I can't begin to tell you how gorgeous this lake is. What a hidden gem! I'm a native of AZ and only…read morejust recently learned about Blue Ridge Reservoir (also known as C.C. Cragin). I almost didn't want to review it because I want to keep it all to myself. Because it is so narrow, it almost looks like a river. Blue Ridge is 8 miles end-to-end and is stocked with rainbow and brown trout. It is a popular destination for canoers and kayakers because of restrictions to motor boats more than 10 horsepower. I could have floated on this water for hours. The scenery at Blue Ridge reservoir is beautiful. It's located off Highway 87 about 30 miles north of Strawberry on the Mogollon Rim. There is only one convenience store with gas pumps nearby and no cell service. Rock Crossing Campground is the only organized campsite nearby if you want to stay overnight. The great thing is there are no permits needed or fees to enter Blue Ridge Reservoir. But it does get crowded at times and Forest Service workers will only allow one car at a time to enter when the lot is full. Make sure you have a reliable vehicle as the gravel road to the reservoir can get pretty bumpy. There is a bathroom on site at the overflow parking lot. Blue Ridge Reservoir is very peaceful and relaxing. I went over Memorial Weekend and it wasn't too crowed at all. It's definitely worth camping nearby so you can spend a full day here.

Great day here! Much larger than anticipated. Beautiful location within Coconino National Forest…read more Apparently this road is not open year round, nor are some of the local camprounds. Gravel forest road that any car can drive but beware of some deep ruts in areas. Vault toilets in upper parking lot. Nice concrete boat ramp. Jealous of those that were camping via kayaks.

We rented a couple of Kayaks over memorial day weekend. They delivered them to our place in Happy…read moreJack for a very good price. Explained all the equipment and how to load and tie them into our truck. Very nice equipment. Came with nice life jackets, paddles and pool noodles to get into the water if we wanted. The kayaks had a drink holder and a place for gear. Very light to lift and carry. Easy to work with. Thanks Happy Yak rentals. If you are in the Happy Jack area and want something fun to do as a family, this is the way to go. They have many kayaks and if you rent ~6-8, then they have a trailer or I image that they can meet you at the water also. Great fun the the family. FB messenger is the best way to get a hold of them https://www.facebook.com/HappyYakRentals

Everything from start to finish went well & exceeded expectations ! Jeff was very responsive from…read morethe beginning! Very easy to connect with via phone or text , answered any questions I threw his way . I was looking for a boat plus kayak rental business for our Memorial Day weekend escape with two teens . This company very reasonable! Jeff met us at the dock with gassed up boat & 2 kayaks . We used the lil Bentley & what a treat for the day on Rainbow Lake . The boat is well cared for , clean , canopy was a plus , easy to operate & bring drink / snacks along . Great day on the water with the ability for everyone to do what they wanted! Jeff is very accommodating with end of day closure, quick call & he's there to trailer it all away ! We definitely will use him again in the future. Super find in Pinetop area!

Jeff is a great guy renting was so easy. Will rent from him again next time we are in Pinetop/…read moreRainbow lake

Beautiful Lake Mary, Flagstaff Arizona!! Decided to come…read moreand have a look at Lake Mary unfortunately Lower Lake Mary is a dry land with weeds growing in it but Upper Lake Mary has some remnants of a water or like that used to be full at one time water is dirty but a nice view to see. People here are very active so you see a lot of people walking their dogs on the trail of Lake Mary.

Everyone note: this rental shop is not near the lake. Therefore they have to tie the rented kayak…read more(etc) to you own vehicle. The distance is about five miles on the highway and there is a $9 park charge to launch into the lake. Just a heads up as I don't believe this is clear going into it.

I met Dylan over a year ago at a networking event, and ever since, I've been excited to share his…read moreincredible services. He owns Buzzed Up Adventures, where he and his team offer exhilarating guided kayak tours through Arizona's stunning waterways, like the Salt River, along with kayak and SUP paddleboard rentals. Dylan provides an unforgettable experience for visitors and locals alike who want to explore water sports outdoors. His top-quality equipment and thorough preparation ensure a fun, safe, and memorable adventure, all at competitive rates. Having lived in AZ since 2014, I was amazed to discover his services and am so grateful we connected. I highly recommend Dylan to anyone seeking a fantastic Kayak or SUP experience. AAA+++.

Floated down the Salt River twice with Dylan and Buzzed Up Adventures, and have to say each time…read morehas been perfect and relaxing. Dylan takes care of all the details and catered each trip to our desires. We don't like crowds so he found us the perfect time to go and planned everything thoroughly. Would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to see wild horses or just enjoy a relaxing Arizona afternoon! Thanks!

