About us
The Paddlers Committee of the Boston Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) includes both whitewater and sea kayak activities. Our goal is to operate a safe and well-organized program of paddling within the New England area. We run a variety of activities including: clinics, introductory instructional trips, easy day trips, intermediate day trips, and overnight trips, led by volunteer members. If you are interested in a particular trip, contact the trip's leader or co-leader per the trip listing; he or she will have some questions about your paddling background and can advise you on the appropriateness of the trip for your level of experience and skill.
Upcoming events
4
Instruction for Moderate (CL II) Whitewater Canoeing
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Paddling | Whitewater
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): Charles Sweet, PIerpaolo Polverari, Jerico Pena
Registration Type: Registration
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001Hgrt
Register By: 9/17/2026
Audience: 20’s & 30’s; AdultsDescription: Instruction Trip for Paddlers looking to Improve Canoeing Skills for Moderate Whitewater Runs. Instructees will learn how to paddle straight and turn more efficiently to enjoy canoeing more in swiftwater and whitewater. Will provide some experience maneuvering a canoe using small waves and eddies. Focus is on solo canoeing but strokes for tandem canoeing will be discussed as well.
The trip consists of three parts: 1) Friday PM - select boats and provide initial instruction on nearby river or lake (either Sudbury River or White Pond) 2) Saturday AM - Deerfield River swiftwater instruction prior to dam release with PM on Deerfield River easy whitewater section TBD 3) Sunday AM practice ferrying / boat control on swiftwater on Deerfield River. Rental boats to be returned to boathouse after instruction ends.
Prerequisites: Instructees must be able to 1) swim 2) have suitable warm clothing when wet (water temperature is moderately cool and may rain) 3) have some experience canoeing flatwater (swiftwater preferred), and 4) have or can rent appropriate equipment: either have a whitewater canoe with floatation, paddles and PFDs or a rental boat from AMC (~$40 / solo canoe, ~$60 / tandem canoe with paddles, PFDs and helmets). Instruction is $90 per person for the course. 5) Instructees must provide transportation to and from the boathouse, including paddling equipment.
Carpooling encouraged.Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
West River, class 2 section
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Paddling | Whitewater
Difficulty: 5 - Vigorous
Trip Leader(s): Susan Carter, Dan Brooks
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001HQWz
Audience: EveryoneDescription: Join us the afternoon of Saturday, Sept 19th to paddle the class 2 section of the West River in Jamaica, VT! This planned release is on a delightful stretch of whitewater in a beautiful part of Vermont. It's a spicy class 2 so is not suitable for total beginners; please sign up only if your eddy turns and self-rescue skills are solid.
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2056/mainReminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
Boston Chapter Paddling Committee Meeting
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Paddling | Flatwater
Difficulty: 1 - Accessible
Trip Leader(s): Leah Desrochers, David Yang, Faye Dangelo
Registration Type: Show & Go
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001ICWn
Audience: EveryoneDescription: Hi, For paddling leaders, volunteers or those just interested in paddling or learning how to paddle, this meeting will outline our ongoing activities and plans for paddling trips. This steering committee meeting is on Sep 22 from 7:00-8:30pm and held online. The meeting agenda is within our Committee Meeting google drive folder (go to the applicable year).
The paddling steering committee meets once a month (or so) to plan ongoing programs and events, discuss ways to encourage new membership and leadership in the Boston community, and update club policies in accordance with larger AMC guidelines. AMC Boston Paddling supports flatwater paddling, sea kayaking and whitewater paddling. All meetings are open to the public. Please inquire with the Paddling Committee Chair if you'd like to apply for a steering committee position or learn how to become a paddling volunteer or leader.
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/284093919829641?p=syvFo2OBnRRoEHsavB Meeting ID: 284 093 919 829 641 Passcode: P2MQ2tJ3Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendeeFlatwater Fall Foliage Paddle
Location not specified yetActivity Type: Paddling | Flatwater
Difficulty: 4 - Moderate
Trip Leader(s): Marie Sorensen
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to RSVP: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001IVSz
Audience: AdultsDescription: Paddle the Quaboag River and enjoy the foliage on this scenic river in Central Massachusetts. This is a 10-mile flatwater paddle located within a 1-hour +/- drive of the Boston metro area. Participants should have recent comparable fitness experience for this distance trip along with safe watercraft, thermal, and safety gear, and be prepared to assist in car shuttling from put-in to take-out. Canoes, kayaks, SUPs and other vessels are welcome.
Reminder: Please click the RSVP link above to register!
1 attendee
Past events
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