Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club upcoming events

Middle Ocoee WW Trip (October 23, 2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Ocoee Weekend

Class III plus

Date: 24 – 25 Oct 2026

UPDATE: 29 Sep 2026 - Amy and I have decided due to river schedule that we will go paddle the Nantahala on Friday 23 Oct 2026. Saturday Night 24 Oct 2026, we are cooking and doing a "Private" event at ORE. It will be smoked Pork Loin and fixings and some type of dessert which includes apple! Amy will be making her famous Margaritas! If you are registered for this trip, YOU ARE INVITED TO THIS EVENT AT ORE!!! I will be running the raft and I will have one spot and I'm betting that there will be other rafts paddling with the group. So if you are interested please let me know. I will also be kayaking and Amy and I can show you all the eddies in "Broken Nose" Rapid or "Tablesaw" Rapid. So if you are up to it, let's play "Follow the Leader" and see who can keep up and run it clean! I bet the loser can buy drinks that night. See you at the Ocoee!

Location:

ORE (Ocoee River Experience)

414 Parksville Rd, Benton, TN 37307

(423) 769-1036

info@ocoeeriverexperience.com

Details:

I will be leading a Middle Ocoee trip on 24 – 25 Oct 2026. I will be down at ORE and will be paddling the Middle Ocoee both days. This is not the last weekend of the Middle Ocoee Release but I can not go the next weekend due to work. If there is interest to paddle Friday 23 Oct 2026, I would lead a Hiwassee River or Nantahala River depending on which is releasing that day. ORE has three different types of lodging: The Lodge, Bunkhouse, and Camping/ RV Sites. Please go to ORE’s website and reserve your lodging. If you want to raft the Ocoee, please go to ORE’s website to reserve your rafting trip.

Water Temp and Air Temp: This trip will be on the cool side with temps in the high 30s and high 70s Please dress accordingly.

Skill Level: You must have a river roll in Class III Whitewater.

If you have any questions, please text or call me. John Gates 207-522-0259

SK: Lake Monroe Overnight (October 24, 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

SK: Lake Monroe Overnight October 24-25, 2026

Trip Sponsor: Jeff Stejskal

THIS is a LEVEL 2 HCKC Sea Kayaking Trip (with possible Level 3 conditions) Please review trip level chart before signing up. Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

Join us for an overnight paddling trip on Lake Monroe.   Lake Monroe lets us camp from our boats along the shore in Deam Wilderness. This is our annual fall pilgrimage and we will camp out on the peninsula across from Cutright Public Access Site.   

If you only want to paddle on Saturday, our campsite should be only be about 3-4 miles from the Cutright put-in so that people are welcome to come out and day-paddle with us without camping.

Registration:  Please register on the club web site or by email if necessary. Make sure to fill out the E-Waiver HCKC E-Waiver: https://hoosiercanoeclub.org/E-Waiver/

Meeting Place/Put-In:  Cutright Public Access Site.  This is about 2 hours from the intersection of Hwy 37 and I-465 on the southeast side of Indianapolis. (Google Map)   

Directions to Meeting Place: Take Hwy 446 south from Hwy 46 on the east side of Bloomington to the Lake Monroe causeway.  Cutright is the first turn on your left immediately after you cross the causeway. Go to the first boat ramp that you come to after leaving Hwy 446.  

What to Bring:  Bring your paddling gear, spray skirt, camping gear, food for lunch, dinner, and breakfast, and warm clothes.  You should also bring drinking water with you.   We will be camping from our boats and you will have to pack all of your gear and food in your boat, so plan accordingly.

Be sure to have a 2026 Indiana DNR Nonmotorized Boat Permit.  You should be able to pick one up on the way to the meeting place, either at the DNR headquarter on Hwy 446 on the north side of the entrance to the Paynetown SRA or at the gate for the Paynetown SRA.

Required Equipment:   Depending on the temperatures, wet suits or dry suits are recommended.  Due to potentially rough lake conditions, spray skirts, safety equipment, and sea/touring kayaks with fore and aft bulkheads are required.

Schedule:    Saturday - 10:00 am is the recommended time for arrival at the put-In.  We will launch at 10:45 am.  We will probably paddle about 4-5 miles and then set up camp and have lunch.  After lunch, we will go out and explore more of the lake.

Sunday:  We are flexible here.  We could return to Cutright as early as 10:00 am and drop off people who have to take off.  We’ll talk and figure this out Saturday night depending on how far people want to paddle on Sunday and when people have get home.

Contact information:  Jeff Stejskal jeffs45321@hotmail.com  Please contact me by 7:00 pm on the Thursday before the trip if you want to come.  Be sure to register or contact me since I will monitor weather forecasts prior to the trip and I will let the people who have contacted me know if there will be changes to or cancelation of the trip due to the expected conditions.

