Decided to rent some bikes while we were staying in Mendocino. The shop is cute with it being right on the water. Definitely debated renting a canoe as well but we just didn't have enough time. The bikes were perfect to get us around town and down a trial close by. We had them reserved for 3 hours but they weren't worried about our time limit as long as we got them back by 4:30. The owners of the shop are super chill and relaxed. We felt very welcomed in their space. It was easy to book online and they're very responsive and flexible. I will say the breaks on the bike were a little worn but didn't pose any issues for us. We felt safe riding around and had no trouble. read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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We got the outrigger canoe for three adults and one pet and it was such a fun experience doing this with our dog! I was a little bit nervous because our pup doesn't exactly love water nor do we canoe often, but Rick via email and the staff on site were so helpful in answering any lingering questions. Rowing away from site was easy and smooth, and we floated off the side for a bit to take in the view. Once the wind picked up, rowing back was harder since we were going against the current, but still manageable! Everyone had a great time. We didn't use up the full three hours we were booked for, but nonetheless made it quite the way before turning back. We also respectfully from a distance, saw many seals! Our pup ended up enjoying her time on the canoe, and was all smiles. She was so relaxed that she actually fell asleep on the way back while we worked to paddle against the current. I'd say totally add this to your itinerary and make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and water for hydration! read more

Booked a reservation online a few weeks before our trip by filling out their request form, someone from the team then contacted me the next morning to confirm details and availability. Scheduling was easy and they were super responsive. Loved our time kayaking on the big river. The scenery was beautiful and the waters were fairly calm at the time we were out. We didn't see too much wildlife, but did see a big crab swimming and some seals/sea lions when we headed back in. We came across quite a few other boat renters, but overall it was a very serene experience. We arrived a little early and they were able to help us right away! We were helped by Rowan. He was a great at showing us the ropes of a sit-in kayak. We both had plenty of experience with sit on top kayaks, but this was our first time using a sit-in one. It is definitely a different feeling, but was super easy to get a hang of if you've kayaked a bit! We were doing kayaks and they had plenty available, their outrigger canoes do tend to book up quickly, so you'll definitely want to prebook these in advance to ensure you can get one! Would absolutely come back and rent kayaks here again, this was one of the highlights of our trip up here! read more

A really unique outrigger canoe experience for our family of 4. We were scheduled for 9:50 am and it was perfect timing - easy to row without much work and very quiet on the big river. For much of the time, we were just the only ones around for as far as the eye could see and it was so peaceful. At one point, we saw an otter, which was such a fun find. Also plenty of bird life. Easy to do this despite being fairly green to the canoeing/kayaking. It was a memorable experience and we would definitely do it again the next time we are in Mendocino! read more

This was such a fun experience. My fiancé and I rented out an outrigger canoe for 3 hours. We had a lot of fun, staff was really friendly and informative. We saw plenty of birds, a harbor seal, and some little crabs. The outrigger has a pedal/steering system for the person in the back end to control it made rowing even easier than it already was. The river was nice and peaceful. read more

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We booked a outrigger canoe and enjoyed our time on the water. It's so pretty and relatively calm. It was a bit of a struggle going back upstream, but maybe because I stopped paddling and the husband had to row by himself, haha. We loved that it was dog friendly and was able to bring the doggo. They even loaned her a life vest! I don't know if the doggo enjoyed the canoe since it's her first time, but we enjoyed having her with us. Overall, super easy to book (the website), the staff is super friendly, the views are so pretty and we had a great time. read more

Needed a much deserved getaway after going through some rough times...and boy did this place deliver! Mendocino is a beautiful and wonderful respite! The rustic and rugged outdoor that this town offered was the perfect setting to recharge and reclaim one's spirit. Catch a Canoe, Rick along with his helpful and kind staff made this water activity a great choice! It was kismet that there was a last minute cancellation...3 hours paddling through the Big River went by really fast! I loved every bit of it! The calm water and serene forest setting are what I will remember most of this stunning place! Definitely returning for more in the future! read more

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This place is judgemental and treated me terrible just because I look different. I'll never be back because of how horrible it felt. Don't have any color in your life or look poor if you go here, especially if you look like you live in the real world, you will be judged and treated badly definitely. read more

