Kayak and Canoe Rentals
Higher Pursuits Kayak and Canoe Rental is located just minutes from downtown Columbia, TN and features kayak and canoe rentals on the beautiful and scenic Duck River.
The Duck River winds its way through Maury County, the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area and the Duck River State Natural Area. The Duck River was designated as a state scenic river and blue way because of its diverse wildlife and historic mill sites. This makes our routes feel remote and unobstructed by houses and roads.
Our 5.5-mile paddling route is an easygoing Class I with very few swift spots (this is the route we recommend for first time paddlers, large groups or groups with young kids).
How to make a reservation
We recommend making your kayak or canoe rental reservation online to ensure boat availability.
If you have your own canoe or kayak and just need a shuttle, we also recommend making a reservation online (Select Shuttle for your own boat at the bottom of the online booking screen). We have limited spaces for personally owned boats, especially on the weekends.
There are two easy steps in making a reservation: Pick a boat and Pick a Date.
Step 1 – Pick your Boat Type
- Basic Kayak – two styles available
- Kids Kayak – 100 lb weight limit
- Premium Kayak – two styles available
- Basic Two Person Kayak (Tandem Kayak)
- Premium Two Person Kayak (Tandem Kayak)
- Canoe
- Shuttle for Personally Owned Boats (this is for personally owned boats only)
Step 2 – Pick your Date and Time
- If the boat type you have selected is not available, the date will be grayed out. Try choosing a different boat type.
- Typically, in the summertime we are sold out on the weekends, 1 to 2 weeks in advance.
- If you are paddling with a group, at the end of your reservation you can type a group name.
Same day reservations are available online until 10 am or you can call to check same day availability.
At the end of your reservation there is an option to let us know if you are paddling with a group or a comments box to let us know any special needs your group has or other information we might need to know.
You are required to prepay for your reservation but can make any changes or cancellations up to 24 hours in advance of your trip for a full refund. We accept cash or all major credits cards. On busy weekends, booking online is your fastest check-in method and ensures boat availability.
There is a detailed list of our seasonal hours at our Hours of Operation Page.
Download a copy of our release form.
Rental Prices
- Basic Kayak: $35 per kayak
- Kids Kayak: $35 per kayak (100 lb limit)
- Premium Kayak: $45 per kayak
- Canoe Rental: $50 per canoe
- Basic Tandem Kayak (two person): $50 per tandem
- Premium Tandem Kayak: $60 per tandem
- Shuttle for your own canoe and kayak: $20 per boat
What is Included?
All kayak and canoe rental prices include paddles, lifejacket, shuttle to the put-in and shuttle from the take-out.
Inclement Weather: If we are unable to open for rentals or need to close early, we always post on our facebook page to keep as many customers informed as possible. If you have a reservation and we decide to close due to weather or water conditions, we will text or call the phone number used in your online booking and give you the option to reschedule or provide a full refund.
Minimum Age: Our minimum age is 3 years old, however some children older than three years old may not be ready to join you for a day on the river. Please visit our frequently asked questions page for additional information. All minors under the age of 16 years old must be accompanied by a person at least 18 years old.
Type of Boats We Rent
Basic Kayak Rental
When you make your reservation online you can pick one of these two kayak types. During your online reservation process, if the date is “greyed” out then we are sold out of a specific type of boat you have selected. You will then need to look for a different style of boat. Feel free to call us if you need assistance.
Basic Sit-on-top Kayak (Jackson Riviera)
The Jackson Riviera Sit-on-top kayak is one of our most popular kayaks. It has a molded seat that provides great support to your back and is comfortable. It is very stable, easy to paddle and easy to control on the water. This is a great choice for any age, but in particular this is popular choice with our young adults, youth and first-time paddlers. The storage behind the seat will hold a small cooler or bag.
Basic Sit Inside Kayak (Perception Sound)
The Perception Sound kayak makes paddling easy with the perfect combo of comfort, features and portability. The Sound’s hull creates ultimate stability and smooth steering to track straight and stay on course with minimal effort. It has two molded-in rod holders, a spacious rear storage zone with bungee cord security for small to medium sized coolers or bags, and a padded seat with good leg room.
Premium Kayak Rental
Our premium kayaks come in either a Sit inside version or a Sit-on-top model. All these kayaks have a comfortable stadium style seat, extra storage and are very stable kayaks.
Premium Sit Inside kayak (Jackson Tripper)
Our most stable kayak. Lots of room for a dog or a young child (typically 3 years old to 7 years old) to sit in the kayak with you. Easy to get in and out of. Although the Jackson Tripper is technically considered a sit inside kayak, it features a spacious interior with lots of leg room for tall folks or for the paddler that needs just a little more room and stability.
Premium Sit-on-top kayak (10 or 12 foot)
Our Premium Sit-on-top kayaks come in either a 10-foot or 12-foot length. These are very comfortable sit-on-top kayaks with a stadium style seat. They feature a spacious deck, lots of storage and a very comfortable seat. When you make your reservation, let us know if you have a preference between a 10 foot or 12-foot length.
New for 2024
We have added the new Versa from Liquid Logic kayaks to our premium sit on top fleet this year. The Versa has a 425 lb capacity, is extremely stable, and is great for those paddling with a dog, a child or that want a paddling platform that is easy on the knees and the back.
What makes it a Premium Kayak?
Tandem Kayak Rental
Tandem Kayaks are two person kayaks. We now have two Tandem Kayak choices – the basic tandem and our new premium tandem kayak.
Basic Tandem Kayak
The basic tandem kayak has two molded in seats with a small space in the back of the kayak for a bag or small cooler. The Jackson Riviera Tandem is a super stable kayak, and the molded seats are more comfortable than you might think. This is a great boat for families that want to put an adult in the back and a child in the front or for a group of friends that want to paddle together instead of individual kayaks.
450 lb capacity
Premium Tandem Kayak
Our premium tandem kayak features two comfortable frame seats that allows you to paddle the kayak solo, with two people, or even turn the front seat around so you can see the other paddler. It is extremely stable and has a high weight capacity (550 lbs) so it can easily hold two adults and a child. It has a larger space behind the seat for a cooler or whatever you need to bring with you for the day.
Jackson Kayak Tripper T
550 lb capacity
New for 2024
We have added the new Saluda 14.5 Sit-Inside Tandem from Liquid Logic kayaks to our premium tandem fleet this year. sit on top fleet this year. The Versa has a 550 lb capacity. It is a comfortable and flexible tandem that gives you dry storage in the back and comfortable seats.
Premium Tandem Kayak Features
Canoes
We rent the Mad River Journey 156 canoes. These are stable canoes with plenty of room to put a child in the middle of canoe or for your gear or cooler. For a more enjoyable trip on the river, we recommend only two adults per canoe. Small children can also ride in the center of the boat, but we recommend no more than two children ride in the middle of the canoe.
1100 pound capacity with enough room for a cooler or small kids to sit in the middle
Kids Kayaks
Higher Pursuits offers kids kayaks so that families can begin to introduce kids to the joy of paddling their own boat in a kayak that is sized for them. Kids come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes they grow over the winter and are ready for a smaller adult kayak. Either way, we can help your family decide if a kid’s kayak is the best option or if your child is ready for a small adult kayak.
You can now reserve a kids kayak through our online reservation system.
The weight limit is 100 lbs to reserve the kids kayak, generally kids that are in the 5th grade or higher need a regular adult kayak.