Kayak Tour on the Verde River

Recommended by 99% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Sedona, USA

High interest

Booked 5+ times today.

2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Becca_B ·

Mar 2026

The nature was beautiful, that guides were friendly and knowledgeable and took great pictures. It was a great way to beat the heat in the afternoon. They aren't joking about the arrival time so make sure to show up when they tell you!

· Jon_H ·

Mar 2026

A good and fun way to beat the heat! A seamless process from start to finish. Fun to have some rapids. Chris and Nick were great guides.

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Overview

Immerse yourself in Arizona’s beautiful scenery—and enjoy a new way to explore—on this family-friendly kayaking tour along the Verde River. Pick between several departure times, grab your safety gear, and set off in a shuttle to the river with just a small group for company. This beginner-friendly tour includes a relaxing paddle down a 3.1-mile (5-kilometer) stretch of this river, and the chance to take on gentle mini rapids.

Admire the lush scenery along the Verde River from the water’s edge
This small-group tour guarantees hands-on guidance and training
Safety gear, inflatable or hard kayaks, and shuttle transit included
Get out in nature and enjoy a fun and lively way to explore

What's Included

Professional safety-certified guides
Shuttle driver and transport to and from the river
Kayak, paddles, and PFD (Life vest)
A smiling good time and memories to share!

Guide Gratuity not included but always appreciated

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

551 N Main St, Cottonwood, AZ 86326, USA
CHECK IN AT OAC TOURS 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO LAUNCH TIME (10am tour = 915am check in. 2pm tour =115pm check in)551 N Main Street, Cottonwood AZ 86326. This is a group tour. Shuttle departs on the half hour. Late arrivals will need to reschedule. (Headed towards Old Town Cottonwood-ATVs parked roadside)

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Start your river adventure with a convenient check-in at Cottonwood, where you'll pick your kayak, and you can opt for a tandem kayak if you're traveling as a pair.

From there, a shuttle transfer ensures hassle-free transport to the river, sparing you the effort of carrying heavy gear, such as your kayak, paddle, and life jacket to the river. Paddle along a beginner-friendly, 3.1-mile (5-kilometer) stretch of the Verde River, where Arizona's landscape unfolds with gentle mini rapids adding to the excitement.

The tour wraps up where it began, so you can then continue your adventures without having to arrange transport from a new setting.

551 N Main St (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems

Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Jami_B

This was a great way to experience the outdoors. Easy even for less experienced people. Took our kids 12,13 in double kayaks. Saw a turtle, ducks, a Fischer, and some farm animals along the way! Our Guide was knowledgeable and had our safety first in mind saving us from tipping over a few times! Maverick was a great guide! He was very knowledgeable about the history of the area too! Owners and other staff were very kind and helpful getting us all set to go!

Reviews

5.0

based on 602 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great time!

Derek_D, Mar 2026

I really appreciated the guides. Walt and Nick were very knowledgeable of the area and made the experience a lot of fun. Definitely will recommend the trip to my friends and family.

Verde river kayak tour

Kristin_A, Mar 2026

We had a blast on the Verde River with our tour guide! Our family of 4 went, the river had several fun class 2 rapids to navigate, the scenery was stunning, and our guides were charming, engaging, kind and fun. We felt perfectly safe and well cared for, and the experience went seamlessly from check in to the end. So glad they took pics for us! It was just long enough. It was fun to hear about the town’s history and navigate the rapids. Would definitely recommend.

Recommend

Jon_H, Mar 2026

A good and fun way to beat the heat! A seamless process from start to finish. Fun to have some rapids. Chris and Nick were great guides.

Fun afternoon on the river

Becca_B, Mar 2026

Great time on the river!

Jenna_G, Mar 2026

Great, fun experience that is easy for beginners! Looking forward to seeing the photos the guides took for us on the trip!

Awesome Experience!!

Jeff_L, Mar 2026

This is a great trip to take for all ages!! Everyone involved was awesome but our 3 guides were especially great. They were patient and helpful no matter your experience level! They also took all of our pictures for us so we didn’t have to take our phones and then sent them to us for free. Highly recommend this tour!!

Verde River

Valinda_S, Mar 2026

So beautiful and fun. Great guides. Take photos and send them to you free Also the verde is a national wild and scenic river.

I took my 17 and 14 year...

Carrie_N, Mar 2026

I took my 17 and 14 year old boys on this kayak tour. It was a great mix of fun and relaxation! The guides were great. We all loved it. Highly recommend!

The guides were very...

Nicholas_D, Feb 2026

The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful while leading us down the river. My kids had an awesome time.

Great experience for families outdoors

Jami_B, Feb 2026

The office of the kayak...

Serani_W, Nov 2025

The office of the kayak company is in Cottonwood. If you go solo, you are at the mercy of others joining the experience. If there are not enough participants, the organizing company can cancel the trip. This happened to me the first day. I was able to go the next day due to two other people joining in. No one answered the phone numbers given for the tour company till early afternoon. The advertised time was 12 Noon but was told the tour will be at 10:00 am. The time should be correctly advertised for those coming from out of town. Given all these inconveniences, the experience of kayaking down the Verde river was wonderful. The staff were very kind and helpful in person. Just check all the information in advance.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

We are sorry for any confusion. The 4 person minimum is stated in advance in the confirmation. We did call and text and know people dont often answer unknown numbers. 12pm was your original tour. 10am was the rebooking. Though both were clearly stated and you responded to the 7am notification to give advance notice, we still understand the frustration of a change to your plans. Glad you enjoyed the trip and hope the photos provided at no charge provide lasting memories.

Super fun kayak tour!