If you have not done so for this year, PLEASE FILL OUT THE NEW E-WAIVER. HCKC is moving to a new electronic waiver system instead of our old paper waiver. This only needs to be completed once each year. If you have already submitted your e-waiver, you do not need to do it again until next year. If you are bringing a non-member guest, they should use this e-waiver.

HCKC E-Waiver: https://hoosiercanoeclub.org/E-Waiver/

Halloween Ghost Ship Paddle (October 31, 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Ghost Ship Paddle

Saturday, Oct 31 - 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM EDT

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate, Sea Kayak and Flat Water
Expected distance 8-12 miles.

Combined IYAK and HCKC event.

We will meet at the launch site, Tanners Creek Boat Ramp, at noon and launch shortly after that. We will be using the easternmost boat ramp. We will paddle upstream on the Ohio River to see the Ghost Ship. After that we will either paddle further up the Ohio River, downstream to Aurora and beyond, or return back to the ramp and paddle up Tanners Creek, depending on what the group would like to do.

MAP LINK to the launch
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wcbUB91xBvCFBoP5A.

We will eat lunch before we launch, bring a snack for a rest stop during the paddle.

Be sure to dress for cool weather!

Suggested items to bring: Wide brimmed hat, sun block, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, large sponge, bilge pump or container to bail out water, water, snacks, weather radio, towel, change of clothes, water shoes, paddling gloves, rain gear, safety whistle, drybags, Ziplock bags, camera, binoculars, rope, headlamp or flashlight, a sense of adventure, and a good dose of humor.

For clothing try to use something other than cotton, especially since the weather is cool. Polypropylene or polyester are good choices since neither holds water and they wick moisture away from you.

Event hosts reserve the right to cancel due to inclement weather. Any cancellation or adjustment to the schedule will be posted by email the night before or sooner. This is a combined IYAK and HCKC event.

Trip Leader: Vicki

HCKC E-Waiver: https://hoosiercanoeclub.org/E-Waiver/

NEW! Agenda for the HCKC Annual Meeting (November 08, 2026)

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Annual Meeting

Location: Forest Park Inn, Noblesville IN
Address: 701 Cicero Rd. Noblesville IN
Start Time: 12:30...ends 4:30/5:00

Agenda

12:30--1:15pm: Sign in; Place swap meet items; (consider bringing photos of boats for sale with all pertinent information), social time; snacks/coffee
1:15--2:00: Skipper's welcome, followed by fleet presentations
2:00--2:25: Trip leaders' recognition
2:25--2:40: Break to review swap meet items
2:40--3:15: Business Meeting with the election and announcement of the new board
3:15--3:30--Surprise! (sorry, no clowns or exotic dancers involved)
3:30--3:40--Dinner buffet table is set
3:40--4:30--Dinner, Social, & final swap meet haggling
4:30--? Clean up by volunteers...Thank you!

***HCKC will provide the main course. Members are asked to bring a side dish: vegetable, starch, salad type, dessert. To avoid considerable duplication, registrants will be contacted 10 days before the event with a recommended contribution. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available.

Remember to vote for the board check email for ballots 2 weeks prior to event

Thanks to all members for contributing to the successful outcome of this event.... For questions, contact: marianndvs@gmail.com

Cedar Point & Barrier Islands, North Carolina (April 16, 2027)

Fri, 16 Apr 2027 04:00:00 GMT

Cedar Point & Barrier Islands, North CarolinaWe

We have reached a maximum number of participants for this trip. We often have cancellations.

If you would like to be on the waitlist for this trip, Please contact Linda Decker lsdecker2018@gmail.com

Dates: April 16-24, 2027

Trip Level: L2/L3

Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

Trip Leaders: Jim Heichelbech, Linda Decker, Phyllis Malpas

Location: We will camp at Cedar Point Campground near Swansboro, North Carolina in the Croatan Natl Forest at the junction of White Oak River and Bogue Sound. We will do day paddles out to the barrier islands and ocean side as conditions allow.

Reservations for Cedar Point Recreation.gov Open Oct 16 10:00am Eastern Time Senior Pass discount. Camper and tent or two tents allowed on each site

Trip Focus: Exploring the barrier islands and coastal beaches, using the tides and currents to our advantage.

Training Opportunities: Trip planning using navigation and tidal/current flow data to help us “ride the tide.” We will practice landing and launching in surf, playing in small waves and boat handling skills.

Trip Highlights: This location offers a wide variety of paddling destinations. A few of our favorites are:

Carrot Island- circumnavigation and viewing the wild horses on the island

Bear Island – exploring the beaches and traveling through tidal salt marshes

Cape Lookout- lighthouse, museum & beaches

Additionally, there are biking opportunities on Emerald Isle, good seafood restaurants, hiking, Ft Macon State Park and the Maritime Museum in Beaufort with artifacts from Blackbeard’s ship that ran aground here in 1718!

