Hoosier Canoe and Kayak Club upcoming events

Big Racoon Creek (November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Big Raccoon Creek - Tailwaters Recreation Area near Ferndale Road to Bridgeton

This is an IYAK/HCKC Combo trip

The reservoir upstream is currently releasing 448 cfs. So the creek the will have a good flow.

Trip Sponsor: Vick Tillotson HCKC / IYAK

Trip Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced. There will be current and strainers to avoid. There is a portage around a log jam before Mansfield. Good footwear is recommended. There is a portage at Mansfield to avoid a low head dam and we will eat lunch there. There is a picnic table. If possible, bring a cart for the Mansfield portage.

We will meet at the Tailwater Recreation Area at 11am, shuttle to
Bridgeton, and be on the water by 12:30pm.

Tailwater Put In: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GSHBC8dvdSvVEvTB7

Bridgeton Takeout https://maps.app.goo.gl/FaFbxugZEkDPTxGr8

This section is 12 miles long and we expect to be on the water around
4-5 hours. Pack a lunch for our portage stop.

Suggested items to bring: Wide brimmed hat, sun block, hand sanitizer,
sunglasses, large sponge, bilge pump or container to bail out water,
water, snacks, towel, change of clothes, water shoes, paddling gloves,
rain gear, bug spray, safety whistle, camera, flashlight/headlamp, a
sense of adventure, and a good dose of humor. For clothing try to use
something other than cotton, especially if the weather is cool.
Polypropylene or polyester are good choices since neither holds water
and they wick moisture away from you. With air the temp bring a change of cloths in dry bag. If you have dry top, splash jacket or neoprene dress for the swim.

Event hosts reserve the right to cancel due to inclement weather. Any
cancellation or adjustment to the schedule will be posted by 7pm
Friday before.

PDFs must be worn on the water.

If you have not done so for this year, PLEASE FILL OUT THE NEW E-WAIVER. HCKC is moving to a new electronic waiver system instead of our old paper waiver. This only needs to be completed once each year. If you have already submitted your e-waiver, you do not need to do it again until next year. If you are bringing a non-member guest, they should use this e-waiver.

HCKC E-Waiver: https://hoosiercanoeclub.org/E-Waiver/

Indianapolis Boat and Travel Show (February 19, 2027)

Fri, 19 Feb 2027 05:00:00 GMT

Cedar Point & Barrier Islands, North Carolina (April 16, 2027)

Fri, 16 Apr 2027 04:00:00 GMT

Cedar Point & Barrier Islands, North CarolinaWe

We have reached a maximum number of participants for this trip. We often have cancellations.

If you would like to be on the waitlist for this trip, Please contact Linda Decker lsdecker2018@gmail.com

Dates: April 16-24, 2027

Trip Level: L2/L3

Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

Trip Leaders: Jim Heichelbech, Linda Decker, Phyllis Malpas

Location: We will camp at Cedar Point Campground near Swansboro, North Carolina in the Croatan Natl Forest at the junction of White Oak River and Bogue Sound. We will do day paddles out to the barrier islands and ocean side as conditions allow.

Reservations for Cedar Point Recreation.gov Open Oct 16 10:00am Eastern Time Senior Pass discount. Camper and tent or two tents allowed on each site

Trip Focus: Exploring the barrier islands and coastal beaches, using the tides and currents to our advantage.

Training Opportunities: Trip planning using navigation and tidal/current flow data to help us “ride the tide.” We will practice landing and launching in surf, playing in small waves and boat handling skills.

Trip Highlights: This location offers a wide variety of paddling destinations. A few of our favorites are:

Carrot Island- circumnavigation and viewing the wild horses on the island

Bear Island – exploring the beaches and traveling through tidal salt marshes

Cape Lookout- lighthouse, museum & beaches

Additionally, there are biking opportunities on Emerald Isle, good seafood restaurants, hiking, Ft Macon State Park and the Maritime Museum in Beaufort with artifacts from Blackbeard’s ship that ran aground here in 1718!

Required Equipment:

· Sea kayaks 15’ or longer with full perimeter deck lines, sealed fore and aft bulkheads and/or floatation in both ends of the kayak·

· USCG approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) & whistle, spray skirt, pump and paddle float.

· Appropriate paddling clothing for the conditions.

· VHF Radio, InReach or PLB (if you own one).

Kiptopeke Surf & Ocean White Water Week (April 17, 2027)

Sat, 17 Apr 2027 04:00:00 GMT

Kiptopeke Surf & Ocean White Water Week

Dates: April 17 – 25, 2027

Trip Level: L4 Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

Trip Leaders: Tony Pascuzzi & Dave Nord

Location: Kiptopeke State Park, Kiptopeke, VA

We will camp at Kiptopeke State Park campground and do day paddles on the ocean and on Chesapeake Bay. The Bay side can provide sizeable surf with winds out of the west. Ocean side paddling will be more challenging with surf, current, and the wave train. There are also plenty of islands to explore as well on the ocean side with moderate currents and tide to contend with.

Trip Focus: This trip will emphasize surfing and rough water skills. Participants must be able to perform a solo rescue in L4 conditions. A solid roll is highly recommended.

Training Opportunities: Trip planning using navigation, tide and current predictions, launching and landing in surf, playing in waves and the wave train, as well as boat handling skills. Currents through Smith Island Inlet and around Fisherman’s Island can run from 3 - 7 kts.

