HomeOvernight Trips

Ready for Adventure?

Kayak camping lets you immerse yourself in the outdoors and really get to know your paddling companions!

Our overnight trips vary in length, location, and difficulty. We've explored islands in the Bahamas, rivers in Washington, Montana, Oregon and Utah, lakes in Washington and British Columbia, and a countless number of islands in the Salish Sea and along the British Columbia coast. For those who like shorter trips we also do outings close to home, such as Skagit Island and Saddleback Island in the North Sound, and Hope Island and Anderson Island in the South Sound.

Regardless of where we go, multiday trips require special gear, special skills, physical fitness, and especially on long trips an adaptable attitude. Members should read the trip description carefully and then contact the trip leader to register.

Camping Ratings

NSSKA trip leaders will rate the camping aspect of their overnight trips using the guidelines in the below table. For details about kayak-camping gear, see the Multi-Day Packing List.

Level of Difficulty `—>`	Easy	Moderate	Difficult
Access	Launching and landing are easy and present no challenges to loading and unloading kayaks. Campsites are close to shore and easy to access.	More difficult to access launch and landing sites due to current, tide, or impediments like mud or steep banks that make loading and unloading more difficult. Small portages may be required.	Challenging access due to impediments like mud, tide, distance to the campsites, steep banks, exposure to wind and waves. Portaging may be required.
Length of trip	1-3 days on the water and up to 2 days of travel on each end.	3-5 days on the water and 1 or more days travel on each end.	6 or more days on the water and 1 or more days travel on each end.
Frequency of moving camp	Base-camping with day trips.	Moving multiple times with some rest days.	Moving every day, with maybe one or more rest or layover days.
Daily distance	5-8 miles	9-15 miles	10 or more miles
Hazards	Nothing beyond what you’d encounter on a day trip. Established campsites.	Exposure to harsh weather, established or primitive campsites.	Established or primitive campsites, exposure to severe weather and more chance for unforeseen circumstances.
Fitness (physical and mental)	Ability to unload and carry your gear to and from camp without assistance. Ability to help others carry kayaks above the water line.	Same as Easy plus: Ability to adapt to delays and changes to the plan.	Same as Moderate plus: Ability to keep a positive attitude and support others despite challenges and changes to the plan.
Required Gear	Minimum: weather-resistant tent, sleeping bag and pad, cooking gear, food and food storage, and appropriate clothing.	Same as Easy but may need additional gear for the trip duration and expected conditions. Each paddler must have a VHF radio and hand compass.	Same as Moderate but may need additional gear for the trip duration and expected conditions.