Required Equipment:

· Sea kayaks 15’ or longer with full perimeter deck lines, sealed fore and aft bulkheads and/or floatation in both ends of the kayak·

· USCG approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) & whistle, spray skirt, pump and paddle float.

· Appropriate paddling clothing for the conditions.

· VHF Radio, InReach or PLB (if you own one).

Kiptopeke Surf & Ocean White Water Week (April 17, 2027)

Sat, 17 Apr 2027 04:00:00 GMT

Kiptopeke Surf & Ocean White Water Week

Dates: April 17 – 25, 2027

Trip Level: L4 Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

Trip Leaders: Tony Pascuzzi & Dave Nord

Location: Kiptopeke State Park, Kiptopeke, VA

We will camp at Kiptopeke State Park campground and do day paddles on the ocean and on Chesapeake Bay. The Bay side can provide sizeable surf with winds out of the west. Ocean side paddling will be more challenging with surf, current, and the wave train. There are also plenty of islands to explore as well on the ocean side with moderate currents and tide to contend with.

Trip Focus: This trip will emphasize surfing and rough water skills. Participants must be able to perform a solo rescue in L4 conditions. A solid roll is highly recommended.

Training Opportunities: Trip planning using navigation, tide and current predictions, launching and landing in surf, playing in waves and the wave train, as well as boat handling skills. Currents through Smith Island Inlet and around Fisherman’s Island can run from 3 - 7 kts.

Due to the weather and other factors, the itinerary will be determined each day and communicated to participants as far in advance as the forecasts reasonably allow. All day trips are subject to change to maintain kayakers’ safety. Participants can choose whether or not to join each day’s scheduled trip. Trip Leaders may restrict or redirect individual participants on any given day, if necessary, to maximize individual and group safety. If the weather makes padding unreasonable, there are lots of biking and hiking opportunities nearby as well as a brewery and ice creamery.

Trip Highlights:

· Surfing at Smith Island
· Cape Charles Brewery – cold beer and substantial portions for post paddling.
· The Wave Train at Smith Island
· Cape Charles Brewery
· Brown Dog Ice Cream

Required Equipment:

· Sea kayaks 15’ or longer with full perimeter deck lines, sealed fore and aft bulkheads and/or floatation in both ends of the kayak·

· USCG approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) & whistle, spray skirt, pump and paddle float.

· Appropriate paddling clothing for the conditions.

· VHF Radio (recommended), InReach or PLB (if you own one).

Participants must be able to:

· Participants must be able to perform a solo rescue in L4 conditions. A solid roll is highly recommended.
· Safely exit their kayak while wearing a spray skirt and participate in an assisted rescue in the above conditions when applicable.
· Paddle for up to 3 hours without landing. Expect 4-7 hours of paddling each day.

Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

Registration is conditional upon final approval by the Trip Leader. The Trip Leader may communicate with you to assess whether your skills & equipment are appropriate for the conditions. Please contact the trip leader with any questions.

Registration: Register here and e-mail Tony Pascuzzi @ izzucsap@yahoo.com

Reference / Reservation links:

· VA State Parks - https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/reservations

· Eastern Shore Virginia Water Trails map - https://virginiawatertrails.org/eastern-shore/

· Deep Zoom for currents and tides - https://www.deepzoom.com/

Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club upcoming events

Middle Ocoee WW Trip (October 23, 2026)

SK: Lake Monroe Overnight (October 24, 2026)

Halloween Ghost Ship Paddle (October 31, 2026)

NEW! Agenda for the HCKC Annual Meeting (November 08, 2026)

Annual Meeting

Location: Forest Park Inn, Noblesville IN

Address: 701 Cicero Rd. Noblesville IN

Start Time: 12:30...ends 4:30/5:00

Agenda

12:30--1:15pm: Sign in; Place swap meet items; (consider bringing photos of boats for sale with all pertinent information), social time; snacks/coffee

1:15--2:00: Skipper's welcome, followed by fleet presentations

2:00--2:25: Trip leaders' recognition

2:25--2:40: Break to review swap meet items

2:40--3:15: Business Meeting with the election and announcement of the new board

3:15--3:30--Surprise! (sorry, no clowns or exotic dancers involved)

3:30--3:40--Dinner buffet table is set

3:40--4:30--Dinner, Social, & final swap meet haggling

4:30--? Clean up by volunteers...Thank you!

***HCKC will provide the main course. Members are asked to bring a side dish: vegetable, starch, salad type, dessert. To avoid considerable duplication, registrants will be contacted 10 days before the event with a recommended contribution. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available.

Remember to vote for the board check email for ballots 2 weeks prior to event

Cedar Point & Barrier Islands, North Carolina (April 16, 2027)

Kiptopeke Surf & Ocean White Water Week (April 17, 2027)