Beaver Creek Water Trail’s Newest BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch Opens at Karns Landing, TN
Building an Accessible Water Trail One Access Point at a Time
The Beaver Creek Water Trail is demonstrating what is possible when communities take a long-term approach to improving paddling access, protecting natural resources, and creating recreational opportunities for people of all abilities.
In July 2026, Legacy Parks Foundation and Knox County celebrated the opening of the newest BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch at Karns Landing in Knox County, Tennessee. The project marks another important milestone in the development of the 44-mile Beaver Creek Water Trail and continues a multi-year collaborative partnership among BoardSafe Docks, Beaver Creek Kayak Club, Knox County Parks and Recreation, and Legacy Parks Foundation.
For communities interested in developing an accessible water trail of their own, Beaver Creek offers an important lesson: a successful water trail isn't created with one launch. It is built strategically over time, with multiple access points that connect people to the water and to one another.
From Community Vision to a 44-Mile Water Trail
BoardSafe Docks was first introduced to the Beaver Creek Kayak Club in 2020. Led by club president and trailblazer Charlie Austin and a dedicated group of community volunteers, the club has grown into a community of more than 7,400 members and has played an important role in building awareness of Beaver Creek as a recreational hub.
The club's efforts are part of a much larger community vision centered around recreational kayaking and dedication to the preservation and conservation of the public water trail, with a motto: “Clear, Clean, and Care for Beaver Creek.”
That vision has translated into years of hands-on stewardship, environmental improvements, and investment in public recreation.
The results include:
- Removal of more than 3,000 tons of debris
- Improved community stewardship and pride
- Improvements to the health and ecology of the creek
- Increased opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing
- Flood-reduction efforts
- New parks and recreational access points
- A growing network of accessible paddling facilities
- Stronger connections among communities along Beaver Creek
Perhaps most importantly, the project demonstrates how environmental stewardship and recreational access can work together. Cleaning and protecting the waterway has helped make Beaver Creek a destination, while strategically placed access points make it possible for more people to experience it.
Three Accessible Launches Create a Connected Paddling Experience, More to Follow
Karns Landing is now the third BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch installed along Beaver Creek.
It joins existing BoardSafe launches at:
- Powell High Landing
- Roy Arthur Stormwater Park
- Karns Landing
The three access points are located approximately 5.5 miles apart, creating a series of opportunities for paddlers to enter, exit, and explore Beaver Creek.
This type of strategic spacing is an important consideration for communities developing a water trail. Rather than focusing on a single launch site, planners can look at the entire waterway and identify locations that can eventually create a connected network of public access points.
More additional BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launches are in the planning phase, continuing the long-term vision of a fully connected and accessible Beaver Creek Water Trail.
Designing Access for Paddlers of All Abilities
Creating an accessible water trail means more than simply providing a route to the water. The access point itself must be designed so that people with different mobility needs can safely and independently transition from land to water.
The BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch at all Beaver Creek locations, and now at Karns Landing, incorporates features designed specifically for adaptive paddlers, including:
- An ADA-compliant gangway and ramp
- A floating dock system that includes an adaptive boarding kit
- A boarding bench positioned at wheelchair height
- An overhead grab bar
- Hand straps and pull bars
- A pull-out seat that extends over the kayak entry point
- A kayak chute that cradles and stabilizes the kayak during entry and exit
These features are intended to make launching and landing easier, safer, and more manageable for all paddlers, including those with a wide range of abilities.
The goal is not simply to create an accessible box to check. The goal is to create an access system that people can actually use. With nearly 200 kayak launches installed across the United States, BoardSafe offers launches in different configurations and can help determine which work best for specific site conditions.
Planning for Flooding and Long-Term Durability
Water trails present unique infrastructure challenges. Access points must function in an environment where water levels can change dramatically, currents can be unpredictable, and flooding can put significant stress on waterfront structures.
Since 2020, BoardSafe Docks has worked with Knox County stakeholders to evaluate access sites along the creek and provide expert analysis of the type of launch system that would best suit each projected launch site.
