Entry No. 87 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: outdoor
Riversport Full Moon Kayak Paddle
Once a month on the Saturday nearest the full moon, Riversport runs a guided 90-minute evening paddle on Lake Overholser. You launch around sunset and stay on the water as the full moon rises over the lake. It's a guided group outing, so no experience is required.
The story
Lake Overholser sits on the far western edge of Oklahoma City, a shallow municipal reservoir that feels light-years removed from the high-velocity whitewater channels of Riversport's downtown Boathouse District. Out here along East Overholser Drive, near the shadow of the historic Route 66 bridge, the pace drops into something far quieter. Once a month during the summer—specifically on the Saturday nearest the full moon—Riversport gathers a small fleet of kayakers at the boathouse dock just as dusk begins to turn the sky bruised and blue.
The 90-minute trip pushes off right at sunset, sending the group gliding out across the open reservoir toward the quiet marsh fringes of the Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge. Once you're out on the open water and the sun drops completely, the city light recedes and the full moon takes over, throwing a long silver beam straight across the lake. It’s a guided, slow-moving crawl across flat water, giving you a rare look at Oklahoma City after dark from a vantage point where the loudest sound on the water is your own paddle blade breaking the surface.
What it's like
You'll report to the Lake Overholser Boathouse shortly before sunset to get fitted for life jackets, pick up your paddle, and get assigned to a single or tandem kayak. The 90-minute excursion stays together as a guided pack, moving at a relaxed, non-competitive pace. Expect to get dripping wet from paddle splash and boat drip—leave dry clothes, towels, and dry shoes in your trunk, or lock your phone inside a heavy-duty waterproof bag. Because it only happens on one Saturday per month in the summer, reservations fill up well in advance.
The move: Share a tandem kayak (or paddle side by side) across Lake Overholser at dusk, watching the sun set and the full moon climb during the guided 90-minute trip.
📍 Before you go Summer season only, one date per month near the full moon; book ahead and bring a change of clothes.
- 📍 Lake Overholser
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Lake Overholser Boathouse, 3115 E Overholser Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73127
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Cactus Jack's Family Fun Center — Swap open water for blinking neon and dry land at Oklahoma's oldest arcade, sitting under two miles away.
- Yukon Czech Hall — Since the full moon paddles happen on Saturdays, drive five miles west afterward for live polka and beer at this 1899 Czech hall.
- Traditions Leathercraft — Spend the afternoon tooling a leather coaster on West Reno before heading over to Overholser Drive for your twilight launch.
Good to know
When do these full moon paddles happen?
They operate exclusively during the summer season, running just once a month on the Saturday evening closest to the full moon.
Do I need paddling experience to join?
Not at all. The 90-minute trip is fully guided, beginner-friendly, and conducted at a gentle, easy-going group pace.
What should I bring and wear?
Wear clothes and shoes that can get completely soaked. Bring a full change of dry clothes and a towel to leave in your car, and avoid bringing unsealed electronics onto the water.
Where is the launch point?
You launch directly from the Lake Overholser Boathouse dock at 3115 E Overholser Drive on the east side of the lake.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: keepmovingokc.org · Official site · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-23