Reno Kayaking Attracts Tourists
Northern Nevada Truckee River Course is Near Casino Row
Apr 29, 2008
Ever since Reno was founded in the 19th Century, the placid Truckee River flowed through the center of town. Then, in 1983, it was converted into a tourist attraction, which has become popular with residents as well.
Bulldozers, cranes and super-size trucks containing giant boulders configured a half-mile stretch of the formerly gentle waters into the kayaking and river-rafting venue. Now it's billed as the “only such river attraction to be built in the heart of a 24-hour casino resort city.”
Kayak Park and Prices
The Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield, with its rapids, drop pools and slalom course, cost $1.5 million. While access to the white-water park is free, the experience can be pricey for participants who don’t bring their own gear. Area businesses rent kayaks from about $19 to $25 an hour. Rafts are also for rent (about $25 to $29 per hour with a four-person minimum) and attendant equipment – helmets, personal flotation devices (PFDs) and splash jackets —is available. All-inclusive tours, such as one called “Whitewater Rafting Adventure” are a good way to be introduced to the sport and cost about $50.
Learning How to Kayak
Both river and pool kayak lessons and seminars, taught either at a local swimming pool or on the river, cost $79 for adults; $69 for children, with a four-lesson package available for about $200. When the water level is high enough to run the Truckee – generally from March through October – shuttle service is available to river runners can their watercraft, with minimum cost at about $15 per person. In another departure from the past, some hotel-casinos are offering “adventure packages,” which include such activities as kayaking and river rafting.
Park's Non-Kayak Pleasures
The whitewater park attracts area residents and non-kayaking visitors, too. Though it’s billed as a year-round venue, the locals know that the park won’t be used a lot from November through February when water levels are low and temperatures usually stay in the 20 to 50 degree range. But that doesn’t matter much, since strolling the paths along the river west of downtown can be a delight almost any day of the year. And sitting in the sun on the rocks and boulders brought in to configure the river is free (warm weather weekends, the rocks are apt to be crowded with families, whose children jump into the water to cool off).
Reno River Festival
The course and surrounding area are busiest during the Reno River Festival. The festival was first held in 2004, to inaugurate the completion of the 2,600-foot course, and has been held every year in May since that time. It will take place May 9 -13 in 2008.
Centerpiece of the festival are its competitions, which involve both whitewater kayaking and playboating (the paddler performs technical manouvers such as spins, flips and turns whle the kayak remains in one place). Competitors are divided into three groups: Women, men and juniors.
Many of the competitions, exhibitions and other events are open to the public at no charge. This year's attractions include food vendors and a beer garden, live musical entertainment on the Wingfield Park stage and a "Run Amuck" fun run.
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