Just minutes away, the world famous San Francisco Bay is right in your backyard. Heed the call and experience the magic of the Bay on a guided sea kayaking tour with Outdoors Unlimited. Explore the most beautiful parts of the Bay with your classmates, co-workers, friends and community members. No experience necessary! OU provides all of the equipment and instruction.

Join us for a special evening paddling on the Bay, where you'll watch the sun set behind Mt. Tam and the moon rise over Angel Island. You will see egrets, blue herons, and maybe a seal or two as we tour the Sausalito waterfront. First-time paddlers are welcome. We use stable double kayaks. No pre-trip meeting required. Bring a fun snack to share with your fellow paddlers on the water.

Prerequisites: Ability to swim, must be 15 years or older.

Paddle Dates:
April 15,16
May 14
June 11,12
July 9, 10
August 10,11,12
September 9, 10, 6-9pm

Cost: $42/51/60

On this night, the moon rises in total or near total eclipse. As we cruise the Sausalito Bay, we will watch the moon grow from a tiny crescent to its full glory as the earth's shadow slides slowly away.

Prerequisites: Ability to swim, must be 15 years or older.

Paddle Date: May 15

Cost: $42/51/60

This brand new adventure is destined to become an OU classic! After a short kayaking lesson, we will tour the Mission Bay waterfront, paddling around Navy ships and Mission Creek with views of the city. As a bonus, these paddles are scheduled during Giants home games so we will get a chance to check out the action from McCovey Cove. Who knows? Maybe we'll see a Bonds splashdown! This trip is limited to eight paddlers – first-time paddlers welcome.

Prerequisites: Ability to swim, must be 15 years or older.

Paddle Dates:
June 5 6-8pm
July 8 12-2pm
July 23 6-8pm
August 7 12-2pm
August 21 6-8pm
September 3 12-2pm
September 18 12-2pm

Cost: $42/51/60

Experience a fun-filled day of adventure on the Bay. Join us as we paddle across the infamous Raccoon Straits to Angel Island. Spectacular views of Alcatraz, the City, the Golden Gate, Bay bridges and other landmarks abound. Once on the island we will hit the beach for lunch, and if time permits, take a hike. Although first-time paddlers are welcome, you must be in good physical condition as we will be paddling over eight miles. This is a full day of paddling in wind and current!

Prerequisites: Ability to swim, good physical condition, must be 18 years or older.

Classroom: 7-9pm
August 19
September 16
September 30

Outing:
August 23, 9am-3pm
September 20, 9am-3pm
October 4, 9am-3pm

Cost: $53/64/75

Come paddle the largest, non-oceanwater lake completely in California. On Paoha Island, check out the moonlike terrain with its eerie lava swirls and bubbling hot pools. Of course, the tufa formations, teeming brine shrimp, and many small volcanic islands will be there for your cameras. If you've never floated before, here's your chance to float in water that's nearly three times saltier than the ocean. We will camp at a primitive site near the beautiful Mono Craters, and enjoy a soak at Buckeye Natural Hot Springs on the way home.

Prerequisites: none

Pre-trip: 7-9pm
June 24

Cost: $127/155/182 (includes kayak, guides and instruction; does not include personal equipment rentals, food, transportation)

Come celebrate Easter with us on Tamales Bay! Close to the city near Point Reyes, Tamales Bay has an abundance of oysters and a wildlife refuge for migrating waterfowl. The gentle rolling hills of California fill the background while you sea kayak through this early Miwok Indian settlement. After the paddle we will kayak camp, where there will be an Easter egg hunt with prizes and a delicious dinner with oysters!

Prerequisites: Attend a two-hour pre-trip meeting and be in good physical condition to paddle. Previous camping experience is helpful.

Classrooms: 7-9pm
Wed, April 16

Outings:
April 18-20

Cost: $95/115/135

This introductory, two-day class is suitable for first-time paddlers. We will focus on basic paddle strokes, equipment, tides & currents, and rescues, while paddling to fun locations. On the first day of the clinic, we will practice skills needed to safely paddle the Bay. We will car camp Saturday night, and wrap up the weekend paddling on a scenic bay on Sunday.

Prerequisites: Ability to swim, attend pre-trip meeting.

Classroom: 7-9pm
March 18
April 8
May 13
June 10
July 29
September 2
September 23

On the Water:
March 22-23
April 12-13
May 17-18
June 14-15
August 2-3
September 6-7
September 27-28

Cost: $129/156/184

If you liked the Intro weekend, you are going to love this next step! The goal of this clinic is to produce sea kayakers with bay and open-ocean paddling ability, capable of planning and executing their own sea kayak outing. Throughout the clinic, you will be introduced to skills needed to paddle safely in the windswept bays and open waters of Northern California. We will spend the weekend camping and paddling around Marin.

Prerequisites: Ability to swim, Basic Sea Kayaking, attend pre-trip meeting.

Classroom: 7-9pm
May 27
August 12

On the Water:
May 31-June 1
August 16-17

Cost: $129/156/184

This is a great course for beginners who want to take our Basic and Intermediate classes back to back! This is the most comprehensive of our beginner clinics, including training in bracing, rudder strokes & open-ocean safety, paddling techniques, out-of-the-boat camping skills, equipment, tides & currents, and rescues. The goal of this clinic is to produce sea kayakers with bay and open-ocean paddling ability, capable of planning and executing their own sea kayak outing. We will spend one weekend paddling and camping on warm Lake Sonoma, and one weekend camping and paddling in Marin. The advantage to the four-day course is the consistency of consecutive weekends, the price savings, and the great friendships that are forged through the process.

Prerequisites: Ability to swim, attend pre-trip meeting.

Classroom: 7-9pm
April 22
April 29

On the Water:
April 26-27
May 3-4

Cost: $193/235/276

The only place in SF to learn the best kayak self-rescue! River and sea kayakers welcome. The sessions include trained instructors to assist you in learning to roll. Please check in at OU at 8:45pm, and help carry boats to the pool.

Prerequisites: none

Pool:
May 1, 21; June 18; July 16, 30; September 10, 24

Cost: $25/31/36

This clinic is designed for competent paddlers who want to become Outdoors Unlimited guides and instructors. The focus is on teaching and group management skills, as well as individual skill development. You will have opportunities to teach, learn, and paddle in a variety of locations and conditions with some of our best volunteers. Expect to be challenged, have fun, and learn a lot. We will discuss the benefits of being an instructor at the first pre-trip meeting. We will spend one weekend honing your skills and camping at Lake Sonoma, and then another weekend car camping on the San Francisco Bay.

Prerequisites: Have strong and varied paddling skills; attend all evening and weekend sessions; be able to swim; and be willing to assist in three Outdoors Unlimited sea kayak trips.

Classroom: 7-9pm
July 15, 17, 22, 24

On the Water:
July 19-20, July 26-27

Cost: $167/202/238