In 2003 and 2004, American Whitewater’s Jason Robertson helped advise the National Park Service Rivers and Trails Program on the development of a new instructional manual called “Logical Lasting Launches”. The guide is free and is now available to the public at http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/rtca/helpfultools/ht_launch_guide.html in pdf format.
As noted on the Park Service webpage, “This guide provides design guidance for developing canoe and kayak launches. Case examples, designs, and photos of launch sites are included.”
General recommendations in the manual for designing an accessible launch include:
• Height above water: Between 9″ and 2′ from highest expected water level
• Width: At least 5′ wide, preferably 6′ to 12′
• Length: At least 25′ to allow paddlers “dry” access to entire length of their boats
• Slope: ADA Accessibility Guidelines require that slopes not exceed 8.33% whenever possible;
A slope exceeding 15% will make transition from land to water difficult for any paddler
• Support: Handrails or other support structures, including step-down designs or ropes, help
paddlers balance their weight during put-in and take-out
• Location: Ideally in areas without heavy flow, erosion, exposure to elements, heavy boat traffic,
or fragile riparian habitats
Best-suited
The type of launch chosen should be suitable for a particular access location, meaning that it should be
the most sensible choice considering the characteristics of the water body, as well as relevant climatic
and ecological factors.
General recommendations
A launch that is “best-suited”:
• Is constructed in accordance with any applicable regulations
• Provides safe access, away from potential river hazards, especially at different flow level
• Can withstand flow levels, currents, and exposure to elements at a particular site
• Accommodates paddlers in varying water depths
• Provides a firm surface for launching, despite changes in sedimentation levels
• Will not be easily damaged due to climatic or seasonal conditions
• Does not cause damage to riparian habitats or vegetation during its construction and is unlikely to
have environmental impacts over time and through usage
• Is not constructed in an area vulnerable to erosion
• Is constructed with consideration to its intended uses and frequency of use