This is easily my too activity for a long weekend in the Mendocino - Fort Bragg Area. Walked the Big River trail the day before and noticed a number of people kayaking. Thought that looked fun. A quick google search led us here. A phone call to Rick, an online request later and we had a 1045 canoe booking for the next day. Easy Peasy. All the instructions are emailed and simple. Go to the bathroom beforehand, arrive promptly, keep your distance from wildlife, etc. Arrived at 1035 and we were quickly shown to our boat. The redwood outrigger is fantastic! I'm a fan of kayaking but with 2 people and a nervous 30 pound doodle, the outrigger made the whole experience a breeze. We spent the next 2.5 hours meandering up (or down) the Big River. Spotted a couple of sunbathing harbor seals, an array of birds, and one very shy otter. All in all, it was a great time! Rick and Mitch were incredibly helpful with information and getting us situated. We will definitely come back! And next time we'll make sure to pack snacks, or even a lunch! read more

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Gliding down the serene Big River in an amazing outrigger canoe near sunbathing seals, frolicking baby river otters, egrets, and other water fowl is not to be missed. The staff is great in setting you up so you can maneuver like Moana . Enjoy! read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

Taking an Outrigger Canoe out on the Big River was a highlight of our Mendocino trip. It was so easy to maneuver with the outrigger's rudder system. The river is incredibly gorgeous, and I loved seeing all of the harbor seals! Mitchell was very friendly and helpful. Dog Friendly, our pup loved his adventure. read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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Great service, people were knowledgeable and fun. We canoed for three hours with six people in one outrigger.

Super friendly staff and easy to reserve equipment online. Giving 4 stars as we thought we may be able to try our hand at full suspension mountain bikes (as they mentioned these and hard tails on the site) to learn that they are phasing out full suspension. It was also a busy week so wasn't able to get paddle boards, though that's on us for not reserving early enough. The staff is friendly and offer suggestions on where to ride. They care about their customers having an enjoyable time. we had a blast mountain biking and the rental bikes are in great condition, very comfortable and easy to operate (shifting gears, adjusting seats, etc) highly recommend this place but book early!!!! read more

I made a reservation request online as instructed, waited a few days, no update. I emailed them twice, still no response after two weeks. The phone number listed is just a recording. How are customers suppose to know what to do with their travel arrangements/lodging if customer service is this insufficient. Super disappointed because it would have been nice to try out their Outrigger canoe. Very poor customer experience. Hope others have better luck. read more

Big shout out to Jason and Mitch! We rented a 3-man redwood outrigger and had a wonderful experience. The scenery was amazing and we saw lots of wildlife, otters, seals, turtles, and lots of birds. Both guys were so friendly and welcoming and Mitch was nice enough to take pictures of us. It was an amazing time and well worth the money. read more

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Surprised my bf with a weekend getaway from the bay- we didn't make any plans / were going with the flow and day of decided to all CAC to see if they happened to have a boat that would accommodate and our two large dogs (GSD and Mal). Just our luck- the guy on the phone was super nice and had two time slots to choose from. We showed up, a little late due to some car trouble, but they were totally cool about it. Got us set up and sent us on our way! The river was so beautiful and the boat was super stable and large enough to accommodate all of us. I hope to come again! read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Beautiful day on the river. Two people and two large dogs fit comfortably! - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

Fun times canoeing with my dog How many people can say they did that? I was preggo at the time so my hubby had to carry all the weight read more

As first timers to canoe/kayaking, we were nervous about taking our dog out on the river with us. The staff was great at reassuring us, setting expectations and advising us on the best timing and approach so we could ensure we could time our trip with the tides. The outrigger canoe was easy to steer, easy to paddle (minimum level of fitness required) and very stable. They provided each of us (including the dog) with a life jacket. The scenery was relaxing and a pleasant 3-hour cruise up (2hrs) and down (1hr) the river. We saw local birds, sea otters and even a harbor seal along the way. The water was clear to about 4-5 feet. Once you get a bit down the river, there are no roads or buildings, just nature, and the occasional mountain biker. All and all a pleasant way to spend the morning! We are always on the search for dog-friendly activities and this was a fun one. Tips: Get there early in the morning, they can get busy and they don't take reservations during the summer. If you don't make the morning rush, they will probably have canoes again around 12 as they charge in 3 hour increments and open at 9. read more

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We had a great time paddling the river in an outrigger canoe. It was easy to make a reservation over the phone (required during the pandemic). I appreciated that all the equipment was cleaned between each person. We paddled for about 3 hours. It was gorgeous and we even saw an otter and a seal! I felt like I could've spent the whole day on the river. read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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The place is a gem. Our family of 5 all shared an outrigger and had a blast. We rowed down about an hour and back about an hour. Very relaxing and we saw a seal and lots of birds. There is a beach right across the way too which looked like it would have been a great place for families. Being where it is, it's not super windy which is nice. We went on a cold day but with sweatshirts and pants it was the perfect day. I was impressed they had life jackets that fit larger people like myself too. We will be back again. read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Outriggers and canoes - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

