Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre

North Vancouver, Canada

4.6

20 reviews

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Telephone:
+1 604-929-2268
Website:
www.deepcovekayak.com
Address:
2156 Banbury Road, North Vancouver, BC, V7G 2T1
Deep Cove
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Bussiness info

Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Dogs Allowed
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (North Vancouver) 1:25 AM Sunday, July 6, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Deep Cove is the gateway to the Paddler’s Paradise of Indian Arm. We offer waterfront rentals of kayaks, stand up paddleboards, canoes, and surfskis.

Call us to book on the number above, we are usually open from April to October, weather depending.

Our kayak school is the largest in Canada with lessons for all abilities. Learn to Kayak, Capsize Recovery, Bracing and Edging, Rolling and Navigation are just some of the lessons we offer. We also offer lessons in Stand Up Paddleboarding.

If you just want to relax, you can sign up for a Guided Tour of Indian Arm, for either 3 or 5 hours. We can accommodate large groups as well.

Our location is only 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver in the quaint Village of Deep Cove. Your paddling adventure starts from the beach in front of our shop.

History

Established in 1981.

Ingrid Baxter, purchased the business in 1981. It was mostly canoes, a few kayaks and peddle boats and operated out of an old motel building. Shortly afterwards Ingrid made a proposal to the District of North Vancouver to build the existing paddling centre building. In 1995, Bob Putnam became General Manager of the operation, bringing his recreational management expertise from the Ski Industry. A few year’s later Bob and Erian Baxter, Ingrid’s daughter, formed a business partnership and bought the majority of the business. We now boast 145 paddle craft, ranging from kayaks, canoes, surf skis, dragon boats and now the quickly growing Stand Up Paddleboard. Our kayaks school has grown to 20 instructors and is the largest in Canada.

Location is key to any business, and Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre’s location is un-​rivaled with its waterfront location.

Bob and Erian are actively involved in the day to day operation of the business.

Meet the Business Owner

Bob P.

Business Owner

I feel very fortunate to be operating a business which combines business and pleasure. I enjoy meeting and getting to know all our wonderful customers. I am an active kayaker and enjoy «surfski» racing. I paddle 2 — 3 times per week.

I enjoy introducing people to the challenge of surf ski paddling. I teach forward stroke and learn to surf ski clinics. Mostly on a private lesson basis. Prior to my kayaking career, I was a professional ski instructor for 10 years.

Currently I am learning how to stand up paddle board and am starting to enjoy racing this new way of getting out on the water. During the winter months I enjoy cross country skiing. I am married and have two great teen boys.

Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre also recommends

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Bob P. says,

«Our retail store in central North Van has a full selection of kayaks, paddleboards and surfskis and all the gear you need to paddle.»

The Raven Pub

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Pubs

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«Fantastic pizza and a lovely pub too. Great for relaxing after a hard day’s paddle!»

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Bob P. says,

«Delicious, locally sourced food and a lovely little spot for dinner.»

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Bob P. says,

«Great beer, great people, great attitude — what’s not to like? Our favourite local craft brewery by a country mile.»

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Bob P. says,

«Great coffee and delicious pancakes! Just what you need to fuel your paddle.»

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20 reviews of Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre

