Where can I paddle my new boat?
Caution: If your new boat is a kayak, it is very important that you learn how to exit the kayak in the event of an accidental capsize. This is not something to learn from a book and then try on your own, by yourself. This is a real life and death issue. It must be learned and practiced with a certified instructor or an experienced paddler who is physically capable of lifting your head out of the water if you get stuck in the boat while hanging upside down. Once you learn and practice the wet-exit, you can paddle with confidence that you can easily surface for air if something goes wrong. This wet-exit is so important that it is the first thing you will learn if you take a kayak class.
I will assume that you have read the disclaimer, agreed to follow all the safety rules, will dress for the water temperature, will wear a PFD and won’t paddle alone. If not, please agree to all of this before reading further.
Where to Go?
For safety and legal reasons I won’t tell you where to paddle your new boat. That decision is up to you. I advise you to first take a class from a certified instructor before padding any waterway. All waterways have danger. The danger varies with water flow, obstructions, water temperature and other factors. I will tell you about one of my favorite places to paddle that is also probably one of the least dangerous in the Wichita area. That river is the Little Arkansas River near downtown Wichita.
The reason why I say least dangerous is because the stretch of river I am going to tell you about has almost no current and it is mostly shallow enough you could easily get out of the river if you need to. It does have plenty of water to drown. In cold weather you could drown from that first gasp when your torso hits the ice water or you could die in a few short minutes from hypothermia. You should always paddle with an experienced partner, wear a PFD and dress for the water temperature. If you are a beginning paddler it would be smart to start with warm water.
The Little Arkansas River in Wichita is one of my favorite places to paddle. In my opinion, it has the Arkansas, Kansas (Kaw) and the Missouri Rivers beat hands down. You won’t need to join a club or arrange a shuttle to get full value from this river. You can paddle
aggressively for exercise or you can creep along in stealth manor and stalk the abundant wildlife.
The Little Arkansas River is dammed near the Wichita Art Museum and again by the Indian Center. The first dam causes an almost constant water level and very little current all the way back to about North High School.
The section from North High to the dam is it bordered almost exclusively by city park property except for a few spots where a few private homes back up to the river. I have paddled this popular stretch dozens of times without incident.
With an experienced paddling partner, the Little Arkansas River is a good place to learn basic paddling strokes, learn to guide your boat where you want it to go and enjoy some great scenery.
Launch Site
About ¾ block west of 12th and Bitting is a concrete boat dock. It is difficult to see from the road. If you elect to use this concrete dock, I recommend a carpet scrap to avoid scratching your boat and/or paddle. From this location one can paddle west (downstream) 2.7 miles to the first dam. There is a cable stretched across the river to catch logs and other debris. I recommend turning around before reaching the cable as advised by the warning signs.
Driving Directions
Wichita, Kansas. 13th Street North runs pretty much the full width of the city’s core section. A few blocks west of Broadway, 13th Street crosses Waco and then the river next to North High School. Turn south at the first stop light west of North High School. This will be Bitting. Just south of 13th Street cross another bridge on Bitting and find 12th Street. The southwest side of this second bridge is where you will find the concrete boat dock. Turn west and park on 12th Street near Carlos.
What Next?
When you have mastered controlling your boat on this really docile stretch of the Little Arkansas and you are no longer confused about which side of the boat to paddle then you will be ready to use your new skills by joining a group trip on the Arkansas or Kansas River. Your first trip should be when the river is at a fairly normal level. These rivers have a swift current that can pin you against a fallen tree (strainer) or other obstacle. I recommend starting at a fairly normal water level because at higher water levels the current speed will increase and so will the risk and the need for more experience.
Like learning to miss pedestrians, curbs, poles and vehicles when you learn to drive, you must learn to maneuver around strainers and other obstacles when on the river. Strainers and other obstacles are quite visible in swift current. The water surface actually paints a picture of what lies close enough to the surface to cause concern. When the river is very shallow it is sometimes necessary to paddle very near these strainers and obstacles in order to stay in the current and avoid dragging your boat. The basic paddling skills you learn will help you guide your boat with precision.
Once you have learned to maneuver your boat with precision on moving water such as the Arkansas and Kansas Rivers, and you have learned a few new strokes like the back ferry, brace and the draw stroke, you might be ready to tackle some of the easy rivers in the Ozarks. When I say “easy rivers” I am referring to rivers that have small riffles, a little swifter current and hairpin turns. Canoe outfitters frequently use these rivers for their rental customers. For me these rivers offer a little challenge and much beauty.
I feel like I am in Heaven when I paddle these beautiful rivers. I understand why people who live in Arkansas call it God’s Country.
After you have mastered some of the easy rivers in the Ozarks and if you are interested in more adventure, whitewater paddling might be the answer for you. For this you will need a whitewater boat and more training. A few members in the
KCKA are whitewater paddlers. If whitewater paddling interests you, find out who these whitewater paddlers are and let them know you are interested. Many of the whitewater paddlers also enjoy flat-water paddling so you can visit with them on flat-water trips or around a campfire on an overnighter.
© 2005 Chris Collins, All Rights Reserved