Frequently Asked Questions:
Do you have a bathroom we can use?
At the Johnson Road location we have a modern outhouse with a composting toilet available. It is clean and large enough to change clothes inside. A hand washing station with soap is also provided.
Can we bring food and drinks? Is there anywhere to have a picnic?
Yes. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it at our new picnic area. We have two new picnic tables set up for you to use, and a garbage can available thanks to a generous donation from a frequent visitor named Mo. We have named it "Mo's Overlook." If you choose to take a cooler with you to picnic on the water, PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. We are doing our best to clean up the Chaplin River a little at a time and are making progress. Please help us keep it that way.
What ages do you allow?
Children over age 5 are allowed to ride with an adult participating in "Park & Paddle" trips as long as the child is large enough to wear a Coast Guard approved children's sized life vest.
Do adults have to wear a life vest?
Yes. We require that everyone wears a life vest. No exceptions. If you are truly a cool cat, you will still be cool wearing a life vest.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that is weather appropriate and plan on getting wet. If you have muck/rain boots, wear them. Old tennis shoes are good, too. Flip flops and sandals are not such a good choice. They do not protect your feet from sharp objects and are not stable underwater or in the mud. Do not wear anything valuable unless you are okay with possibly losing it in the water. (Jewelry, rings, expensive sunglasses, ipods, etc.)
What should I bring?
Sunscreen, plenty of water to drink, and towels to dry off with. A dry pair of shorts and shoes are nice at the end of a long day. If you want to take your cell phone or camera, please remember that they may end up in the water. We are not responsible for lost or damaged items. Ziplock freezer bags make good 'dry bags' in a pinch, but dry bags from a camping store are infinitely better. Bug spray is a good idea, too.
Where do we park?
Park & Paddle: We have two driveways on Johnson Road. One near the mailbox and one at the top of the hill. Both are marked with a small Smiley Face sign reading GTP. The bottom driveway is very rough, but 4 wheel drive SUV's and trucks usually have no problem navigating the bumps and puddles. Go slow and use caution as this route takes you along the river bank. Automobiles that sit low to the ground, or are best on pavement, can park at the end of our top driveway and we will either come pick you up, or you can hike down to the "put in" location. When you call to make reservations let us know what you're driving and we can suggest the best route. (UPDATE 6/17: We have scheduled someone to come work on both driveways to help level them out a little bit. The won't be "fixed" but be we are shooting for "improved.")
Shuttle Service: For this trip you'll park in a field to the left of the historic mill on Brewer's Mill Road. (We'll have a sign out so you know where to pull off the road.) Then, we'll load you up in our vehicles with your vessels on a trailer and drive you to a drop off point about 4 miles upriver. Once you're in the water heading downstream, our Johnson Road property will be a little past the 1/2 point. You are welcome to stop on our property and take a break, use the outhouse, have lunch, or just watch the wildlife for a bit. When you get back in the river you will get out when you see the smiley face flag, and the tree trunks painted yellow. If you pass the old Mill, you've gone just a bit too far. Beau will be waiting for you, or will instruct you where to dock your vessels until he can arrive. If at any point you go under a bridge, you have missed the pick up point back about 1/4 of a mile. Head back up river.
Is canoeing or kayaking safe?
All river activities are considered "risk sports" with both known and unknown dangers. You will be participating at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of your fellow paddlers. We will give you a list safety guidelines and will go over each rule before you begin your trip. We also have a liability waiver you will need to sign. (Both are attached as PDF files below.) If you have any questions regarding safety, please ask us. You could save someone from using poor judgement in the future.
Do you have a bathroom we can use?
At the Johnson Road location we have a modern outhouse with a composting toilet available. It is clean and large enough to change clothes inside. A hand washing station with soap is also provided.
Can we bring food and drinks? Is there anywhere to have a picnic?
Yes. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it at our new picnic area. We have two new picnic tables set up for you to use, and a garbage can available thanks to a generous donation from a frequent visitor named Mo. We have named it "Mo's Overlook." If you choose to take a cooler with you to picnic on the water, PLEASE DO NOT LITTER. We are doing our best to clean up the Chaplin River a little at a time and are making progress. Please help us keep it that way.
What ages do you allow?
Children over age 5 are allowed to ride with an adult participating in "Park & Paddle" trips as long as the child is large enough to wear a Coast Guard approved children's sized life vest.
Do adults have to wear a life vest?
Yes. We require that everyone wears a life vest. No exceptions. If you are truly a cool cat, you will still be cool wearing a life vest.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that is weather appropriate and plan on getting wet. If you have muck/rain boots, wear them. Old tennis shoes are good, too. Flip flops and sandals are not such a good choice. They do not protect your feet from sharp objects and are not stable underwater or in the mud. Do not wear anything valuable unless you are okay with possibly losing it in the water. (Jewelry, rings, expensive sunglasses, ipods, etc.)
What should I bring?
Sunscreen, plenty of water to drink, and towels to dry off with. A dry pair of shorts and shoes are nice at the end of a long day. If you want to take your cell phone or camera, please remember that they may end up in the water. We are not responsible for lost or damaged items. Ziplock freezer bags make good 'dry bags' in a pinch, but dry bags from a camping store are infinitely better. Bug spray is a good idea, too.
Where do we park?
Park & Paddle: We have two driveways on Johnson Road. One near the mailbox and one at the top of the hill. Both are marked with a small Smiley Face sign reading GTP. The bottom driveway is very rough, but 4 wheel drive SUV's and trucks usually have no problem navigating the bumps and puddles. Go slow and use caution as this route takes you along the river bank. Automobiles that sit low to the ground, or are best on pavement, can park at the end of our top driveway and we will either come pick you up, or you can hike down to the "put in" location. When you call to make reservations let us know what you're driving and we can suggest the best route. (UPDATE 6/17: We have scheduled someone to come work on both driveways to help level them out a little bit. The won't be "fixed" but be we are shooting for "improved.")
Shuttle Service: For this trip you'll park in a field to the left of the historic mill on Brewer's Mill Road. (We'll have a sign out so you know where to pull off the road.) Then, we'll load you up in our vehicles with your vessels on a trailer and drive you to a drop off point about 4 miles upriver. Once you're in the water heading downstream, our Johnson Road property will be a little past the 1/2 point. You are welcome to stop on our property and take a break, use the outhouse, have lunch, or just watch the wildlife for a bit. When you get back in the river you will get out when you see the smiley face flag, and the tree trunks painted yellow. If you pass the old Mill, you've gone just a bit too far. Beau will be waiting for you, or will instruct you where to dock your vessels until he can arrive. If at any point you go under a bridge, you have missed the pick up point back about 1/4 of a mile. Head back up river.
Is canoeing or kayaking safe?
All river activities are considered "risk sports" with both known and unknown dangers. You will be participating at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety as well as the safety of your fellow paddlers. We will give you a list safety guidelines and will go over each rule before you begin your trip. We also have a liability waiver you will need to sign. (Both are attached as PDF files below.) If you have any questions regarding safety, please ask us. You could save someone from using poor judgement in the future.
| safety.pdf |
| waiver2016.pdf |