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Place rating: 1
Vancouver, Canada
This place has zero compassion. My brother broke his wrist 20hrs before our scheduled kayak. We called them to cancel first thing in the morning (they had a full day to fill our spot) and they still charged us:(We had trouble getting anyone on the phone because they are so busy so clearly they will find someone to take our place. Also would have been kind if they charged us only if they couldn’t find other kayak renters during our time slot. Bad business — we will never use them again.
Place rating: 5
Surrey, Canada
These guys are friendly, kind, and professional. I went kayaking with my daughter and her school for a field trip. The staff was excellent and very patient with the kids. They did a great job of keeping everything under control and fun for everyone — even when the wind started to really blow and made paddling back difficult. The guides used their own kayaks to tow the kids back to shore who were struggling with the wind. Boy, they sure earned their salt that day! The really cool thing was that I didn’t hear any of the guides complain. They all did it graciously without making anyone feel bad. They’re a real class act.
Place rating: 5
Richmond, CA
I was visiting Vancouver for the umpteenth time so I decided to venture a little further from Downtown. As a paddler in the SF Bay area, I thought going for a paddle would be nice. I discovered Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak and also that they organized a race every Tuesday night. I talked to several of their employees and eventually with owner Bob Putnam. The surfskis they had available for rental were either for beginners or experts. Bob offered to bring me a demo boat from his retail location that was more suitable for me. I still came in at the back of the pack but not because of the boat. Race fee was C$ 5 and surfski rental was cheap, too. All in a beautiful setting you would not think is 30 minutes from downtown.
Place rating: 3
Kirkland, WA
This is a pretty typical setup for recreational rentals. Staff are friendly, but rushed. If you’ve never been kayaking before you’ll want to slow them down and have them take time to show you the ropes. We’ve been kayaking quite a bit so was not an issue although the kayak we had had a feature that they did not bother to point out to us. The guidance on where to paddle to could be a lot better. It’s pretty much «Go out and turn left or turn right». Would be nicer to have a little map to take with you.
That being said, the actual experience on the water is definitely worth an afternoon.
Place rating: 5
Elmhurst, IL
Absolutely fantastic. My family and I vacationed in Vancouver a few months ago, and the kayaking trip we took at Deep Cove was hands-​down the best part of the trip. We had an absurdly nice guide named Mike who was admirably patient with me despite how terrible I was at kayaking when we first started out. He also seemed really knowledgeable about the Vancouver area as a whole; it felt like any question we wanted answered about the city could be answered by him.
And I really can’t stress enough the sheer beauty of the location. Coming from the Midwest, the heavily forested, hilly landscape was incredibly unusual to me and, by extension, truly breathtaking. Getting to see that while on the water was seriously one of the best vacation experiences I’ve ever had, and I can’t thank Deep Cove enough for allowing my family and I to have that experience.
Also, Mike gave us donuts. That was really cool.
Place rating: 3
Fullerton, CA
It’s a nice place, but way overpriced.
Place rating: 5
Vancouver, Canada
I really cannot say enough great things about this company! Extremely friendly service and very well run in a spectacular location. Have had nothing but great experiences here.
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
Had a great time on the afternoon Kayak tour
Place rating: 5
Seattle, WA
The best!
My hubby and I wanted to go kayaking for our anniversary, so I made a reservation with Deep Cove. We showed up early and were immediately outfitted with flotation vests and kayaks, which actually gave us a little extra time on the water.
As a heads up: They don’t provide sea bags (bags that you can put your personal items like phones and keys in so they don’t get wet) for rental — you have to buy them, or you can leave your stuff at the front desk and pick it up after the end of your trip. I opted to buy my own, which wasn’t that expensive and now gives me an accessory I can use on future kayaking trips.
They set us up with two kayaks, and were super sweet about helping us get into them — and then out of them when my fat ass couldn’t fit in the one they originally gave me. They got me a bigger kayak (which I fit into nicely), and off we went!
The trip through Deep Cove was awesome, if exhausting. We actually saw a couple of seals, including a pup that I originally thought was a buoy until it turned its head to look at me. So cute!
The locale is gorgeous, the prices are reasonable, and the staff are wonderful. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this place to anyone!
Place rating: 5
Montreal, Canada