That site-specific approach is especially important along Beaver Creek, where portions of the 44-mile waterway are prone to significant flooding.
BoardSafe's welded aluminum floating dock systems, gangways, and adaptive kayak launches are engineered and anchored for the conditions at each location. Proper anchoring and riverbank connections are critical to maintaining the stability and safety of a floating access system when water levels rise and site conditions change.
For communities developing a water trail, the lesson is clear: accessibility, durability, site conditions, and long-term maintenance should be considered together from the beginning of the planning process.
Water Trails Can Build Stronger Communities
The Beaver Creek Water Trail is about more than paddling.
It has become a community recreation initiative that brings together residents, volunteers, government agencies, conservation organizations, paddlers, and businesses around a shared natural resource.
The Beaver Creek Kayak Club's annual Flotilla is one example of that community connection. The club recently celebrated its 9th annual Flotilla, bringing more than 500 paddlers together for a day on the creek.
Events like this demonstrate the broader impact of investing in water trails. A well-planned access network can support paddling events, fishing, wildlife recreation, outdoor education, tourism, and everyday recreation for residents.
As Legacy Parks Foundation Executive Director Carol Evans noted:
“Close-to-home recreational opportunities have become more important to all of us, and the Beaver Creek Water Trail is an excellent resource where many of us live and work.”
What Communities Can Learn From Beaver Creek
For communities considering the development of an accessible water trail, Beaver Creek provides a valuable roadmap.
1. Start With the Entire Waterway
Look beyond a single launch site. Identify the full length of the water trail and determine where access points can eventually be connected.
2. Listen to the Paddling Community
Local paddlers understand the waterway, its challenges, and the places where access is most needed. Beaver Creek's progress was driven in large part by people who already knew and cared about the creek.
3. Design for Real-World Accessibility
Accessibility should be incorporated into the launch itself and not added as an afterthought. Talk with adaptive paddlers and understand what they actually need to enter and exit their boats. Seek out support from waterfront infrastructure experts, like BoardSafe Docks, where our experience and project expertise set us apart from other dock builders. We don’t just build docks; we design, engineer, consult for unique site conditions, and manufacture the infrastructure.
4. Plan for Environmental Conditions
Flooding, fluctuating water levels, currents, shoreline conditions, and maintenance requirements should all be evaluated before selecting infrastructure.
5. Think Long-Term
A water trail can take years to develop. Establishing one successful access point creates a foundation for the next. Over time, individual launches can become a connected recreational network.
6. Build Community Around the Water
Events, volunteer stewardship, fishing, paddling, conservation, and outdoor recreation can turn a water trail into a community asset that reaches far beyond the people who paddle.
Beaver Creek’s Story Is Still Being Written
The opening of the Karns Landing Adaptive Kayak Launch is not the end of the Beaver Creek Water Trail project. It is another step in a long-term vision to create a more connected, accessible, and sustainable recreational resource along 44 miles of Beaver Creek.
From removing thousands of tons of debris to restoring community pride, improving the waterway, creating parks, and installing accessible launches, Beaver Creek demonstrates how waterway restoration and recreational access can work hand in hand.
And as additional access points are planned, the vision becomes increasingly clear: a water trail where paddlers of different ages and abilities can find safe, welcoming opportunities to experience the creek.
For communities considering an accessible water trail, Beaver Creek provides an example worth following.
The best water trails aren't simply places to launch a kayak. They are connected community assets—planned for accessibility, built for the environment, and designed to serve generations of paddlers.
Learn More About Beaver Creek’s Water Trail
Follow the growth and development of the Beaver Creek Water Trail through these BoardSafe and Legacy Parks Foundation resources:
Planning an Accessible Water Trail?
If your community is planning a paddle trail and wants to incorporate durable, functional, and truly accessible waterfront infrastructure, contact us at BoardSafeDocks.com or 610-899-0286.
BoardSafe Docks is the trusted expert that works with communities, parks departments, engineers, and water-trail planners to develop site-specific access solutions designed around the needs of the waterway and the people who use it.