Mitchell and the rest of staff members were super nice and friendly. We were on the river for about three hours and had a really fun time, the view was incredible. We saw an adorable seals family and our little dog was enjoying himself too. Thank you for the wonderful experience! read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Outrigger - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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My girlfriend and I went Medicino for a trip and decided to check out this cool place. We did not have a reservation, but we were able to still stop by and see what was available. The guy working the desk was very nice and let us know what our options were. Luckily for us, both the canoes and bikes were available and we decided to choose bike riding. We rode on this nice trail, and had a great time. I highly recommend this spot if you are looking for activities in the area. read more

Our family had an absolute blast on the Big River Estuary with our outrigger canoe from Catch A Canoe! We highly recommend you include this adventure on your next vacation to the Mendocino coast! read more

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We came here on Labor Day weekend to rent an outrigger canoe. We didn't make a reservation (since they are not accepted during certain times of the year), but it wasn't a problem. I agree the cost ($28 for 3 hours, per person) is reasonable. At first, 3 hours sounded like a long time. However, once we were on the river it was so pleasant that the time passed by quickly. We canoed for about 45 minutes out and then spent a little longer coming back against the current. Paddling out was very leisurely but it did take some upper body strength and coordination between myself and my husband to get back :D It's not every day that you can rent a canoe and enjoy the peaceful and scenic views of the river. If you're in the area, I'd highly recommend this as an activity for the morning or afternoon. There was a river otter who was quite a ham and kept peeking his head up and swimming right next to our canoe. After reading other reviews, it sounds like he likes to say hello to all canoes that pass by. If you're wondering about attire, I'd suggest layering. It will be a little cool in the beginning especially if there's a breeze, and then it may warm up as you try to come back against the current. You don't have to worry about getting wet or flipping, however, as the outrigger canoe is very stable. You can also bring a backpack with drinks and snacks and enjoy them while you take a break from paddling. read more

This was great from the ease of booking and being able to write in what I was wanting to actually getting there and going. They greeted me happily and were expecting me and ready. They gave me helpful hints and assisted me in and out with my pup. They even took a couple pictures for me. The paddle up was so amazing fly quiet and serene. Loved it all! read more

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My friend and I spent 3 hours today paddling on the Big River with my dog in a dog-friendly outrigger canoe. The trip was gorgeous, as the river is lined with towering, vibrant green trees and sandy beaches. Many birds feed on the shore and fly above. You will paddle through kelp and you will be able to see the river bottom through much of your paddle. You might even be lucky enough to spot some harbor seals on the beaches. This is a modified 3-seater canoe is perfect for your dog. It has a platform in the middle, where your dog can comfortably sit or stand. 2 people can fit in addition to your dog, with one in the front, one in the back, and your dog in the middle. The canoe is equipped with platforms on either side, which makes it very steady. The person sitting in the back has a foot pedal for steering, so both people can row on either side. My dog did exceptionally well on the canoe (her first trip), once she realized it was steady. She sat or laid down for most of the ride, sniffing the wind and watching the birds on the shore. She even fell asleep during part of the paddle. The initial ride was easy, as we were paddling with the tide, but the paddle back had strenuous portions as we paddled against the tide. I recommend calling ahead and speaking with their friendly staff, who will recommend visiting during the easiest time frame, when the tides are agreeable. After your canoe ride, you can stretch your feet on a walk through the beautiful gardens next to the Stanford Inn. Walk up from where you parked towards the entrance, and you will see the gardens on your left. Dogs are required to be on leash in the garden. The ride was only $28 per person for 3 hours and dogs were free. It's a lot of fun, pricing was fair, and I highly recommend the trip. read more

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Located right on the Big River basin just south of funky Medocino, the good folks at Catch A Canoe & Bicycles offer reasonable prices, awesome equipment and superb local knowledge for a Flickr-worthy outdoor excursion. One of the unique things about this particular outfitter is that they offer redwood-carved outrigger canoes with 2 pontoons and a foot-controlled rudder to steering. Don't be jerky like me and assume it's gonna be a wet adventure in an outrigger, these beauties are super stable and streamlined to glide almost effortlessly along the river. And good news for dog owners, they've custom built them so Spike can do a ride along via a small platform in the center of your vessel. Chances are you'll see a variety of wildlife & critters like harbor seals, river otters & tons of birds...so don't forget that camera! Pricing is $28 per person for a 3 hrs or less. The also rent kayaks, bikes & wetsuits so you're covered not matter what mode of transportation you're looking to rock. read more