Amazing, beautiful place to kayak! Deep Cove is about a 30-​minute drive from Vancouver and is nestled within the mountains that surround it. Absolutely stunning views from the small village or the water.
I rented a kayak from these guys and set about my first ocean kayaking experience. The staff asks you to fill out a waiver (you can fill out one waiver for a max of 3 people), you then collect your life jacket and ‘skirt’ then head down to get a kayak. The folk who give you your kayak gave me a quick briefing on the best way to position myself in the kayak, how to paddle, and which direction to head in on that particular day. They were very friendly. Once in the water, I just paddled, headed South and enjoyed the incredible view. Words can’t describe it so you’ll just have to go and see for yourself :) You have the option of renting a single or double kayak, or if kayaking isn’t for you, you can also do SUP (Stand-​Up Paddle-​boarding). If you’re feeling lazy, just bring a blanket and find a spot on the grassy area next to the center — bring a picnic and enjoy.
For two hours, it’s $ 40 to rent a kayak.
The best time to go is during the week, as weekends are insanely busy — good luck finding parking on those very narrow streets!
Place rating: 5
Vancouver, Canada
A few years back I organized a kayaking day with myself and 10 other friends. The centre were very accommodating and helpful. We had a lot of fun =]
Place rating: 5
Burnaby, Canada
One of the best ways to experience a full moon is with Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak Centre.
Paddle out onto the calm waters of Indian Arm on a night with the full moon and you’re sure to be amazed. My girlfriend and I took the tour where we were provided with wet suits and splash skirts to keep us dry. There’s so much more to Indian Arm than the view you get from Burnaby Mountain or Barnet Marine Park.
Staff were friendly, the equipment is up-​to-​date, and I would highly recommend this place to all adventure seekers. We’re definitely returning and hopefully we can paddle up the entire way!
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
Review #20/​30
When one mentions the tranquil beauty of Deep Cove, kayaking is, undoubtedly, the number one activity that locals suggest. And I can see why. The waters of the Indian Arm are calm and exploring on a kayak is an easy way to journey into the interesting nooks and crannies, little islands, and see the beauty of nature like I’ve never before. «Easy» is also quite relative – it might be a piece of cake for athletic folks but for us lazy-​to-​exercise wannabe kayakers, it was quite a workout.
We in fact didn’t go very far – just the southern part of the Indian Arm along Belcarra. But a two-​hours plus ride was enough for us to relax in the middle of the Burrard Inlet and admire the majestic tree-​filled landscape in the background. It was so peaceful. Wildlife was abound in places we least expect. We saw seals popping their head off the surface of the water in close distances, sometimes dipping further to chase a few fish that would jump out like whales in the Pacific Ocean, except this was a smaller scale of it. It was scary at times but we were thrilled to be so close to them. If you look closely, you can also see jellies – in different sizes and colours – floating close enough to the surface that you can see them clearly.
Expect to pay around $ 30-​$ 35 for a single kayak and about $ 50 for a double tandem. To prevent water splashing into you, ask for a skirt even if they don’t ask. You might feel more restricted but at least it keeps you dry. Note that the seats in the kayak were not the most comfortable for a 2 – 3 hour ride – my back hurt after two hours. An okay-​friendly service completed the experience.
Place rating: 5
Vancouver, Canada
what a blast! DCCKC were super friendly, had great equipment, and really reasonable prices.
what a lovely way to spend the last day of an indian summer — on the water with my girlfriend. deep cove also has a bunch of cute shops and cafes after you’ve worked up an appetite from paddling for a couple of hours.
head north on the west side of indian arm for some amazing views!
Place rating: 5
Long Beach, CA
This is a gorgeous location to kayak in. We had a little seal that kept bobbing up around us to say hi. Breathtaking views all around, peaceful waters, lots of birds, beautiful homes lining the coves. Do it.
Place rating: 5
Buena Park, CA
Here, I had my moment of clarity. True story, end of story.
Place rating: 5
Burnaby, Canada
The beauty of Deep Cove, the tranquility of a kayak
We love renting a kayak at Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak, and spending a lazy afternoon meandering through Indian Arm. The scenery is something that tourists pay thousands of dollars to see, and in a kayak you get a front seat, unobstructed view.
Deep Cove Canoe & Kayak are great people to do business with. We’ve always had a great experience and no hassle rentals. If you need assistance, they are there for you. If you are comfortable in a kayak, they leave you to yourself. Only thing that can be rough is trying to find close parking — Deep Cove is a busy place.
Place rating: 5
Stony Brook, NY
A must go experience if you are visiting in Vancouver! Very economical and just an experience of the lifetime. Deep Cove and the Indian Arm is truly one of the beautiful places on this planet.
