Education & Recreation

Canoe Adventures

PADDLE THE PARKWAY!
JOIN THE FUN THIS SUMMER WITH OUR DOWNRIVER CANOE TOURS

Ever wonder where the San Joaquin goes as it winds its way along the 22-mile Parkway from Friant Dam past Hwy 99? Get to know wonderful stretches and locations on the river through our guided downriver canoe tours.

Join us this special year as we add new canoe tours and outings to our canoe adventure lineup. Tours run from the beginning of April or May through the end of October, depending on river conditions.

OUR PUBLIC CANOE TOURS:

• SPECIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY "PADDLE THE PARKWAY" PACKAGE TOUR
• FAMILY CANOE DAYS
• WOMEN'S OVERNIGHT CANOE ADVENTURE
• HALF-DAY AND FULL-DAY RIVER TOURS
• PRICING AND DISCOUNTS
• CANOE/KAYAK EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
• "TOTAL-IMMERSION" BILINGUAL CANOE GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
• CANOEING THE PARKWAY ON YOUR OWN

For a more detailed look at the Parkway, download our current map.

Paddle the Parkway Package Tour *NEW*
$135 per person, $115 for members

It's our 20th Anniversary!! Celebrate in style with this grand Parkway canoe experience including a half-day at Friant Cove, 3 full days between Lost Lake and Fort Washington Beach, then Fort Washington Beach to Camp Pashayan, and finishing it off with a trip from Camp Pashayan to Skaggs Bridge Park for a total of three full days and four outings of paddling on the San Joaquin River. Commemorative Certificate upon completion!

For more info and reservations, please call Liliane at 559-433-3190 ext. 3#

Family Canoe Days *NEW*

This year, we are pleased and excited to add a canoeing opportunity for families who may have children younger than 10 years of age. We will be offering Family Canoe Days, during which a family may make a reservation for a guided, 90-minute, calm-water tour of the river at Friant Cove.

Cost for this 90-minute tour is $5 per person, open to participants ages 6 and above.

5/18 Session 1: 11:00 am - 12:20 pm, Session 2: 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm
6/1 Session 1: 11:00 am - 12:20 pm, Session 2: 12:30 pm - 1:50 pm

Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Please call Liliane at 433-3190 ext. 3# for reservations and more information.

Children age 10 and above may go on the regular Half-day and Full-day Tours

Women's Overnight Canoe Adventure
June 21-22, 2008
$150.00

Ladies, are you ready for an adventure with Mother Nature? A limited group of 14 guests will be treated to two days of canoeing, hiking and communing with nature, complete with delicious meals and a fabulous setting (with showers!) to spend the night. Ages 14 and older, must be in at least moderately good physical condition. $150.00

Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Please call Liliane at 433-3190 ext. 3# for reservations and more information.

*NEW* 2008 CANOE TOURS AND OUTINGS!
Half-day and Full-day River Tours

TOUR DESCRIPTIONS:

Friant Cove *NEW* Half-day Adventure

Half-day canoe adventures at Friant Cove will feature calm river waters and a short river journey to see bedrock mortar grinding holes of the Dumna, the Yokut Native American tribe of the Millerton area. Friant Cove is also the perfect location for our new FAMILY CANOE DAYS 90-minute excursion for families who may have members under 10 years of age (minimum age 6 years old).

Located at the northwest corner of Road 206 and Friant Road, in the community of Friant, Friant Cove features a small public canoe launch, restrooms, picnic tables, fishing, and a Park-&-Ride. Friant Cove opened to the public in October of 2007. This modern day facility was designed with the preservation of Native American relicts in mind. Friant Cove meets handicapped access standards, and was constructed by the San Joaquin River Conservancy with 2000 Parks bond funds administered by the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Caltrans and federal highway funds, and a grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways. The Millerton State Recreation Area is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation,.

Lost Lake to Owl Hollow *NEW* Half-day Adventure

The Lost Lake to Owl Hollow stretch has traditionally been the exciting first half of our popular Lost- Lake to Fort Washington Beach Full-day Trip. This Half-day journey starts out with some exhilarating riffles and class 1 rapids, and rolls into calm downriver stretches full of aerobic paddling and conversation. The half-day excursion you have been waiting for!

Lost Lake to Fort Washington Beach Original Full-day Adventure

Enjoy the sights and sounds of Black-crowned Night Herons, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and Red-tailed Hawks. As you pass the Rank Island Reserve you will see a large egret and heron rookery and get a chance to take an up-close look at these amazing avian specimens. This Full-day trip includes a glimpse of Native American bedrock mortars, the ever-popular tunnel, peaceful secret places, as well as many wonderful fast-water sections. Bring a picnic lunch and eat in the summer shade on a river-rock beach scattered with mussel- and clamshells.

