Provo River for Begginers

The most popular place on the Provo River for watercraft is a 2 to 3 hour paddle that starts just below the Deer Creek Reservoir dam and ends at Vivian Park. It is a fun section that pushes you along without much effort on your paddling. Most of your paddling ability will be for steering. There are 1 and 2 class rapids along the way that add just enough element to make it more fun for a beginner. Beginners should avoid the train bridge. There is a takeout spot just before the bridge and a put in just after the bridge. Make sure you are with someone who knows where it is. Otherwise stay to the right side of the river to ensure safer passage.

 

Even if your ability to navigate through the bridge is good, there are some unseen obstacles that can be problematic. Here is a video of people going through on a mild day with dumb luck. The video starts with the kayaker warning a tuber about the train bridge and shows the take out and put in before and after the bridge even though this crazy kayaker goes through (Me).

Don't let the bridge ruin your trip. It is just the one obstacle you want to avoid. Even though I went through I was able to see the high water condition that can change how you go through the bridge. Famous last words "It is best if you know what you are doing".

The great thing about a summer Provo River solo trip is that you are rarely solo. The popularity of this trip is growing. The 2 to 3 hour paddle makes it so you can do it twice because sometimes once is not enough.

River safety is important and you want to at least have some basic skills before you get into a river like this. Here are some good tips from Ace Adventure Resort:

Basic Kayak Manuvering:

It is good to know how to stop a kayak in a river.

If you take one thing from this I think the Defensive Swim Position is it. The Provo River is not that swift in this section but it can be deceiving. Don't put your feet down in swift water. Just relax on your back with feet forward to protect you from river obstacles and eventually the water condition will change for safe standing.

 

Here is a few video tours of the Provo River Vivian Park take out section:

Click for more information on this trip.

Named by the Utes, Timpanogotzis ( Literal translation: Tempi- "Rock", Panogos- "Water mouth or canyon") or what is now called the Provo River is the most popular river run in Utah County. I would suggest the meaning of Timpanogotzis is more like "Rocky River". Anyone who has kayaked the Bridal Veil falls section of the Provo would totally get this.