This 2‑day / 1‑night guided kayak camping trip offers a relaxed introduction to multi‑day river travel on the Connecticut River. Launching in Northfield, we paddle downstream through quiet river bends, forested banks, and open valley scenery before setting up camp at a riverside site for the night. On day two, we continue downstream to Sunderland, enjoying a steady pace and plenty of time to take in the landscape.
Adventure East guides handle trip logistics, camp setup guidance, and on‑water leadership, allowing you to focus on paddling, camping, and enjoying the rhythm of life on the river. This trip balances active paddling with downtime at camp, making it an approachable and rewarding overnight experience.
Designed for paddlers ages 12+ who are comfortable kayaking on calm to gently moving river water and interested in their first overnight kayak camping experience. Participants should be able to paddle several hours per day, assist with personal camp setup, and enjoy spending a night outdoors. Prior multi‑day experience is not required.
Where: Connecticut River, Western Massachusetts.
Route: Downstream paddle from Northfield to Sunderland, with an overnight riverside camp between days.
Pace & Timing: Two full days on the river with steady paddling, a relaxed overnight camp, and take‑out in Sunderland on day two.
Kayaking:
Camping:
Round trip shuttle from Sunderland
All meals from lunch on day 1 through lunch on day 3
Kayaking:
Camping:
We encourage you to take our Intro to River Kayaking Course if you don't have prior river kayaking experience.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING BAGGAGE:
SHUTTLE: Each guest is limited to one 40-liter duffle, a sleeping bag and sleeping pad on the shuttle.
KAYAK: 1 dry bag supplied by Adventure East for personal items. Additional stowage space is available, and we recommend you plan on bringing a maximum of 20lbs in your kayak.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I have my own tent? Each participant will share a tent. Pair up with your buddy or let us know your sharing preference.
Will I have to carry all my gear in my kayak? We will shuttle your 40L overnight bag, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Each day you will paddle with your dry bag to carry personal items you will need while paddling and your lunch,
Will there be menu options? We will offer gluten free, vegan options.
What if the weather conditions are less than perfect? We will paddle rain or shine. Our guides will continuously monitor river flow and weather conditions to ensure safe paddling conditions. We will stop paddling and go ashore when there is thunder and lightning.
Will there be mosquitos? Yes, they are less inclined to hang out with us around our campfire. Long sleeves and long pants with socks will minimize their nuisance as well.
Are there showers? There are showers at the Barton Cove campground.
What kind of kayaks do you have? We have a variety of touring kayaks with rudders and fore and aft storage compartments. Most are between 14 and 15 feet in length. We will evaluate each guest for best fit when we assign a kayak.
Where do I leave my car? Everyone will ride the shuttle from the Adventure East shop to the put-in. We will provide you with details on the parking location in Sunderland prior to departure. We will shuttle you from the take-out in Sunderland back to your car.
