Kayak through Los Angeles
— and also be a good river steward!
Paddle the LA River with the original kayaking organization that made it all possible. Check this experience off your bucket list!
Rated 5 stars
★★★★★
Paddle with family, friends, colleagues on a one-of-a-kind guided urban river tour. Or, if you've got a large group, book a private tour.
"I had so much fun I peed my pants!" — Joe Schmo
"LA River Expeditions is a topnotch outfit" — TimeOut LA
In addition to our summer tours, we're also committed to being stewards for the LA River. So we do:
do trash clean-ups
advocate for other rivers
educate in schools about the river
partner with like-minded organizations
work with corporate sponsors to extend our mission
Our Mission
To connect people to their waterways through recreational boating and environmental education.
Established in 2008, we've led more than 20,000 people in kayaks on the river.
Our Vision
We believe public waterways are the lifeblood of cities and regions. We envision and work toward creating a nondiscriminatory world where our waterways serve as public commons, connecting communities, building civic engagement, creating environmental equity, and providing opportunities for people to play, work and learn together.
We promote public access to waterways in the Los Angeles region and beyond, and work toward keeping them as clean as possible. We provide hands-on innovative recreational and educational opportunities and experiences for individuals, schools, community groups and civic leaders, to allow them to experience and expand the benefits of free and open public access to our protected waters, with environmental justice for all.
Our Story
Back in 2008, we stuck our necks out so that Los Angeles could have access to its hometown river once again, and so that it could be protected under federal law. Our original LA River Expedition down the full 51 miles of the river demonstrated the navigability of the river and featured a couple dozen Angelenos — teachers, scientists, actors, journalists — who wanted to make a difference.
In 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency rendered their decision that recognized the legitimacy of the LA River and legally protected it under federal law.
In 2011, we partnered with the City and the LA Conservation Corps to run a pilot program to see if kayaking on the LA River could be done safely and if there might be demand from the general public. There was overwhelming demand.
Since 2012, we've been running tours under LA River Expeditions, a nonprofit organization. We're proud that we were able to play a valuable role in affecting the fate of the river, and we continue to advocate for the river's revitalization.
Check out the documentary Rock the Boat - The LA River Expedition to witness first hand how the initial trip came to be, and how we managed to protect this and other rivers like it from environmental oblivion.
RECOGNITIONS
River Network's "River Hero" award
The American Canoe Association's
"River Warrior" award
River Revival Institute
”Impressed with the efficiency and professionalism. The entire process was smooth and hassle-free.”
- Brian Moten
”Impressed with the efficiency and professionalism. The entire process was smooth and hassle-free.”
- Joyce Gould
”Impressed with the efficiency and professionalism. The entire process was smooth and hassle-free.”
- Sharon Roddy
PRESS & MEDIA
We've been fortunate over the years to have received some wonderful media coverage, which helps us serve and expand our mission. Below are just a few of the links that have been instrumental in shedding light on the revitalization of the LA River, and our role in it.
{Add blurbs w/ 1 image of news source 2 title of article 3 written credit to news source, and 4 active link to the article}
He helped protect the L.A. River. Now he wants to see it transformed
Kayak Excursions Along the L.A. River
A journey of discovery on the L.A. River
Documentary about LA River Expeditions’ origin story (streaming download)“Rock the Boat: Saving America's Wildest River”https://www.rocktheboatfilm.com/
L.A. River Ride
LA RIVER BOAT RACE _ Coverage:
1.First-ever L.A. Boat Race held at Glendale Narrows
Photo Gallery: L.A. River 1st annual boat races
2.Huffington Post: http://huff.to/1t92Waq
Paddle Into History in the First Los Angles River Boat Race
3.KCET: http://bit.ly/1ANdTTM
Inaugural L.A. River Boat Race Registration Begins
4LAist: http://bit.ly/1rbXirz
Get Ready For The First L.A. River Boat Race
5Press Release: LA River Boat Race to Launch on Labor Day
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/08/prweb12118689.htm
LINKS THAT EITHER AREN’T AS GOOD OR ARE NOW INACTIVE:
Racing on the Revitalized Los Angeles River
LA River Race celebrates return of an iconic waterway
http://www.canoekayak.com/racing-the-la-river
[no longer an active link]
A Day at the Races: Boat Race gallery
http://losangelesriverphotos.com/?p=381
[no longer an active link]
Boat Race gallery at SmugMug:
[no longer an active link]
Pre-Race coverage:
KPCC's #1 Labor Day Pick: LA River Boat Race!
Featured outdoors Labor Day weekend pick: 1st-Annual LARiver Boat Race!
[no longer an active link]
KCRW's Things to do this Labor Day weekend
LA River Boat Race
http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/la-river-boat-race
Conan O’Brien Skeptical But Historic Boat Race Set For Labor Day Weekend In Elysian Valley
Conan O'Brien: http://bit.ly/1t6iLCb
Eastsider: http://bit.ly/1wrNmfM
Make History: Paddle in the First Ever LA River Boat Race
DiscoverLA: http://bit.ly/VKWfQX
Introducing the LA River Boat Race
JackFM: http://bit.ly/1txhfYA
Los Angeles River Is Having Its First-Ever Boat Race
Modern Hiker: http://bit.ly/1ztZqt8
READY FOR A BOAT RACE ON THE L.A. RIVER?
The 1st Annual LA River Boat Race
http://www.americancanoe.org/events/event_details.asp?id=482697
The California Report (radio)
Boat Race Helps Reveal L.A. River's Charms
http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201408291630/e
Another river first: The L.A. River Boat Race
Related coverage:
Our new social club—the L.A. River
http://zev.lacounty.gov/news/environment/rivers/our-new-social-club-the-river
Perrier: http://sperrier.com/1sqTajh
My Unlikely L.A. Adventure: River Kayaking
Poking Fun at the L.A. River | Earth Focus | News & Public Affairs
www.pbssocal.org › shows › earth-focus › our-oddball-r... 3:21 Another jokestarts with the police telling a woman that her husband fell into the Los Angeles River. ... It was a tongue-in-cheek video of George ...
PBS SoCal · Jeff “Joke Thief” Tipton · Mar 14, 2016
Kayaking the LA: Revitalizing an Urban River
www.youtube.com › watch ... Los Angeles River, an act of civil disobedience led by satirical writer George Wolfe, whose goal was to have the Environmental Protection ..
YouTube · Link TV · May 8, 2013
Into the River of Angels, the LA River novel by George Wolfe
LAist: How To LA (podcast) “Navigating the LA River – And Its Activist History – In a Kayak”
L.A. River Ride
L.A. River Ride
L.A. River Ride
L.A. River Ride
LAist - How To LA ; follow-up piece 3 Takeaways from our paddle on the LA River https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/this-weekend-consider-hanging-out-on-the-la-river
• • Nancy Pearlman’s broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6Pgl3vxZrw
Check out this new PBS show, Great Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston, S1, E3 “Los Angeles: It’s a Vibe”.
L.A. River Ride
SOCIAL MEDIA
Contact
e-Newsletter sign-up
LARiverExpeditionsOnline@gmail.com
(747) 465-0496
© 2026. All rights reserved.
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