Due to the weather and other factors, the itinerary will be determined each day and communicated to participants as far in advance as the forecasts reasonably allow. All day trips are subject to change to maintain kayakers’ safety. Participants can choose whether or not to join each day’s scheduled trip. Trip Leaders may restrict or redirect individual participants on any given day, if necessary, to maximize individual and group safety. If the weather makes padding unreasonable, there are lots of biking and hiking opportunities nearby as well as a brewery and ice creamery.

Trip Highlights:

· Surfing at Smith Island
· Cape Charles Brewery – cold beer and substantial portions for post paddling.
· The Wave Train at Smith Island
· Cape Charles Brewery
· Brown Dog Ice Cream

Required Equipment:

· Sea kayaks 15’ or longer with full perimeter deck lines, sealed fore and aft bulkheads and/or floatation in both ends of the kayak·

· USCG approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) & whistle, spray skirt, pump and paddle float.

· Appropriate paddling clothing for the conditions.

· VHF Radio (recommended), InReach or PLB (if you own one).

Participants must be able to:

· Participants must be able to perform a solo rescue in L4 conditions. A solid roll is highly recommended.
· Safely exit their kayak while wearing a spray skirt and participate in an assisted rescue in the above conditions when applicable.
· Paddle for up to 3 hours without landing. Expect 4-7 hours of paddling each day.

Trip Level Guide 1-2021.docx

Registration is conditional upon final approval by the Trip Leader. The Trip Leader may communicate with you to assess whether your skills & equipment are appropriate for the conditions. Please contact the trip leader with any questions.

Registration: Register here and e-mail Tony Pascuzzi @ izzucsap@yahoo.com

Reference / Reservation links:

· VA State Parks - https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/reservations

· Eastern Shore Virginia Water Trails map - https://virginiawatertrails.org/eastern-shore/

· Deep Zoom for currents and tides - https://www.deepzoom.com/

NON-HCKC EVENT - QAJAQ TC (August 26, 2027)

Thu, 26 Aug 2027 19:00:00 GMT

QAJAQ TC (Training Camp)

August 26 - 29, 2027

Registration opens April 1

Founded in 2002, Qajaq TC (Training Camp) is an Official Qajaq USA event. It takes place at Camp Lookout, near Frankfort, Michigan. There is no road access to the camp. Our only access is by kayak or pontoon boat, making this a true full-immersion Traditional Greenland Kayaking event. With only around sixty attendees and a very high mentor-to-student ratio, coaching is flexible and focused on helping everyone succeed, whether you have never been in a kayak before, or have decades of experience. With the exception of youth scholarship attendees, this event is intended for adults.

Please note that you do not need to have a roll to attend camp. We have people for this.

Qajaq USA has fleet gear that we will have on-site for you to use for the weekend. The minimum requirement is that you bring your own PFD (life jacket). Throughout the weekend you are welcome to try different pieces of gear in our fleet. However, if you do need to borrow any gear for the full weekend, please email us in advance so that we can be sure to make appropriate arrangements.

https://qajaqtc.org/

Contact Tony Pascuzzi at this link

Lake Jocassee, South Carolina (October 15, 2027)

Fri, 15 Oct 2027 04:00:00 GMT

Lake Jocassee, South Carolina

Devil’s Fork State Park

October 14-22, 2027

Trip Level SK2 SK Trip Guidelines (download)

Trip Leaders: Jim Heichelbech, Linda Decker, Phyllis Malpas

*This is a very popular destination and campsites need to be reserved as soon as possible.

We will camp at Devils Fork State Park (Salem, SC) and paddle Lake Jocassee. The campground is located at the southern end of the lake. Lake Jocassee is a 7,500 acre, 300’ deep reservoir located in northwest South Carolina. The lake is well known for the clean and cold Appalachian mountain rivers that feed the lake to keep its waters cool and clear year-round.

We will do day paddles to the various waterfalls with hiking/biking, etc. on alternate days. There are six waterfalls including Whitewater Falls (811’) that is the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Most are accessible by kayak or boat only, however Whitewater Falls is best viewed by hiking via the Foothills Trail or spur trail. You can also access the upper overlook by following a paved ¼ mile walkway from the parking lot.

Lake Jocassee is an undeveloped reservoir nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Paddlers enjoy crystal clear water, mountain views and many lake-side waterfalls, The reservoir is fed by four major rivers: the Whitewater River, the Horsepasture River, the Toxaway River, and the Thompson River. Devil's Fork State Park is on the south end of the lake. The northern and eastern parts of the lake are bordered by Jocassee Gorges, an area protected and made accessible to the public by SC Department of Natural Resources.

https://www.gopaddlesc.com/waterways/trail/lake-jocassee

Driving distance: approximately 8 hr 20 min from Indy and 6 hr 45 min from Cincy

The main body of Lake Jocassee is rather large at the southern end so conditions vary with the weather. While lake conditions are usually fairly calm, winds can whip up quickly producing waves. In general we expect L2 conditions although, there may be optional paddles greater than 10 miles. There are plenty of opportunities to stop for bio breaks and to stretch.

Expected Temperature: Daytime highs upper 60s, Overnight 40s

Paddling Clothing: Prepare for possible water temperature possible 50s

Boat requirements: 14’ or greater kayaks with fore/aft bulkheads and perimeter deck lines are required. Spraydeck required.

Itinerary:

Friday evening, Oct 15 – arrive and set up camp.

Saturday, Oct 16 – Thursday Oct 21 – explore the lake, waterfalls, hike, bike, etc. Exact paddling schedule TBD.

Friday, Oct 22 – break camp and drive home