There is a minimum 2 hour rental and it is highly recommended to reserve. (it involves giving ur credit card number). Definitely come a half hour before you reservation time because the clock starts at your reservation time which does not include the 20 – 30 minutes it takes to outfit you and prepare the kayak. So if you booked a 9am appointment, come at 8:30am so you can get outfitted with these price inclusive pieces 1) life jacket with whistle 2) waterproof dresses that hook around the seat of the kayak (with emergency pull handle, because if you capsize the waterproof dress, along with you, stills hook tightly around kayak, so important to pull quickly when capsizing) 3) water squegee, if you kayak somehow has a hole. 4) and the paddles.
We actually came 15 minutes late, but the staff was very nice about it and just moved us an half hour up. It took us nearly one hour to get up to the first checkpoint (we rented a duo for 42 bucks per 2 hours), so we spent the next hour pretty much kayaking back.
The area is just beautiful, up to the first checkpoint you still see alot of residential homes hanging on the cliffs, but if you make it past the 2nd checkpoint — you will be suddenly surrounded by the untouched nature itself. I was told that hardcore kayakers make it all the way to the last checkpoint, and lodge overnight and kayak back in the morning. This requires a full day rental.
Rentals are instructed to kayak by the shoreline, as small boats utilized the central areas of the cove and the arm. You are allowed to cross, but if you see a boat it is recommended you place your paddles up to show you are not moving as those powered boats move faster than you do. In general, be careful if you are cutting across.
Also, if you are using the duo kayak, the steering (left and right direction) is controlled by the person sitting in the back. Make sure you have the pedals adjusted properly (make sure your legs are not straight when you are stepping on the pedal, your legs have to be more of a butterfly stretch while touching pedals) Remember, pressing left pedal means the kayak will go left and right pedal is right. Also make sure you pull the rudder down when departing and bring it back up when returning (so it doesn’t hit the rocks)
As for getting to Deep Cove, we actually utilized the public transportation which involved taking the Seabus to Londsdale Quay, hopped on a bus to Philbs Exchange, and took a bus that makes Deep Cove it’s last stop. Very convenient and took only about 40 minutes.
A quicker way from the city is to take a bus from downtown straight to Philbs Exchange, and then transfer for the Deep Cove bus. But we took the Seabus, because we paid for a day pass and wanted to utilize it fully.
Overall, this is a must if you are visiting Vancouver. Much better than Grouse Mountain or the Suspension Bridge.
For those light and sensitive to sun skin like me, bring suntan lotion! It’s a must! If you are bringing personal belongings, leave it in the car. If you don’t have a car, there’s a public doorless cubby for use, so you can’t put a lock to it. However, you can place your bag in the kayak — however — becareful! It can get wet!
Place rating: 5
Vancouver, Canada
Deep Cove is beautiful. I’ve always loved water sports, so kayaking/​canoeing is an annual summer activity for me.
Because they have a limited number of kayaks and canoes, I usually call ahead to reserve my boat. If you want a tandem one, then it is highly recommended that you call to book ahead. They have a reasonable cancelation policy-​as long as you cancel 24 hours ahead, then they won’t charge you. You can rent canoes/​kayaks by the hour, or by the day, and even overnight, in case you want to dock somewhere and camp out.
Rentals of lifejackets and the paddles are included. They give you a brief lesson on the paddling skills, and how to manuver your boat.
Paddling through the Indian Arm, this is the perfect way to spend a sunny weekend. There are multiple places where you can dock-​3 hours can get you to Belcarra Park and back. There’s something tranquil about being out in the middle of the water, just you, the boat, and nature around you.
You never know what you will see on these trips. This year, we saw a whole bunch on seals basking on docks. Then there’s all the lovely houses in Deep Cove which makes me so jealous.
Deep Cove itself is a little quaint community with shops, and restaurants. You can grab lunch or dinner around here before or after canoeing/​kayaking.
I always have a great time. Try it out!
Place rating: 5
Houston, TX
The knowledgeable staff of the store were great. From the person who took our reservations over the phone, to the clerk store who guided us on what route to take, to the person who fit us into our gear and the person who pulls us out when we come back. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable.
We went on a Friday afternoon and all the Tandem Kayaks were taken in the books, we had originally made rsvps for Singles but she found a tandem for us anyway and then we changed our minds back to single kayaks. She was patient and very nice. Thank you
When we hit the water, the scenery was absolutely spectacular. We found lots of starfish and jellyfish following the path she had suggested.
I will most definitely be back.