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This used to be a highlight of all visits to Mendocino, and has now become an item on the avoid list. It would have everything to be a perfect experience, except it has gone from being affordable, to expensive, to very expensive, to ridiculously overpriced. Note that you pay for...the kayak. there is no service required from anyone (not that there should be), so paying 1/4th of the cost of a kayak for a 3h rental is just not ok. Plus, cherry on the cake, you used to be able to rent it for half a day or for the full day for less than you are allowed now to keep it for only 3h, which also makes the overall experience stressful because you go in and have to look at the watch every 10 min to check that you will make it back on time. You will say "well others are waiting". No, in general there are plenty of kayaks available, on weekdays even more, but you still have to pay 100$ as a couple, for 3h. The textbook instructions on how to turn a beautiful experience into a ripoff. read more

Attentive, friendly and knowledgable staff. They'll get you out on the water and having fun in no time. No previous experience needed, they'll teach you all you need to know. Nice and well maintained equipment. You can kayak, paddle board, or get an outrigger. They also have bikes for rent and sale; and a retail area with bike gear and frisbee golf discs. The staff are all locals and know about stuff to do in town if you're interested. All and all it's a great time for you, friends and family! read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Just around the river bend! - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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Nice people renting canoes and stand up paddle boards! The outrigger was fine for 2 of us and a dog, until the dog decided to jump off the front of the canoe into the water and had to be pulled back into the canoe. We saw two seals after a little more than an hour of rowing, which made our entire trip (and sore arms) worth it! read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Right before launch -- and yes, the water-phobic dog came too! - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

Great experience. My dog and I went on his first boat ride. I was given an outrigger to paddle since it's a lot more stable. They were right. The canine was scared at first and as he got more brave, he decided to dive into the water. I think the cold water probably shocked him and he swam back to the canoe pretty fast. (Yay! He can swim! Who knew?) The people advised me to take his leash off for safety reason, I'm glad we did that. Throughout all that with the wet dog, the boat didn't even rock much and just as they said, I stayed dry ... until the wet dog decided he wants to lay on my lap. Fun trip. Bring drinking water! read more

The one thing I really wanted to do during our weekend in Mendocino was to go canoeing, and off we go! Everybody was super laid back at the shop, and you basically sign a waiver and get fitted with a life jacket and paddle and a quick 5 minute paddling lesson (hint: pay attention to which way the paddle should face and don't use it the wrong way for 4 miles like my poor boyfriend did). Having never been paddling ever, we went with an outrigger canoe which was thankfully easier. Although the site advertised sails, we were told that the sails have all gone down over the years and so they no longer offer it. They also rent paddleboards, which I don't believe is advertised on their site. Rates are $28/person for up to 3 hours, and $40 for over 3 hours. You pay once you get back to shore, which is a great idea, unless you have two tired people who are paddling against the current and almost tempting to leave the canoe and swim to shore...which was totally not us. We paddled to the end of the river (approx. 8 miles, I believe) in about 1.5 hours, but unfortunately went back against the current and took over 2 hours to get back. Despite being out in the water for almost 4 hours, the guys here were chill about it and just charged us the 3 hour rate. On our way out, we saw a harbor seal just catching some sun on a log. On the way back, we saw a mom and her 3 otter pups (so cute!), and another otter further up the river who was apparently having lunch and caught 5-6 fishes while we watched. There were a few places where you could dock your canoe along the river, but there doesn't appear to be many paved/explored areas further down the river unless you're willing to be a test subject for the next episode of "I Shouldn't Even Be Alive". Despite the fact that I could definitely use a new pair of arms today, it was totally worth it! read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Beautiful view of the river! - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

