A Guided Tour v. a Rental Kayak
We give close attention our tour patrons. Our tours include instruction, high quality gear and assistance on the river when you have trouble or need help. We often maintain a ratio of one guide per 5 patrons and at the most 1:7.
We love to see folks out on the river on their own but read on. The conditions in Elysian Valley are difficult for most beginners without a guide. Every year the kayaking routes change a bit due to rock movement and changing vegetation. Published kayaking maps have not kept up with the changes and you can end up in a dead-end having to backtrack by portage (walking your boat through water…) .
A local kayak rental company markets lower cost boat rental. Unfortunately, we find ourselves helping an increasing number of their overwhelmed customers. This may sound just like business competition talk. It’s not. We have just reached the point where we have to be honest about safety and good practices. Until the LA River routes are better planned as “water trails”, rental boating in Elysian Valley may not be advisable.
In time, we will have some lower cost LA River paddling options for families. In the meantime, we urge caution unless you are very skilled and have some good knowledge of the current routes. If do decide risk it and find yourself overwhelmed, we will help if we are nearby (and do our best not to say “…told you so…” )
The LARKS guide team