#AccessYourAdventure #WaterfrontInfrastructure #UniversalAccess #AccessibleWatertrails #BoardSafeDocks #BeaverCreekKayakClub
The Outdoor Navigator Reviews BoardSafe's Adaptive Kayak Launch at Lake Reba
BoardSafeDocks would like to give a special shoutout to The Outdoor Navigator for providing an independent, non-affiliated review of the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch at Lake Reba in the City of Richmond, Madison County, Kentucky.
Inclusive Kayak Launch: Who Says You Can't?
In his YouTube video here > Inclusive Kayak Launch. Who Says You Can't?, the Outdoor Navigator introduces viewers to the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch and explores how its innovative design helps make kayaking more accessible for people of diverse abilities.
His review highlights the thoughtful features of the launch and its potential to remove barriers that can prevent people with disabilities or limited mobility from participating in paddlesports. He emphasizes the importance of creating outdoor recreation opportunities that are not simply accessible in name, but designed to help people actually get on the water and enjoy the experience.
We especially appreciate that The Outdoor Navigator conducted this review independently. He clearly states that he has no affiliation with BoardSafeDocks and that his purpose is to educate and inform others about accessible outdoor recreation options.
He encourages paddlers with disabilities, and anyone who has considered kayaking but struggled with access, to do their research and explore solutions that can help them navigate the waterfront and enjoy the outdoors.
That message aligns closely with what we believe at BoardSafeDocks: accessibility should create opportunity, not simply check a box.
Thank you to The Outdoor Navigator for shining a light on inclusive paddling and helping others discover what may be possible when the right access is available.
🌊 Who says you can't? Get out there and navigate outdoors!
Follow The Outdoor Navigator #LifeIsBetterWhenYouNavigateOutdoors on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube for more outdoor adventures and inspiration.
For more information about our Accessible Kayak Launch and other accessible infrastructure, contact us at 610-899-0286 or at BoardSafeDocks.com
#BoardSafeDocks #AdaptiveKayakLaunch #AccessibleKayaking #AdaptivePaddling #InclusiveOutdoors #KayakingForEveryone #OutdoorAccessibility #AccessYourAdventure
What Makes a Truly Accessible & Adaptive Kayak Launch?
Accessibility is more than a label. It’s about removing the barriers that prevent people from getting on the water.
For more than 20 years, BoardSafe Docks has designed and manufactured high-performance aluminum waterfront systems for public and private clients across the country. Our expertise includes adaptive kayak launches, floating boat docks, gangways, fishing piers, marinas, pedestrian bridges, and rowing centers.
Designed With Adaptive Paddlers—Not Just For Them
BoardSafe’s Adaptive Kayak Launch was developed in 2012 through collaboration with an environmental engineer, physical therapists, an accessibility coordinator, and adaptive paddlers from the Lehigh Valley Chapter of Team River Runner.
Their firsthand experience helped us identify the real barriers wheelchair users face, from reaching the launch to transferring into a kayak and safely getting back out of the water. That collaboration continues to influence our design today.
The result is an adaptive launch designed to provide greater independence, stability, safety, and dignity for paddlers of varying abilities.
Key Features That Make the Difference
- ADA-compliant gangway with a maximum 1:12 slope for access between shore and the launch.
- Tiered boarding bench designed to facilitate transfers from a wheelchair into a kayak.
- Pull-out seat positioned over the kayak cockpit to minimize the transfer distance.
- Kayak chute and saddle designed to securely cradle the vessel and reduce unwanted movement.
- Adaptive roll cage with overhead grab bars, handrails, and handstraps that provide multiple user preferences when transferring.
- Spacious aluminum floating dock providing room for wheelchair maneuvering and additional wheelchairs.
- Perimeter toe kick to help prevent wheelchairs from accidentally rolling off the dock.
- Continuous handrails along the gangway and launch for additional safety and support.
Stability Matters
BoardSafe does not use roller-based kayak launch systems. Our saddle-style cradle securely supports the kayak and helps minimize shifting during transfers.
