AZ KAYAKS & CANYON PADDLE ARE EXCITED TO HOST SANTA PADDLE 2024
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Phon D to Granite on the Salt River
🎅🏽 Join Us for a Festive Paddle Adventure on the Salt River!
AZ Kayaks is excited to host the Santa Paddle — a holiday event filled with fun, community spirit, and giving back! Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or new to the water, this event is for everyone.
Toy Drive
This year, we’re collecting toys to spread holiday cheer to local kids in need. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. Together, let’s make a difference!
CLOSED:
NOVEMBER 26 - DECEMBER 1
FALL HOURS:
Monday: 10am - 3pm
Tuesday: 10am - 3pm
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 10am - 3pm
Friday: 9am - 4pm
Saturday: 8am - 4pm
Sunday: CLOSED (ONLINE RESERVATIONS ONLY)
Closest Shop to the Water
Moving from a garage to a shop down by the river! In March of 2024, we completed the purchase of AZ Kayaks! Trustworthy Kayak and Paddle Board Rentals in Mesa Arizona.
We moved into a shop at Ellsworth and Brown 1035 N Ellsworth Rd #107, Mesa, AZ 85207 that put us on the map as the closest shop to the water.
OUR 5 STAR GOOGLE REVIEWS
Top Kayak & Paddle Board Rentals in Mesa Arizona
Shop Address:
1035 N Ellsworth Rd #107, Mesa, AZ 85207
We moved into a shop at Ellsworth and Brown that put us on the map as the closest shop to the water.
Business/Shop Number:
2025 GLOW FLOAT & FULL MOON FLOAT
UPCOMING 2025 PADDLE/KAYAKING EVENTS, RACES, Cost sharing trips, & GUIDED TOURS
COST SHARING TRIPS
Horseshoe Bend
Trip Details:
- Overnight camping trip under the world-renowned Horseshoe Bend Lookout, starting from Gilbert, Arizona, with a five-hour travel to Lees Ferry, just outside of Page, AZ.
- Take a backhaul (boat ride) from Lee’s Ferry up to Glen Canyon Dam to reach the top for paddling downriver.
Day One:
- Paddle 6 miles to the campsite, usually mile nine campgrounds, observing petroglyphs and natural springs along the way. Camping in Marble Canyon offers amazing stargazing opportunities.
- Paddle 9 miles back down to Lees Ferry, optionally visiting a slot canyon hike 4 miles from Lee’s Ferry. Stop in Flagstaff for lunch on the return trip to Gilbert.
- Meet the group at Lee’s Ferry with provided details. Rental boards available if needed.
- Shuttle to Horseshoe Bend includes a continental breakfast. Overnight camping includes provided firewood, games on the beach, and sometimes live music with a resident guitarist. Itinerary, packing list, and assistance offered.
2 Options (Please reach out to let us know the date before you pay):
- Horseshoe Bend Adventure - Shuttle with us - $260
- Horseshoe Bend Adventure - Meet us at Lee’s Ferry - $160
2025 Dates:
Coming Soon!
We are a member and an outfitter with the American Canoe Association.
2025 GUIDED TRIPS & TOURS
AZ Hot Springs/ Emerald Cave Guided Tour
Trip Details:
- 2-day trip starting just below Hoover Dam and spanning 12 miles to Willow Beach.
- Abundance of history and sights, including Sauna caves, waterfalls, AZ hot springs, Emerald Cave, and more.
- Overnight camping at AZ hot springs with pit toilets available.
- The area is inhabited by critters (skunks, racoons, snakes), so a hard shell container was provided for food storage.
Logistics and Safety:
- Colorado River trip along the Arizona-Nevada Border.
- Guide equipped with a satellite phone for emergencies (no phone service), WAG bags (required by forest service), and plastic containers for food.
- Guide's extensive knowledge of the water and the specific section of the Colorado River.
- A background check is required for security clearance at the top.
Experience:
- Beginner and Intermediate
- Unforgettable trip with the potential for repeated visits.
2 Options (Please reach out to let us know the date before you pay):
- Shuttle with us
- Meet us at willow beach and shuttle with us through security
DATES COMING SOON
We are a member and an outfitter with the American Canoe Association.
2025 EVENTS & RACES
Full Moon Paddles
UPCOMING EVENTS:
GLOW FLOATS:
DATES COMING SOON
FULL MOON FLOATS:
DATES COMING SOON
Salt River Speed Paddles
Speed Paddle with us on Friday Mornings in the Summer. Contact us for more details.
FAQ
What is the Address to the Shop?
1035 N Ellsworth Rd #107, Mesa, AZ 85207
We moved into a shop at Ellsworth and Brown that put us on the map as the closest shop to the water, but, standing on the water and paddling down the river offered a totally different experience. If you do not find what you're looking for on the Paddle Board Rentals FAQ Mesa call us here.
Can I walk in to order?
How long do the rentals last?
You can reserve your kayak or paddleboard rental as early as 7 AM and return by 5 PM. If you need to return later than 5 PM we have a convenient locker return system behind our shop or a secondary drop off location for larger kayaks.
What times can I pick up or drop off?
Does my rental come with lifejackets and paddles?
What do I need for my adventure?
OUR HISTORY
1976 & Beyond – Arizona Natives
1976 and beyond- the owner of Canyon Paddle, Gary Krauser, was born in Tempe, AZ in 1976. He grew up in Mesa, AZ and all growing up he camped and swam all over the state. Many weekends were spent during high school years on both Canyon & Saguaro lake. As a lot of AZ kids did growing up, many summers were spent in San Diego snorkeling, surfing, body boarding and body surfing. Gary spent 1 1/2 years living in San Diego in Junior high and has always had a love for the water. Not only does Gary love his home state of AZ, he has a deep connection to San Diego and Southern California.
Gary graduated from Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ in 1994 and moved to South America in 1995 where he learned to speak the Spanish language in Bolivia. He has lived in the same house in Gilbert, AZ since 1998. Gary loves to travel with his family and Canyon Paddle Boards have been in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico and many rivers in between.
2010 – First Canoe Trip Down the Salt River
Our love for the river started on a random trip with some friends and some rented canoes. It was that day that we began introducing others to the beauty of the river. Many river trips with canoes were made.
2011 – Introduced to Kayaking & the Upper Salt River
A whole new world was opened up once we sat in a kayak. The control difference was amazing and our love for the river only intensified. We spent as much time as we could on the lower salt river and were limited to one time per year on the upper salt.
2017 – The Paddleboard Era Began
While kayaking with a group, a friend brought his paddleboard. In his words, “it’s the best way to go down the river”. While we thought he was crazy, he was right. Canoeing was fun, kayaking was amazing but, standing on the water and paddling down the river offered a totally different experience. On a paddleboard, you can see so much more of the river and its banks. We continue to kayak rapids on the Verde and upper salt but our greatest love is truly paddle boarding the lower salt.
2024 – Moving To A Shop Down By The River
Moving from a garage to a shop down by the river! In March of 2024, we completed the purchase of AZ Kayaks and moved into a shop at Ellsworth and Brown that put us on the map as the closest shop to the water, but, standing on the water and paddling down the river offered a totally different experience.