What Should I Know Before Renting a Kayak for the First Time?
Know Which Way to Paddle: Upriver vs. Downriver
During every safety briefing, we ask the same question: has anyone paddled here before? Very often, group members say no, and that’s exactly why this next part matters so much.
When you launch from our dock, you’ll choose to head upriver (to the left) or downriver (to the right). Head left, and you’re paddling against the current, which means when you’re ready to come back, you can simply float home with minimal effort. Head right, and you’re paddling with the current away from the dock, which makes the return trip a lot harder than the way out. We walk every new guest through this before they ever leave the shore, because it’s the single biggest thing that determines whether your trip back feels easy or exhausting.
Understanding the Ottawa River’s Current
Stay Close to the Shoreline
The Ottawa River isn’t your average waterway. It’s one of Canada’s deepest and largest rivers, and that depth creates a noticeably stronger current right down the middle—our advice: hug the shoreline. Paddling closer to shore puts you in gentler water, and if you ever need to swim or float back, staying along the edge gets you back to our dock far more easily than fighting the current out in the open river.
Watch for Boat Traffic
Weekends and midday hours bring out the speedboats and larger boats, which means more wake and bigger waves out in open water. Staying close to shore protects you from both the stronger current and the rougher water those boats create.
What to Bring (and What to Skip)
Always Dress to Get Wet
Here’s a fact of kayaking: nobody escapes; you will get a wet seat every single time. We’ve seen guests show up in jeans, dresses, and other street-ready clothing that turns not-so-pretty the moment it’s soaked, and it always plays out the same way. Save yourself the discomfort and choose:
- Swimwear, quick-drying shorts, or pants
- A light, breathable top you don’t mind getting splashed
- Footwear that can handle getting wet, like sandals or water shoes
Protect Your Phone
We get it, the photos from the water are half the fun. But every season, a handful of guests try to save five or six dollars by skipping our waterproof phone holder rental, and end up losing or damaging their phone in the river instead. That small rental fee is a lot cheaper than a new phone, and it lets you relax and actually enjoy the ride instead of white-knuckling your device the whole time.
Our Golden Rule: Safety First, Fun Next
If there’s one lesson that’s shaped how we run things, it’s that quality equipment and genuine care for our guests matter more than anything else. Our paddlers aren’t looking for high-end carbon fibre gear. They want a kayak that’s lightweight, stable, and forgiving enough to handle bumping into a rock or two, because for most of them, this is a brand-new experience and a little intimidating at first.
That’s why our team focuses on making first-timers and casual paddlers feel safe, welcome, and genuinely cared for, rather than building our experience around highly seasoned paddlers who know the ropes inside and out. Good equipment helps, but a guest who feels confident, safe and supported by our team is what actually makes the day memorable. Safety first, fun next: that’s the standard we hold ourselves to with every guest who steps onto our dock for the first time.
Ready to see the Ottawa River for yourself? Book your kayak rental with Escape Kayak Tours and Rentals and let us show you the river the right way. Interested in more tips about renting a kayak with us? Here’s everything you need to know.
