Adventures on Narrow River

There’s more to getting on the water in the Ocean State than just the ocean. Narrow River, for example, offers a wealth of the life aquatic and for more than 25 years Narrow River Kayaks has been helping paddlers get out and discover it.

Owner Jason Considine took me out for a guided eco tour along with Narrow River Kayaks’ Master GuideandNaturalist Ron Wofford, a Florida native who splits his year between Narrow River in the summer and the Everglades in the winter.

Over the course of several hours on the river, Jason and Ron provided an eco-commentary while we paddled and explored the John H. Chafee Natural Wildlife Refuge. Gorgeous egrets stood at the water’s edge, soaring gracefully to a safer distance once we got close. Ospreys called out from their perches high up above the river. Every now and again the head of a cormorant would pop up from below the surface, and later we saw a whole mess of them drying their wings out in the sun. Around them were the shells of devoured marine life, the remains of the freshest all-you can-eat seafood buffet in Narragansett.

“It’s like a living classroom,” Ron said as we drifted along. Jason, who was a teacher before taking over Narrow River Kayaks, sees it that way too. “I’ve always enjoyed Narrow River, ever since I was a little kid,” he says. “I enjoy being able to take advantage of the natural surroundings, getting people out on the water to teach them about the ecosystem and give them an opportunity to appreciate it.”

Of course if you just want to rent a kayak for a few hours, pack a picnic and paddle to the mouth of the river for a day on the beach, you can. But if you ask me, there’s a lot going on under the water, in the marsh grass and in the sky that you might miss out on.

More Kayaking Adventures
Kayak Centre in Wickford offers sunset and coastal tours.

East Coast Paddle Sports in East Greenwich and Wakefield< gets zen with standup paddleboard yoga.

Pond and Beyond Kayak on Block Island explores the wildlife of the Great Salt Pond.