Downtown Nashville Kayaking with Epic Skyline Views on the Cumberland River

**We paddle rain or shine.** The safety of our guests and our crew is our #1 priority. Thus, we may cancel in the case of severe weather (lightning, temperatures above 110℉, etc.). Severe weather cancellations may not be made until the start of the tour – we will notify you if made in advance of the trip and offer you commensurate accommodation. Continue reading for our cancellation policy.

We get it, plans change. That's why we now offer FlexTicket! Upgrade your ticket(s) to FlexTicket at checkout to make them fully adjustable/refundable (less the FlexTicket fee) for any reason up to 24hrs in advance of the event. Without FlexTicket, all sales are FINAL. (That means absolutely no refunds, reschedules, or store credits unless your trip is canceled on our end due to unforeseen events/severe weather.) Please be sure to select the number of tickets you would like to upgrade to FlexTickets. DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE IS BUSY! We try our best to make sure all our activities run on time but in the event that we need to cancel your journey due to road closures, inclement weather, or any other unforeseen circumstances, we will do our best to reschedule your trip or find a commensurate accommodation. *Routes and start times subject to change due to road closures, special events, construction etc. We will notify you as soon as the information becomes available.*

Our gorgeous blue and green single (1 person / 300lb max capacity) and tandem (2 person / 450lb max capacity) kayaks are sit-on-top kayaks. They are made right here in Sparta, Tennessee at Jackson Kayak. Sit-on-top kayaks are designed to not sink or easily flip. It is normal for a bit of water to splash inside the kayak but need not worry, you wont be going down with the ship in these bad boys! Our Jackson Riviera kayaks are the perfect boat for your river adventure.

You can bring items (including your phone for pictures) along with you, but we strongly recommend purchasing a DRY BAG for protection from the water at checkout. We have smartphone-sized dry bags branded with the RQV logo available for purchase. Comfortable clothing and sun protection are HIGHLY recommended. Small coolers will fit on the back of the kayaks with the bungee cords provided. Be aware that you may get a little wet on your kayak trip so proper storage is encouraged but you are welcome to leave any items you don’t want to bring along in our shuttle vans. Please know that if you leave items in our van, we are not responsible for anything lost or stolen.

Yes! Especially from the waist down. Please wear comfortable clothing, shoes that can get wet, and sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.). We have dry bags for your phone available as an add-on at checkout or in the vans at check-in. There is a public restroom at the Bridge Building and Shelby Park Nature Center if you need to change clothes after your paddle. If you are going out after the paddle, you may want to bring a change of clothes, especially for your bottom half.

It can be if you book the River Queen Quest kayak scavenger hunt! Typically, our kayakers want to paddle the Cumberland River with their own group. However, should you wish to have a guided experience (either for fun facts about the river or for an experienced set of eyes and ears) we do offer guided tours as part of our Scavenger Hunt product. *Note: there is a **MINIMUM OF 6 PEOPLE** to confirm and run any route, so even if you’ve reserved only for yourself you’ll still have other paddlers out on the water with you.*

Yes- pets paddle for free! We’ve had dogs and cats paddle with us! We love pets and want to keep them safe, so you must bring a leash and a pet PFD for the trip. Please let us know upon booking if you plan on bringing your furry friend so we can make sure to accommodate them.

Because this is an activity where you will be paddling on a river shared with larger commercial and recreational boats, we do not recommend children under 7, though we leave it up to parents’ discretion. Children 11 and under must be in a tandem kayak with parent/guardian, unless the child is superhuman/ an expert paddler/ grew up in Florida.

The total length of your experience depends on how strongly and which direction the wind is blowing, how fast the river current moves, and the amount of recent rainfall. Please add an extra hour onto your trip time for shuttling and loading/unloading of kayaks. We reserve the right to charge customers who exceed their rental time.

Our crew definitely appreciates tips! It shows them they did a great job taking care of you by getting you on the river safely and lets them know you enjoyed your experience. 18% is customary and for your convenience this amount is automatically added for groups of 6 or more. We’ve made it easy to add gratuity online when booking your reservation, or we are happy to accept cash or venmo tips at the end of your paddle.

Yes! Please give us a call at 615-933-9RQV (9778) for more information. Groups of 15+ qualify for a discount.

The Cumberland River is wide and paddles more like a lake, so this is an ACTIVE PADDLE—meaning you will be using your arms most of the time. The current is not very fast but there are undercurrents so please be attentive while on the water. When the river is low and/or the wind is coming from the S/SE/SW, the paddle can be a bit more strenuous than normal. There is little to no shade on this portion of the river, so bring adequate SUN PROTECTION. For a full list items to bring, read our Before You Go page. The river is a Class 1 flat water commercial waterway, so there are no rapids. You will likely share the river with barges, riverboats, fishing boats, and other motorized pleasure craft that can create some small wake. Metro Parks and the Army Corps of Engineers require that you **wear a life jacket at all times** on the Cumberland River.