River Queen Voyages | Kayak Nashville, TN | Cumberland River Tour

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How We’re Operating Our Kayak & Canoe Rentals During COVID-19

Dear Nashville,

Our setup is a little different this season because of the COVID-19 situation. We're not offering people shuttles but we're still doing what we can to get people in the water! 

We have a few options for kayaking during the week and weekend

1. Normal River Routes, NO SHUTTLE SERVICE (We’ll shuttle the boats, but we won’t shuttle you!)

This can be confusing, so bear with us! We offer 3 different Kayaking and Canoeing routes on the Cumberland River. Our most popular is the Skyline Paddle, which is a gorgeous 1 - 1.5hr paddle from Shelby Park in East Nashville to Downtown Riverfront Park. We will use this route as an example.

The routes we offer are one-way and downriver. Trust us, you don’t want to try to paddle upriver! During precedented times, you would book the Skyline Paddle and arrive to meet our crew and park your car at Downtown Riverfront Park Lot R- what will be the end point of your paddle. Then, our vans would shuttle you to Shelby Park (the route’s start point) where we launch you and your kayak so you can begin your paddle. That way when you reach the end point of your paddle, your car is there waiting for you! Genius!

However, as you might have heard, these are unprecedented times! Due to COVID restrictions, we are unable to shuttle you in our vans until further notice. Therefore, you are responsible for arranging your transportation. We suggest you still park your car at the route’s end point (Downtown Riverfront Park in the above example), and then get a Lyft or Uber to shuttle you to the route’s put in location (Shelby Park in the above example). However, you can get creative! Here are some other options:

Drive second car to put in location 

Lyft/Uber to put in location

 B-Cycle to put in location 

Scooter to put in location 

Jog to put in location (if you’re feeling sporty!)

... or anything else you might think of! 

We cannot wait until we can safely resume our full-service offerings. But until then, we are grateful for your support and patience as we navigate these COVID-19 times!

2. Curbside pickup SATURDAYS --

This option has been very popular the last few months, and we have been thrilled to see so many returning faces! With our “Kurbside Kayak” rentals, you're responsible for loading the kayaks on your vehicle. We rent ratchet straps if you need them for the day, and we sell pairs of 2 for $10 should you wish to purchase them from us. You will choose one of two pick up times, and can take the kayaks anywhere you'd like as long as they're back by 6pm the same day.

The idea of transporting a kayak or canoe on your personal vehicle might seem daunting or impossible, but we assure you there are very few cars that cannot accommodate a kayak or two. We are also happy to show you how to secure your boat to the roof of your vehicle- you’ll be shocked at how easy it is!

Please note: because this is a private residential address in the Inglewood area of East Nashville, we don't post the address publicly but you'll receive it in your confirmation email when you book.

3. Paddle Pop-Ups SOME SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS --

Meet up with our crew and paddle with a group (at a safe distance) around different locations in Nashville!

We will announce our weekend Paddle Pop-Ups and their locations on the Thursday before they take place. They sell out quickly, so the best way to be in the know is to sign up for our mailing list and follow us on Instagram.

Similar to the #2 option above, due to COVID-19 restrictions, these Pop-Ups do not include any shuttle service. When you book your boat for a Paddle Pop-Up, you should have a plan in place for how you will get transportation between the beginning point and the end point. Our current recommendation is to park your personal vehicle at the END POINT of your paddle prior to your put-in time, and then use a rideshare service (or a good friend) to drive you up to the START POINT to meet our crew and begin your paddle. At this time, our vans are only transporting boats, not people so please plan accordingly.

4. Some wild and crazy idea you have

Don’t see an option that works for your particular situation? Let us know! While we cannot do everything and our primary focus is safety, we are a team of people who like to make as many dreams come true as we can. Let’s see what we can do for you!