The River Eden is one of the longest rivers in Cumbria and flows through some of England's most attractive countryside, running through a wooded sandstone gorge for much of its most popular paddled stretch. The river is graded broadly from 2 to 5 depending on the section, with the uppermost section from Hellgill reaching Grade 4 to 5 in high water. The majority of the river, however, runs at Grade 2 to 3, making it accessible to relatively novice paddlers as well as those seeking more technical water.

The most popular paddling section runs from Lazonby to Armathwaite, covering approximately 8 kilometres. Access is from the car park above Lazonby Bridge (NY550402), with egress on the right bank below Armathwaite Bridge (NY394764). This stretch is frequently paddled in open boats and is described as generally flat with a couple of entertaining rapids. The Great Corby gauge is the standard reference for assessing conditions; a reading of 1.0 is considered suitable for a reasonable trip on this section. A higher section from Langwathby to Lazonby is also paddled and requires less water to run, making it a viable alternative when the Lazonby to Armathwaite section is too low.

The principal hazard on the Lazonby to Armathwaite section is Armathwaite Weir, which requires inspection before running. It can be run on the left or on the right, though the right side carries a retentive stopper that should be avoided. At very high water levels, the weir becomes more dangerous and extra caution is warranted. The weir can be portaged via the island river centre, except at very high levels when this option is not available.

The river is runnable at most levels, though the Eden, like most Cumbrian rivers that are not lake outflows, rises and falls rapidly. Cumbria is the wettest region in England, so water levels can change quickly and paddlers should check the Great Corby gauge before setting out. The river passes through a scenic sandstone gorge with woodland, offering an attractive natural environment throughout the paddle.