Rowing, rapids highlight visit to Oklahoma City’s Riversport Adventures

Kayakers take on one of two challenge levels at OKC's Riversport Adventures whitewater rapids.
Kayakers take on one of two challenge levels at OKC’s Riversport Adventures whitewater rapids.

Transitioning from calm waters to physically-challenging rapids, Oklahoma City’s Riversport Adventures park offers something for everyone, from Olympic hopeful to weekend warrior.

The park offers people rapids challenges from a rookie level to category four, about as wild as whitewater rapids can go. The neat thing is you don’t have to venture off to the mountains or wild rivers. The park can transition from calm waters that can be used for kayaking to the raging rapids.

We visited the park twice. The first day featured the calm waters. The second, however, showed us how the park can create the rapids, adjusting them for speed and challenge levels. Two channels allow people to navigate kayaks and rafts down a calmer route or take a more-challenging professional level course. The rapids are popular for work or family outings.

A raft with six people struggle against the rapids
A group takes on the professional-level rapids.

International competitions

While people enjoy the water-related sports, Riversport is often the scene for major competitions.

College crew members push their shell along the Oklahoma River.
College crew members push their shell along the Oklahoma River.

An Olympics-approved training facility, the Boathouse District attraction hosts several crew (rowing) competitions throughout the year. It’s a common sight to see thousands of athletes – from high schools to colleges to Olympians – racing their shell (slim boat) on the Oklahoma River. Riversport hosted the American qualifying competition for the 2016 summer Olympics in canoeing and kayaking.

The training site extends beyond the action on the water. The park’s training facility includes a state -of-the-art rowing simulator, featuring two shells in pools. Coaches and athletes work together to improve rowing skills and competition times. The cardio and weight training areas are second to none.

The training facility features a state-of-the-art rowing simulator.
The training facility features a state-of-the-art rowing simulator.

Land activities

While the city embraces hosting competitions, including international regattas, the park offers visitors dryland adventures such as riding a zipline across the water, as well as climbing the world’s tallest sky trail, reaching up to 80 feet above the ground.

A person walks across rope course on the world's tallest rope climber.
Taking on the challenge of climbing up to 80 feet.

In addition, people can reach speeds up to 22 mph as they ride down one of two 72-feet long super slides. Try wall climbing or maybe some miniature golf.

Miniature golf course
This is more my speed.

But, if water is your thing, the park offers paddle boarding, tubing, as well as water slides.

Riverport Adventures offers an impressive riverside campus of activities, as well as some beautiful buildings. Each is designed to resemble boats.

Building is shaped to resemble a boat's hull
The park has beautiful buildings.

I’m not a fan of water activities, but Lisa enjoys kayaking when she has the opportunity. Riverport Adventures offers something for everyone, from taking in the sights and sounds of crew racing or enjoying the activities the park offers. We recommend visiting Riversport Adventures when in Oklahoma City.

For more information on the attractions, please visit www.riversportokc.org or www.visitokc.com.