Kris_H, Nov 2025

This was so much fun for us two gals that had never kayak'd before. The river was beautiful, the rapids added just enough excitement and adventure + our guide Ken was knowledgeable and super helpful!

Response from Host, Nov 2025

We are glad Ken helped you enjoy the experience. Thanks for sharing!

Great value

Megan_J, Nov 2025

Walt was an excellent guide! We were safe, had a lot of fun, and got to learn about the local fauna and flora as well as history along the river.

Response from Host, Nov 2025

We love Walt too! Glad he helped you enjoy the experience. Thanks for taking the time to share

Perfect for a sunny afternoon adventure

Tyler_C, Oct 2025

We were lead on an excellent 3-mile kayaking adventure by Craig. It was a small group, the perfect size of six, and we had the most fun. We were provided water guns and given instruction on how to paddle and it was great for both me (30s and expert kayaker) and my 73 year old mother. The whole tour was very chill and very entertaining. The Rapids were more than I expected but even my mom had a great time on them even though she was initially nervous. Would definitely recommend as a fun thing to do near Sedona!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

We love Craig too! Thank you for sharing. Glad he helped you and your mother enjoy the adventure. Thanks for the recommendation!

So fun! I was nervous,...

Whitney_R, Oct 2025

So fun! I was nervous, but it wasn’t intense at all. The guides keep you safe the entire way. Kids would love this.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

We love our guides, and they love what they do! Glad you enjoyed the experience and thank you for taking the time to share

We had a great time. My...

April_M, Oct 2025

We had a great time. My kids are 10 & 12 and had no difficulty. Our guides were friendly, lively, and knowledgeable.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks for sharing, April! We are glad it was a fun experience for the whole family.

Loved it!

Rachel_W, Oct 2025

Wonderful experience! Don’t forget your towel 😂. Check-in was smooth and friendly. The guides were amazing and the photos were SUCH a fantastic surprise!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

We love what we do and are glad it shows! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience, Rachel.

Great Kayak trip

Sandra_S, Oct 2025

This was a fantastic experience of kayaking on the Verde. The entire staff was welcoming and helpful. It was a fun trip with a small group. Lots of time to float at your leisure, to experience Class 1 and 2 rapids and to hear from our guide some of the info about the area. Overall well worth the price and we had a lot of fun.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Glad your whole group enjoyed the experience! Thanks for sharing, Sandra

One of our better kayak trips!

Amy_W, Oct 2025

Easy, beautiful trip, surprisingly had some faster areas. Ken was a really friendly nice guide. Love the blow up kayaks

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Our high-water inflatable kayaks are the safest and most comfortable! Glad you enjoyed them and your time on the river with Ken.

Amazing kayaking experience!

AMIT_P, Oct 2025

Both Blaine and Maverick were amazing guides and were very engaging and helpful throughout the activity by providing guidance on how to navigate the rapids and also taking great pics of the group. Would highly recommend this activity as its well with the price and amount of time slotted for the activity.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

We love our guides too! Glad they added to your experience. Thanks for the high recommendation!

The tour was both...

Barbara_M, Oct 2025

The tour was both relaxing and exciting. Walt did great at keeping us safe, instructed and entertained .

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks for sharing, Barbara! We love Walt too and he loves the river. Glad you enjoyed the adventure

Amazing experience.

Teresa_C, Sep 2025

It was an amazing experience guide was very knowledgeable, very entertaining, and it was a blast. I am a beginner kayaker, and this was very easy with these big inflatable kayaks. I didn’t fail intimidated at all. I would definitely recommend this experience for anyone that has the strength in their arms to do a two hour paddle.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Happy you enjoyed the adventure, Teresa! Thanks for sharing your experience

Must do!

kara_w, Sep 2025

So much fun, was a great time. Maverick and Blaine were the best guides and so nice and helpful as well as all the workers there.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

We love our guides too! Happy they helped you enjoy the experience. Thanks for sharing

Enjoyed it immensely.

Kent_H, Sep 2025

Great for beginners. Easy and relaxing. Great guides. Beautiful wildlife. Our guides were great. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thanks for the high recommendation, Kent! Glad you enjoyed the experience

My friend and I had a...

Kaleigh_S, Sep 2025

My friend and I had a great time celebrating her Birthday! The staff were all great, super friendly and made the trip that much better.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

We love celebrations on the river! Thanks for including us. Hope the photos provide forever memories

Amazing

Kelly_V, Sep 2025

Blaine was our guide and he was amazing. He was fun, informative and made the trip worthwhile. The staff that checked us in and picked us up after the excursion were amazing as well. I would recommend this to anyone visiting the Sedona area.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thanks for the high recommendation, Kelly! Glad our staff helped you enjoy the experience even more

Highly recommend

Denise_P, Sep 2025

Had an amazing time. Tour guides were all nice. You can tell they enjoy doing what they do. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Glad our guides helped you enjoy the experience! Thanks for the high recommendation, Denise

Kayak on the Verde River

Dami_S, Sep 2025

The guides were excellent. Gave instructions as needed, historical and environmental information and provided lots of encouragement.

A must experience

pinky_k, Sep 2025

This was a great tour that I would recommend to anyone. The tour guide on the river (Blane) was great and made the trip very enjoyable. Thank you for a great day!

Great way to explore the Sedona area

scott_m, Sep 2025

we were looking for something fun but not intense and our guide made that happen. He was super knowledgeable and kept things safe but light. He also knew a ton about the plants and animals and answered all of our questions about stuff but did not drone on. Everyone was given their own space to go at their own pace. We do something like this on all our family vacations and this experience with Ken as our guide was one of our favorites.