
24000 Casa Loma Rd, Groveland, CA 95321-9302
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River's Edge Kayak and Canoe
13940 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, CA 95448
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Russian River Kayaks
402 Moore Ln, Healdsburg, CA 95448-4815
La Jolla 2
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Hike Bike Kayak Adventures
2222 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037-3226
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Con Tiki Kayaks Boards & Bikes
6670 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037-6021
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Kayaks On The Water
5411 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803-4411
Open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 9:00 am To 4:00 pm
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Paddle boarding
5437 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803
Merced 2
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The Padyak Shack Llc
5714 N Lake Rd, Merced, CA 95340-8656
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Imberi Computerized Drafting
2150 El Portal Dr, Merced, CA 95340
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Kayak Connection
2370 CA-1, Moss Landing, CA 95039
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Kayak Connection
2370 Highway 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039-9642
Oakdale 2
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Sunshine Rafting Adventures
18000 Covered Bridge Rd, Oakdale, CA 95361
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River Journey Adventures
18100 Sonora Rd, Oakdale, CA 95361
Oakland 2
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California Canoe & Kayak
409 Water St, Oakland, CA 94607-3740
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Mdr Cad Service
1730 Franklin St, Oakland, CA 94612
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Central Coast Kayaks
1879 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
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PRO Kayak Fishing
1879 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach, CA 93449-1860
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American Rafting Company - California
1669 Chili Bar Ct, Placerville, CA 95667-9610
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Wilderness Adventures
6045 Rafters Ln, Placerville, CA 95667
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Redwood Water Sports
487 Seaport Ct, Redwood City, CA 94063
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California Canoe and Kayak
487 Seaport Ct, Redwood City, CA 94063
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Kayak Connection
413 Lake Ave Unit 104, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
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Venture Quest
Santa Cruz Wharf, 21 Municipal Wharf St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5459
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Truckee River Raft Co.
185 W River Rd, Tahoe City, CA 96145
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Tahoe City Kayak and Paddleboard
521 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145
Trinidad 2
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Kayak Trinidad
322 Main St, Trinidad, CA 95570
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Kayak Trinidad at Big Lagoon
1148 Big Lagoon Park Rd, Trinidad, CA 95570-9628
Ventura 2
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Channel Islands Kayak Center
1691 Spinnaker Dr Ste 105, Ventura, CA 93001-4378
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Ventura Kayak Rentals
4587 Telephone Rd, Ventura, CA 93003
Anaheim 1
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GreatCad Drafting
1778 W Chalet Ave, Anaheim, CA 92804
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OARS California Rafting
2863 CA-49, Angels Camp, CA 95222
Auburn 1
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WET River Trips - River Rafting Middle Fork American River California
13384 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603
Avalon 1
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Descanso Beach Ocean Sports
5 St Catherine Way, Avalon, CA 90704
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Avila Beach Paddlesports
3915 Avila Beach Dr, Avila Beach, CA 93424
Berkeley 1
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Cal Adventures East Dock
University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94720
Big Bar 1
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Redwoods and Rivers Rafting
21690 CA-299, Big Bar, CA 96010
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Bodega Bay Kayak
1580 Eastshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923
Chester 1
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High Elevation Kayak Rentals
545 Martin Way Rv #12, Chester, CA 96020
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Chula Vista Water Sports
999 Bayside Pkwy, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Clovis 1
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Kings River Expeditions
1840 Shaw Ave Ste 105-70, Clovis, CA 93611-4078
Columbia 1
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Zephyr Whitewater Rafting
22517 Parrotts Ferry Rd, Columbia, CA 95310-9757
Danville 1
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The Boat People Inflatable Kayak & Raft Specialists
101 Brookside Pl, Danville, CA 94526
Dunlap 1
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Kings River Expeditions
Twin Pines Camp, Dunlap, CA 93621
Eureka 1
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Humboats Kayaking Adventures
601 Startare Dr, Eureka, CA 95501-0765
Gold River 1
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Sacramento State Aquatic Center
1901 Hazel Ave, Gold River, CA 95670
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Half Moon Bay Kayak Co.
