What Is Otter Bar?
The opportunity to develop white water kayaking skills at one of the nation’s premier schools. 
The Lodge & What We Offer
Otter Bar is a premier kayak school located in California's far northwest corner. Our location is remote and magnificent, our atmosphere is intimate and friendly
The Otter Bar Family
Otter Bar is a family-owned business and our instructors and staff are an important part of the family.
The Salmon & Klamath Rivers
Otter Bar is located on the Salmon River (a.k.a. Cal Salmon) about two miles downstream from the confluence of the river's North and South Forks.
Otter Bar Provides the Finest Gear Available
We provide all equipment needed for our Beginner and Basic Intermediate programs.
Our Food is Phenomenal!
We employ two full-time chefs and a lodge staff that put together and serve fresh, home-made meals each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Descriptions of the various levels of classes are available in our brochure and web site.
About Us
Otter Bar is a premier kayak school located in California’s far northwest corner. Our location is remote and magnificent, our atmosphere is intimate and friendly. Our goal is to offer the finest experience available both in and out of your kayak.
People stay for a week at a time. You can come by yourself or with friends to learn to kayak. You’ll spend a week’s vacation focusing on kayaking and relaxing in a dazzling setting. We will keep you as busy or as inactive as you desire.
Accommodations
Our concept is simple: keep it small, personable, and first class. Build a lodge large enough to sleep fourteen but cozy enough for two. Build an outdoor hot tub, wood-fired sauna, and personal decks for each room. Round out the interior with French doors, hardwood floors, a crackling fireplace. Add a hand-crafted massage cabin with a view like no other. Offer gourmet meals, deluxe accommodations, as well as the best kayak instruction available.
We have seven bedrooms and seven baths situated throughout our lodge and three cabins. Our food is superb with a focus on fresh produce, fruits, and homemade baked goods. In summer much of our produce is locally grown. Our own organic garden provides herbs, tomatoes, and the fresh flowers you’ll find throughout the lodge.
Otter Bar is intensely remote. We are surrounded by the rugged mountains of the Trinity Alps and Marble Mountain ranges in the Klamath National Forest. We generate our own power, have exquisite private beaches and swimming holes along the Salmon River, a network of walking trails, and a mix of rolling lawns and native forest. There are no commercial establishments anywhere near us. Our region is internationally recognized for its biodiversity, exceptional wildlands, and wild rivers. Both the Salmon and Klamath Rivers are part of the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.
A large part of our business is from returning guests along with business generated by word-of-mouth. See what some of our recent guests have to say about Otter Bar and be sure to check out our newsletter.
Take a virtual tour of our area using Google Earth! Fly to our location (you must have Google Earth software – Download for Free here (Mac or PC).