The HCKC Whitewater Group sponsors whitewater trips primarily throughout the Eastern United States but sometimes wander West of the Mississippi as well. Whitewater trips are open to members with the required skills and equipment.   The club sponsors trips that cover a range of paddling skills and interests.  Each year the club makes sure to schedule beginner's (Class II) trips on rivers like the Elkhorn and Nantahala as well as Class III-V paddles on the Youghiogheny and Gauley Rivers.  Click here to see Whitewater events for this year.

To paddle Whitewater Kayaking safely, you must learn the skills you will need in an orderly manner.  You don't start your Whitewater career by taking your new boat or duckie to the Upper Gauley.  You start with Class I moving water and develop the skills needed to work your way up through Class II and III whitewater.   With experience, training and persistence,you may progress to Class IV and V rapids like the Upper Gauley or New River.   If you are starting out, please take a few minutes and look over the following document which discusses the steps you need to take to evolve as a Whitewater Kayaker: A Progression of Rivers

Every year, the HCKC group paddles a variety of class III-IV whitewater in Pennsylvania, (the Lower Yough and Stonycreek, West Virginia (Cheat, New and Gauley, Tennessee, (Ocoee, Tellico, and Big South Fork), and Wisconsin (Wolf and Peshtigo).  A number of class II trips also come together for training and fun such as the Big Pine in Indiana and the Elkhorn in Kentucky. The class II man-made whitewater course in South Bend is a valuable asset for training both beginning and experienced paddlers. 

In additions, there are weekly pool sessions at Thatcher Pool where you can learn basic paddling, bracing, and rolling.  Students work with more experienced paddlers on what they are learning.   Click on Pool Sessions in the top menu of the HCKC Home page for more information on these training sessions or look in the Whitewater Forum of the Bulletin Board.

Join us on the water. With time and work, you can the share the adventure of the Upper Gauley and Yough with us. 

For more information, contact one of our two Whitewater Co-Chairpersons, John Gates or Rob Henry.