Custom/Specialty Tours (by Appointment) $85-$120

Tip: Mornings and near sunset are best times due to less wind.

Use this Intake Form or call (503) 347-2860 to help us plan your experience and create a specially-tailored excursion in concert with ocean tide predictions. We will return your inquire as soon as possible. If you want a private, exclusive tour for your group only please inquire about additional costs (generally $10/person additional). 48Hr or more typically required for proper planning and logistical purposes.

Rates: Prices reflect 2 hrs on the water, ½ hour land instruction, professional guide, kayaks, and all necessary gear. Additional extended time is $10 per person, per hour. Reduced rates for large groups and youth groups. Two (2) person minimum. No experience necessary for many tours.

Weather Protocols: See how and why we deal with weather events Weather Protocols and Info to understand our re-scheduling and cancellation policies.

Difficulty Rating: More stars indicate a greater likelihood you will encounter a combination of tidal current, river current wind and waves, requiring greater physical and technical abilities.

Restrictions: Please notify us in advance of children, serious medical conditions or weight over 230 lbs to ensure we can accommodate your request.

 
Planned to perfection with coastal tides for the best experience. Select an experience and inquire about a location nearest you! Tip: Mornings and near sunset are best times due to less wind.
 
(Low Tides) At low tide our charismatic harbor seals regularly swim into coastal bays to rest on sand bars. They are safe there from sharks and Orcas which don’t venture into our smaller coastal bays. Come paddle past these lounging mammal which will stick around, as long as we keep our distance. Oh, and … make sure to use your peripheral vision on the water because they know which way you are looking. Remember, NEVER be near the mouth of a coastal bay during outgoing tide.
 
(High Tide) When ocean tides fill the bays and rivers they also fill salt marsh channels for you to explore. Golden grasses, river otters, hunting raptors, and herds of elk at dusk or dawn, are some of the critters you may find exploring these places too. Perfect coordination with the energy of moving tidal currents into “the top of the flood” as we call it, ensures there is enough water to get up into these systems and most importantly, back out. Don’t get stuck in the mud. Beware the tide, go with a guide.
 
(High Tide) Incoming ocean tides push back on otherwise outgoing fresh water river flows, momentarily allowing us to reach further inland. We find that balance for easiest paddling and, most importantly, safe passage. Life is so much about timing, isn’t it? Our tidal forests are dominated by salt-tolerant Sitka spruce, surrounded by deep tidal channels we paddle in which is where young salmon find abundant food and shelter from predators. Tidal Forests are great place to be anytime, but in particular during afternoon tours when our coastal winds tend to pick up. Tree lines often form windbreaks and “wind shadows,” where its easiest to paddle.
 
(Non-tidal) Fresh water rivers descend from coastal mountains, meeting salty ocean tides driven by multi-planetary gravity, mixing together to form our vibrant coastal estuaries. This context makes fresh water lakes a fascinating geological addition to the otherwise salty marine environment of the Oregon Coast. Good for families, beginners, and those seeking a relaxing experience to view abundant wildlife, paddling coastal lakes is an excellent choice. Note: lakes are not subject to the ocean tides like our bays and rivers, which means scheduling your time on the water is lot more flexible.
 
(Extreme Low Tide) Clamming is beyond fun and a great activity for the entire family, as long as you have your shellfish harvesting permit. You will learn about the many different varieties of shellfish which make their home in the sand bottoms of bays and mud floors of upper estuaries. We can get access to clamming ground during the lowest tides of the year which we call “clamming tides.” Walk away from the bay with your tasty snacks for lunch or dinner. Get ready to get dirty.
 
(Low Tide) This is a fantastic experience for those comfortable with a little wind and wave, and willing to get their exercise in to access these rocky, seabird inhabited, sea stacks in Tillamook Bay! Timing of trip planning is always important in our coastal estuaries, but at this location it’s absolutely critical due to its proximity to the mouth of Tillamook Bay. Don’t try this one by yourself if you’re not experience. Beware the tide, go with a guide.
 
(Mid-tide) Living Sand Dollars are cute indeed, but the voyage to see them by kayak is not an easy float. We plan the timing so when we arrive you can glide over hundreds of live Sand Dollars in 1-3 feet of water. This is a perfect depth, not too deep you can't see them and not too shallow as to disrupt their habitat. Just right! At this location, far far in the back of the bay, you will learn about these interesting creatures and why they do what they do. Be prepared to paddle against wind and incoming tidal current during the return trip.
 
(Various tides) Chose most tours route and add the golden light of the setting sun. The most beautiful lighting occurs moving into dusk, with ever-changing colors and visuals. This is the time when so many coastal creatures come out to play, and afternoon winds soften to a light warm breeze. Don’t worry, we’ll be off the water before dark, but we warn you’ll probably be motivated to hit the beach for the setting sun.
 
(95%+ moon needed) A few magical nights a month, when the moon surface reflects it’s light from the sun, you can experience another world on the water. On the calmest, windless nights, when the water looks like glass, you can’t tell if you are paddling on the water or up into the sky. You might even just stop paddling, open your mind and marvel at how incredible the universe really is. Also, don’t forget about the soundscape of the froggy chorus, chirping bats and beavers tail slaps.
 
Hey! Been apprehensive for years about getting your butt in a kayak seat for the first time? Just wanting to up your paddling technique? Interested in learning advanced trip planning for our complicated coastal waterways which are subject to combined forces of ocean tides, river currents, waves and surface currents from wind? Don’t worry, be happy. We got calm safe lakes, we got rough coastal bays and everything in between. There is a perfect place for your participation in our our classes and lessons in our neck of the water. Don’t wait a moment longer.