Effective July 30, 2026
Disclaimer & Terms
The short version: Kayak Love is a convenience tool that gathers public weather and water data in one place. It is not a safety service, and every decision about whether to get on the water is yours.
Safety comes first
Paddling is an inherently dangerous activity that can result in serious injury or death. Conditions on water change faster than any website can report them. Nothing here replaces your own on-site judgment, local knowledge, proper training, a personal flotation device, or a decision to stay home. A high Paddle Score is not permission to paddle beyond your ability, and it does not account for water temperature, swell, submerged hazards, dam releases, boat traffic, local closures, or your own experience.
Where our data comes from
Conditions are assembled from public sources: weather and wind from Open-Meteo, river flow from the U.S. Geological Survey, and tide predictions from NOAA CO-OPS. Readings refresh roughly every 15 minutes, so what you see may be up to 15 minutes old — longer if a source is slow or unavailable.
We do not control these sources and cannot guarantee that their data is accurate, current, or available. Gauges fail, forecasts miss, and stations go offline. When a source cannot be reached, the affected page says so.
The Paddle Score is an opinion, not a measurement
The Paddle Score is our own simple formula that subtracts points for wind, gusts, cold, rain, and out-of-range river flow. It is a rough summary meant to save you time, not an authoritative safety rating. Reasonable paddlers will disagree with it. Every spot page shows exactly how the number was calculated so you can judge it yourself.
No professional advice
Everything on this site is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not safety, navigational, medical, legal, or professional advice, and no relationship of trust or reliance is created by your use of the site.
Links to other sites
We link to outside sources — retailers, agencies, maps, forums, and community discussions — so you can check our work and find local knowledge we do not have. We do not control that content, do not endorse it, and are not responsible for it. Community discussion in particular reflects individual opinions that may be out of date, wrong, or specific to conditions that no longer exist.
Affiliate disclosure
Some outbound links on this site are affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This disclosure is made in accordance with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's guidance on endorsements.
Commissions do not influence which gear we suggest. Recommendations are based on the water type and the conditions shown on that page.
No warranty
This site is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that the site will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Kayak Love and anyone involved in creating or operating it will not be liable for any injury, death, property damage, or any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of your access to, use of, or reliance on this site or its data — including decisions about whether, when, or where to paddle.
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability, so parts of this section may not apply to you.
Corrections and takedowns
If a spot page contains something wrong, unsafe, or outdated — or if you own content you believe we have used improperly — email hello@kayaklove.com and we will review it promptly. Accuracy reports about launch access and hazards are especially welcome.
Changes
We may update this page as the site changes. The effective date above shows the most recent revision.