This is particularly important for adaptive paddlers who need a stable platform when entering or exiting a vessel. BoardSafe’s design also helps protect higher-end kayaks that can be vulnerable to roller systems
Built for the Waterfront
BoardSafe launches are constructed with marine-grade aluminum, composite decking, and stainless-steel fasteners and are engineered for demanding waterfront environments. Our systems are structurally engineered and built to last.
BoardSafe has built nearly 200 Adaptive Kayak Launches across the United States, with systems designed to withstand wind, waves, flooding, and corrosive environments.
Don't Just Look at the Label, Look at the User Experience
“ADA” and “accessible” do not necessarily mean a launch will work for a person with a mobility impairment. ADA guidelines provide limited direction regarding actual transfers from a wheelchair into a kayak or canoe from floating or fixed docks.
When evaluating an adaptive kayak launch, ask these questions:
- Can a wheelchair user independently reach the launch?
- Can they safely transfer into their vessel?
- Does the kayak remain stable during the transfer?
- Is there adequate overhead and hand support?
- Can the paddler safely return to the launch and exit safely after being on the water?
- Do you have a user video demonstrating successful entry, launching, and exit?
BoardSafe believes true accessibility means answering yes to all of these questions.
BoardSafe User Videos & Testimonials:
Adaptive Kayak Launch at Lake Chaminwood
Adaptive Paddler Reviews Accessible Kayak Launch After First Experience
Getting boat from vehicle to water: Adaptive kayak launch makes it easy
The BoardSafe Difference
BoardSafe doesn't simply build an accessible dock. We build access to the experience.
With proven designs, user-informed features, durable aluminum construction, and nearly 200 launches in operation nationwide, BoardSafe provides communities with a long-term solution for creating more inclusive waterfronts.
#BoardSafeDocks #UniversalAccess #AccessibleKayakLaunch #AccessibleFishingPier #Access Your Adventure #BeyondTheAccessibleCheckbox
BoardSafe Returns as Platinum Sponsor of SOBA Education & Training Symposium
The 2026 SOBA Education & Training Symposium is coming to Boise, Idaho, August 24–27, bringing together professionals from across the country who are dedicated to improving and expanding public access to our nation’s waterways.
Hosted by Idaho Fish and Game, the annual symposium is the largest gathering of professionals and affiliate organizations focused on boating access in the United States. The event brings together state boating officials, consultants, engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, publishers, and other industry professionals working to advance access to both motorized and non-motorized boating.
BoardSafe Docks: Supporting Access for All
Since 2022, BoardSafe Docks has proudly served as a Platinum Sponsor of the SOBA Education & Training Symposium, supporting the organization’s commitment to safe, innovative, and accessible boating opportunities.
At BoardSafe, we believe access to the water should be available to everyone. Our accessible kayak launches and waterfront access systems are designed to help communities create truly inclusive recreational opportunities for people of all abilities.
Our impact extends far beyond the launch itself. Inclusive waterfront infrastructure can strengthen communities, support tourism and outdoor recreation, and most importantly, give individuals who may have experienced barriers to water access the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors independently and confidently.
Meet BoardSafe at SOBA
BoardSafe Docks invites symposium attendees to connect with Tom Warchol, Managing Partner at BoardSafe Docks, who will speak about procurement options for the non-motorized boating industry and strategies for creating universal access to our waterways.
Tom will share insights into the importance of thoughtful procurement and the role manufacturers, engineers, and communities can play in making accessibility an integral part of waterfront development, not an afterthought.
Why Attend the SOBA Symposium?
The four-day SOBA Education & Training Symposium attracts nearly 200 professionals representing state boating programs, engineering firms, marine construction and manufacturing companies, specialty material suppliers, and other organizations involved in boating access.
The symposium provides an opportunity to:
- Learn about the latest boating access products, materials, designs, and construction techniques.
- Connect with state boating officials and industry professionals from across the country.
- Explore innovative approaches to motorized and non-motorized boating access.
- Share ideas and best practices for improving public access to waterways.
- Discover solutions that can enhance safety, accessibility, durability, and long-term value for communities.
For anyone involved in boating access, waterfront development, parks and recreation, engineering, or outdoor recreation, SOBA provides an invaluable opportunity to learn, network, and stay ahead of industry trends.