Owl Hollow to Fort Washington Beach Original Half-day Adventure

Our most popular trip, this short paddle is a wonderful way to unwind after a long day or on a weekend morning before the heat of the day. Feel your stress melt away as you enjoy a cool breeze on your face and the river rippling under your canoe. Includes passage through the tunnel!

Fort Washington Beach to Camp Pashayan *NEW* Full-day Adventure

Bring a sack lunch and enjoy a picnic at Sycamore Island's beautiful lagoon. For you conservationists out there, is also a good chance for you to see the area where the salmon gravel beds will most likely be re-created during the next ambitious 5 years. Continue past Scout Island’s whirlpool on a journey through the heart of wilderness… right here at the San Joaquin River Parkway!! This is a true endurance test for only the most adventurous of paddlers. What happens to the river zone as it flattens out and narrows? Talk about it at the nice cool pavilion at the end-of-the-day stop, Camp Pashayan.

Camp Pashayan *NEW* Half-day Adventure

This wonderful, relaxing half-day of paddling is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the river. The lagoon at Camp Pashayan is calm and serene, and the easy journey upstream to the train tracks and then back down again is a merry journey that includes one little riffle. This is a stretch with some nice shady trees.

Camp Pashayan to Skaggs Bridge Park *NEW* Full-day Adventure

Can you tell us what happens to the river east of 99? Find out as you and the water glide past the quiet, agricultural riverside on the way to another world. You are one step away from paddling to the sea!!

PRICING AND DISCOUNTS

Full Day
$50 per person
Sundays, 8:30am to 3:30pm, April or May through October
Call for specific dates

Half Day
$30 per person
Friday evenings, 4:30-7:30pm, Saturday mornings 8:30am-12pm, April or May through October
Call for specific dates.

River Tour Discounts:
Parkway Members $5 off / person
Groups Over Eight $5 off/ person
Three in One Boat 3rd person FREE (age 10-16)
Guests with own boat $15/person
Groups over 20 Special Rates Available
Non-Profit Groups $280/Half Day Trip (up to 16 participants), $420/Full Day Trip (up to 16 participants)

We reserve the right to cancel any tour with fewer than five participants.

RESERVATIONS, PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICIES

Please make reservations for public or private tours by contacting Liliane Sidler, our information specialist, at tel: (559) 433-3190 ext. 3#. Payment is made at the time of reservation, with cash, check or credit card. No walk-ons. Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least one week before the tour date for a refund or credit.

CANOE / KAYAK EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Each year, we recruit enthusiastic, experienced, canoe and kayak enthusiasts for a variety of different positions within the Canoe Program.

This spring, we are recruiting for the following positions:

Canoe / Kayak Guide I
Canoe / Kayak Guide II
Canoe / Kayak Guide Volunteer
Bilingual Canoe Guide Intern (Spanish-English) and due (Thursday, March 27th)
Bilingual Canoe Guide Intern (Hmong-English) and due (Thursday, March 27th)

Please call Mary at 433-3190 ext. 5# if you are interested in joining the Canoe / Kayak Team!

“Total Immersion” Bilingual Canoe Intern Program

Monday, June 21 – Friday, June 25, 8am-4pm

OVERFLOW DATES:

Monday, August 11 – Friday, August 15, 8am-4pm
Details to be announced

Canoeing on your own:

You can paddle in placid pools at Lost Lake Park, Sycamore Island, and Camp Pashayan, or try a downstream trip between the destinations listed below.

Please note: Canoeing a river is a hazardous activity involving the risk of injury, death, and property loss. Moving and still water, transportation to and from the river, rocks, wild plants and animals, equipment, and other people present hazards. Please be aware that the opportunity to be in the outdoors and wilderness make the comforts of civilization and medical care more difficult to obtain.

We recommend that you begin canoeing the San Joaquin River by participating in one of our guided canoe trips. If you're ready to strike out on your own, here are a few access points with approximate river travel times. Transit times vary with the current and how much time you leave for exploring and swimming. Access locations listed are keyed to our Parkway map. Some sites charge a vehicle entrance fee--please research your choices before departure.

• Friant Cove (Bridge at Highway 145) to Lost Lake Park: approximately one hour.
• Lost Lake Park to Fort Washington Beach (at Rice Road off Friant Road): approximately four hours.
• Fort Washington Beach to Wildwood Park (under the Highway 41 bridge): approximately one hour.
• Wildwood Park to Sycamore Island: approximately two hours.
• Sycamore Island to Camp Pashayan: approximately six hours.

Shuttling from the start and end points will add approximately one hour on both ends of the trip, so plan accordingly. Please check park hours of operation and entrance fees prior to planning your trip, so that you don't end up with any unpleasant surprises!

Finally, remember to have fun! The San Joaquin River is the valley's most important natural resource!