2 Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019-4069
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Blue Waters Kayaking @ Heart's Desire Beach
1100 Pierce Point Rd, Inverness, CA 94937
Irvine 1
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Concept Design Group
100 Spectrum Center Dr Ste 900, Irvine, CA 92618
Isleton 1
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Delta Kayak Rentals
950 W Brannan Island Rd, Isleton, CA 95641-9770
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Empire Paddle Sports
32040 Riverside Dr, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Lewiston 1
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Old Bridge Rafting
4428 Lewiston Rd, Lewiston, CA 96052
Little River 1
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Kayak Mendocino
Van Damme Beach, Little River, CA 95456
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Pro SUP Shop
4175 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Mendocino 1
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Catch a Canoe and Bicycles, Too
44850 Comptche Ukiah Rd, Mendocino, CA 95460-9007
Newbury Park 1
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HitLive BP Academy
3479 Old Conejo Rd Unit E-3, Newbury Park, CA 91320
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Pure Watersports - Oceanside, LLC
420 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
Olympic Valley 1
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IRIE Rafting Company
7320 River Rd, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
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Malibu Kayaks Llc
7110 Jackson St, Paramount, CA 90723-4837
Petaluma 1
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Petaluma Stand Up Paddle
775 Baywood Dr, Petaluma, CA 94954
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Blue Waters Kayaking
11401 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Pollock Pines 1
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Sly Park Rental Shack
4782 Sly Park Rd, Pollock Pines, CA 95726-9444
Redding 1
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Headwaters Kayak
2434 Progress Dr Unit C, Redding, CA 96001
Rocklin 1
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Penguin Paddlers
4381 Granite Dr, Rocklin, CA 95677
Salyer 1
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Six Rivers Rafting Company
PO Box 183, Salyer, CA 95563
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Open Water Rowing Center
85 Liberty Ship Wy #102, Sausalito, CA 94965
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Smith River Kayaks
12580 US-101, Smith River, CA 95567
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Tahoe Adventure Company
7010 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe Vista, CA 96148
Vallejo 1
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White Water Safari
1001 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo, CA 94589
Willow Creek 1
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Six Rivers Rafting
39008 CA-299, Willow Creek, CA 95573
Wofford Heights 1
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Kern River Outfitters
6602 Wofford Blvd, Wofford Heights, CA 93285-9746
Also in California
- Surf Shops & Schools743
- Marinas and Harbors586
- Boat Rentals399
- Fishing Charters & Clubs332
- Boat Tours & Charters291
- Tackle and Bait Shops246
- Boat Storage147
- Scuba Diving Centers119
- Boat Ramps79
- Ferries & Water Taxis62
- Marinas with Transient Slips60
- Sailing and Yacht Clubs49
- Marinas and Facilities with Boat Launches45
- Marinas with Public and Private Boat Launches28
Good to know
What equipment is typically included with a kayak or canoe rental?
Most operators include the watercraft, paddles, and personal flotation devices (PFDs) for every passenger as part of the standard rental fee. Some businesses also provide dry bags or safety whistles, but you should bring your own sun protection, water, and quick-drying clothing.
Do I need prior paddling experience to rent a kayak?
Flatwater rentals on lakes or quiet bays generally do not require prior experience, and staff usually provide a brief safety orientation before launch. Guided trips or river runs with rapids may recommend or require basic paddling skills, so check age and experience guidelines before booking.
How much does a typical kayak or canoe rental cost?
Hourly rentals on flatwater typically range from $15 to $30 per hour for a single kayak, while double kayaks and canoes cost slightly more. Half-day or full-day river trips with shuttle service often cost between $40 and $80 per person.
How to shrink wrap a boat?
To shrink wrap a boat, cover support structures with protective padding, lay the shrink film across the hull, heat-shrink it with a heat gun, and add ventilation ports. For large vessels or professional weatherproofing in California, check the 170 marine service providers cataloged on MarinaAtlas.
What is a marine survey?
A marine survey is a detailed inspection of a boat's hull, mechanical systems, and overall condition conducted by a certified surveyor. Across California, MarinaAtlas indexes 170 qualified marine operators and survey specialists to assist buyers and insurance companies.