While You're in Boise, Visit Lucky Peak State Park
While attending the symposium, be sure to visit BoardSafe’s Accessible Kayak Launch at Lucky Peak State Park on the Boise River.
The new launch demonstrates how thoughtful design and accessible infrastructure can create more opportunities for paddlers of all abilities to get on the water. Read more here: BoardSafe Kayak Launch Expands Access at Lucky Peak State Park
We look forward to seeing our industry partners, colleagues, and friends in Boise!
2026 SOBA Education & Training Symposium
August 24–27, 2026
Riverside Hotel
2900 W. Chinden Blvd.
Garden City, ID 83714
For registration and event information, visit SOBA's official event page: https://www.sobaus.org/events/event
#SOBA2026 #BoatingAccess #AccessibleBoating #AdaptiveKayakLaunch #UniversalAccess #Accessibility #OutdoorRecreation #BoardSafeDocks #KayakLaunch #WaterAccess #Idaho
BoardSafe Kayak Launch Expands Access at Lucky Peak State Park
Visitors to Lucky Peak State Park near Boise now have a new way to experience the Boise River thanks to a recently completed accessible paddling launch designed and manufactured by BoardSafe Docks.
Officials with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation celebrated the completion of the project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Discovery Park, marking another milestone in Idaho's commitment to making outdoor recreation accessible to everyone. To ensure an even safer paddling experience, life jackets are available for anyone who needs to borrow one at the new launch site.
(Photo by Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)
(Photo by Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)Designed for paddlers of all abilities, the new BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch is part of a larger riverbank restoration project that transformed the shoreline into a welcoming, universally accessible recreation area. Park improvements include accessible parking, paved pathways and ramps, the adaptive kayak and paddleboard launch, stepping stones leading to the river, and a sandy dog beach where four-legged companions can safely enjoy the water alongside their owners.
Located just minutes from downtown Boise, Lucky Peak State Park welcomes more than one million visitors each year. The calm waters of this stretch of the Boise River make it an ideal destination for first-time paddlers, adaptive recreation programs, families, and experienced kayakers alike.
Before the improvements, the riverbank featured a steep drop-off that created challenges for many visitors. Today, the redesigned shoreline provides a safer, more convenient launch point, allowing more people to enjoy the river with confidence and independence.
Learn more about the new access point here:
New Riverbank Restoration Improves Accessibility at Lucky Peak State Park
Building Accessible Waterfronts Across America
Every BoardSafe Accessible Kayak Launch represents more than a new piece of waterfront infrastructure; it creates new opportunities for recreation, wellness, and community connection.
Co-designed with adaptive paddlers from Team River Runner, the BoardSafe Adaptive Kayak Launch delivers true universal access through user-tested engineering. Instead of retrofitting generic parts, our manufacturing team collaborated directly with wheelchair users to eliminate structural barriers. The final system features include a 1:12 ADA maximum slope aluminum gangway, a 16-inch height, tiered boarding bench with pull-out seat, a roll cage with overhead grab bars, pull bars and grab straps, along with a launch cradle that holds the kayak stable during entering and exiting. These specialized features provide a stable, reliable transition from land into water, ensuring safety and independence for adaptive paddlers and paddlers of all ability levels.
Early Collaboration between Team River Runner Paddlers and BoardSafe
Early Collaboration between Team River Runner Paddlers and BoardSafeFrom state parks and municipal waterfronts to lakes, rivers, and nature preserves, BoardSafe Docks is helping communities across the United States remove barriers and provide universal access to the outdoors. Each installation reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that people of all ages and abilities can experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of being on the water.
As more communities invest in inclusive recreation, BoardSafe continues to provide durable solutions that are thoughtfully engineered and stand the test of time.
To learn how an accessible kayak launch can transform your lake, river, or waterfront into a destination where everyone can launch their adventure, contact BoardSafe Docks through our website or give us a call at 610-899-0286.
#BoardSafeDocks #AccessiblePaddling #IdahoParksandRec #AccessibleRecreation #UniversalAccess #AccessYourAdventure