My husband and I took their 7 day trip through the Grand Canyon several years ago (2006). We had…read morethe best time! Still thinking about it 20 years later.

EVERYTHING was amazing on our 8-day motor trip. From booking to camping, I would do it again in a…read moreheartbeat! This company has been doing river trips since the late 1930's. They explained all the rules and insisted everyone follow them, NO EXCEPTIONS. The food was great, the guides were knowledgeable, and we got to see so much. The music was also great. We did the Bluegrass trip. My favorites - the waterfalls, the cave, the Little Colorado, and just seeing the Canyon from the water. See the canyon now before the water disappears. Do it with the CANYONEERS!

Our group of 10 had a wonderful afternoon of tubing down the river! Kenny was a great guide and…read morehost, driving us to the top of the river and explaining all the FAQs, later meeting us at the end. He was very entertaining and informative! We felt like we were the only ones going down the river and it was such a nice leisurely pace, just be on the lookout for the faster parts and make sure you go "butts up" to prevent any bruising! Note: You will have to drive on an unpaved road to get to the Bignotti picnic site so pick a car with higher clearance.

Had a fun time on the river in tubes. This is a slow relaxing float with some areas where you will…read moreneed to use the ping pong paddles to make it to the next section. Expect 3.5-4 hours on the water.

Michelle was incredibly friendly and helpful. The paddle board I rented was in great condition and…read moreeasy to transport and use as it was inflatable and she provided a pump. She made returning the equipment easy as well. She doesn't hassle you with an extra fee for having the paddle board past 4 hours or for the pump as some spots for renting down in Phoenix do. All around great experience!

Excellent experience with Michelle!…read more We came unprepared from phoenix to escape the heat -decided to spend weekend on the water and called Michelle the last minute. She kindly showed us how to place the kayak on the car rack & extra tips and recommendations. Best kayaking experience in Payson ever Highly recommended

Located in cottonwood about 1 hour south of Sedona. Fun fun fun! I want to go again 10 times!…read more This is usually a self guided kayak excursion. Ben came with us today, a special treat and he is amazing, had knowledge of the river, plants, birds. He made sure everyone was safe and had a good experience. The time on the website and email are slightly off. It says 10:00a to 1:00p. This is more than enough. Meeting time is 8:45a and you need to be at meeting area by 9:00a. Then you get on a shuttle for a 10 minute drive to go up river where you will launch. So you car is at the end point of kayaking. We got a tandem inflatable kayak which cost about $150 for 2 people. There are taxes and don't forget gratuities, in cash. Don't know if they take venmo or Zelle. The adventure...so most of it is easy slow floating. There are a few spots where it flows faster and you may have to steer trees and rocks. We came in last week of August, so low water season. The river is only 3-4 feet deep in the majority of places. The weather was perfect today at around 70sF near 9:00a and around 82F at 10:00a. High is 88F at 2-3p. It rained in the last few days so we got very fast flow and completed our trip from 9:00 to 11:15am ish. We were down changing and in the car by 11:30a. In the 2.5 duration, you may get out on land halfway and take a snack / water break and stretch legs for circulation. We were told that high water season is spring. Something about May being the month where they let water out so water is lower then as well. The Verde river provides water to Phoenix. You can be all levels and come. The guide will give you general instructions in the beginning and provide life vests. All ages kids and toddlers can come. If your kid is smaller than perhaps age 12, you may need to bring your own baby or kid sized life vest for them. Your butt and arms, and bag will be wet. They suggest a zip lock bag to hold your phone and wallet, but bring any backpack. It will get a little muddy from your feet (just clean it at home). Definitely need hat, sunglasses. Suggest to bring 1-2 liters of water and snacks. You have time to eat 1 hour in on the land. Suggest you to wear swim suit or quick dry T shirt, and board shorts (for surfing, boogie boarding) or quick dry hiking shorts and water shoes like Teva. There is a lot of trees on the route but you'll get sun. They do not take more than 11-12 people at a time. I hope this helps. I look forward to coming again.

Had a great time kayaking down the Verde today, starting from Beasley Flat with Ben meeting us to…read morego over all the details. He was super knowledgeable and pointed out a lot of cool geological facts as he bussed us to our drop point. The water was refreshing in the warm sun and definitely worth the trip. We took off at 10am, took our time and got back to our car right about noon. Will definitely be back!!!

I recommend Adventuring Arizona for kayaking. They are just $39 per kayak and they provide PFD'S as…read morewell as dry boxes if you wish to bring along your camera or phones, or anything you'd want protected from the water! For an extra $10 they'll deliver up to the first three, to your desired location. That's awesome!! Support your local businesses.