My soon to be hubby and I visited Mendocino last summer and I had planned a couple of activities for us to do, one of them included Catch A Canoe which I was very excited about because he loves outdoor activities like this. He had our baby Maltipoo Bailie with us and he was a little over a year old at the time. Prior to the trip we got Bailie a doggie life-jacket (sooo adorable!) because although we know dogs can swim...Bailie has never been in the water (except for when taking a bath) and we wanted to be on the safe side. Price for the both of us was $56 ($28 each) and we were put in a beautiful wooden canoe with stabilizer sot hat we don't tip over. We were given a pad for Bailie to lay on and a map of the river. We packed water, fruit and snacks...and of course a water proof camera! The Big River is absolutely beautiful....and thankfully the weather was just perfect that day without a single clouds in the sky. Bailie got sick not even half way through the 3 hours...but after that he seems to be okay and was chillin and hanging out with us...he was so tired from having so much fun that he slept all the way back. We did not make it all the way to the end of the river...our arms were tired and they wanted to fall off by the time we got back into land. This little adventure was probably my favorite thing to do in Mendocino because there's really no other scenery like it....its magical (sounds cheesy I know...) but it really is....you are literally surrounded by beautiful redwood trees on both sides of the river and its extremely quiet and peaceful. read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Pet friendly? Oh absolutely - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

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Thank you to Catch a Canoe for a enjoyable morning on the Big River! A big shout out to our river guide Sarah! Cool; calm, and collected in knowledge of the area; the tides, winds, and wonders of the Big river. You provided our first time visitors from Florida, a first class experience to the beauty of our beautiful North Coast. Thank you! read more

This is a wonderful company! The guys working there, Mitchell and I'm sorry I forget the other gentleman's name, were both super friendly and helpful. Just nice dudes to talk with. Beautiful location on the mouth of the Big River. If you paddle east for a bit, the winds die down and it gets sunny and warmer. Be aware in advance that due to liability you cannot paddle west towards the ocean past the bridge. Very efficient, thorough and Covid conscious service. Gave good advice on navigating tides, winds and being aware of wildlife. We rented two single kayaks and were only out for an hour due to tide and wind, but will 100% return. Can't believe that we never tried this place after living in Ukiah for 15 years. Taking the Comptche/Ukiah/Orr Springs Road is always a beautiful drive as well. Thank you! read more

I have never been canoing before, but wow! I want to do this every weekend!! I LOVED It, so much I want to get a canoe of our own. There were no other people near us on the river and it was so peaceful. We heard NOTHING but the sounds of nature and the water slapping against the canoe's hull. Sounds of nature we heard: wind going through the trees, birds, and water lapping against the shore. We saw a seal, a great blue heron, and a mallard duck on the way up the river, I was hoping for deer, but I didn't see any. The people running the shop were friendly, fun & efficient. We got a wood dual outrigger canoe and it was perfect! read more

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Check-in experience so unpleasant, we decided not to rent a canoe from these guys: showed up at 8:45AM with wife, a family friend and my young daughter after being told there would be a long line competing for canoes that morning. It turned out I was the first person in a non existing line. Then I was asked a series of inquisitive questions that clearly demonstrated they did not trust us (they charge per person and suspected I was hiding additional people in our party from them). We had to justify the way we wanted to spend our day, starting with where and when we would load the canoe. Unbelievable. This was supposed to be a relaxing activity, not a gestapo interview. Avoid at all cost if you want to be treated with a minimum of respect. read more

Really cool guys at the shop, friendly and patient. Neither my husband or I have ever canoed. They did a great job of explaining all the pitfalls we might encounter. . .and yes, we encountered them. During some times of day, low tide, a sand bank appears in the middle of the river right at the beginning. No joke, it took us at least 40 minutes to get past it. Overall, it was a great experience. We saw a couple fish jump out of the water, crabs, and seagulls. Advice for the novice. . . be patient, don't panic, stay cool, and follow what the dudes tell you at the shop. It was little pricey for me, came to about $60 for the two of us for a 3 hour rental. read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Paddling up the Big River - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

Wow everyone needs to do this Solar Eco Cruise. Sun or fog it is so fabulous. Everyone is so chill. The views are great the ride relaxing and YES u paddle too. I hike Big River a lot and being in the canoe gave me such a different perspective. Such great beauty NorCal has. Come catch a canoe with a view. So lovin it! We will do it again. read more

Catch A Canoe & Bicycles Too - Tranquility on the river - Bikes Near Me - Mendocino, California

If you are in the area, I highly recommend you get out on the water in one of the lovely redwood outrigger canoes from Catch A Canoe. Much better, drier, and more stable than a kayak and quite accessible for even the most novice paddler. Our party of four had a great time making our way up the estuary (assisted by the incoming tide) and were delighted by harbor seals, geese families swimming along with the most adorable little babies, a wide assortment of birds and vegetation. The staff was very helpful and the entire process was easy. Call ahead and they can give you tips related to tide times and anticipated winds. Next time I'll rent longer than 3 hours and pack a lunch. Rental includes life vests and use of a dry bag. read more