Packrafting Courses

Overview

Join NOC’s World-Renowned Paddling School for a Packrafting and Micro-Inflatables Course!

Packrafting is an approachable adventure sport that uses lightweight, inflatable rafts designed for portability and versatility. These boats are beginner-friendly, easy to store and transport, and do not require the same advanced skills as rolling or specialized equipment like kayak skirts. Just inflate them, and you’re ready to go. Packrafting allows adventurers to easily carry boats in a backpack or on a bike, making any outing a multi-sport experience. By being lightweight and compact, packrafts make waterways more accessible, allowing you to explore more. Whether you’re navigating flat water or tackling whitewater, you can combine hiking with paddling and access hard-to-reach wilderness areas.

This program offers a full-day introductory course, or choose a two-day fundamentals clinic, perfect for beginners and aspiring paddlers with little to no experience. Designed to be family-friendly, all participants as young as 9 years old are welcome. Courses include top-quality instruction, the latest packrafts and paddles, transportation, and lunch.

Participants must be at least 9 years old. All minors (17 and under) require a participating adult. This program involves moderate physical activity, and participants must be able to swim from a capsized boat to shore (while wearing a PFD).

Read our blog about packrafting here or shop our packrafts here.

What to Expect

Participants will start the day by getting familiar with packrafts and micro-inflatables like Aire’s Tater and Spud. Your instructors will guide you in choosing the right boat from NOC’s fleet to suit your needs. The morning begins on a calm section of a lake or slow-moving river, where you’ll practice basic strokes, boat control, and safety maneuvers. After enjoying a relaxing waterside lunch, you’ll move to a skill-appropriate section of the river, where you’ll get to put your new skills into action under the guidance of professional instructors. If you are looking to maximize your skills learned, take the two-day course which will give you more experience on flowing water at different rivers.

This course emphasizes fun, confidence-building, and exploring some of the region’s most scenic waterways. The courses will take about 7 hours / day in total, including time on the water, gear selection, shuttles, and lunch.