TLDR: The loaded too few tubes on the shuttle but would not give us a refund…read more We paid for 12 people to go tubing. The lady in the office picked up her walky talky and said, party of 12. Then realized we had 3 more and paid for them. The lady in the office picked up her radio and said, 3 more for that big party. We loaded up and they shuttled us to the start. There were 13 tubes! (Not sure why 13 instead of 12.) The driver said I never got any message about 3 more people (which was not true). He said our kids would have to ride in the cooler tubes (even though the coolers were there) and we could talk to the office at the end. Now the first mistake, the wrong number of tubes, it's fine, mistakes happen. The second mistake, refusing to fix it was annoying. We tubed. It was less than ideal for the kids, but ok. Finished and went to the office. It was closed and locked. Rang bell, waited, rang bell, waited, etc. No answer. (Third mistake) Called next day. Asked for a refund for the tubes we paid for and did not get. The person on the phone kind of scolded me for not dealing with it right away, which felt ridiculous. (Fourth mistake). She said she would check with her boss and call back. Couple days pass, she did not call back. (Fifth mistake). Emailed. No response. (Final mistake). Overall, tubing was ok. Customer service was bad.

Please note that this is for my review of tubing experience. I did not camp. I went once last year…read moreas well as today. The recommendation would be to arrive around 10 am. as it does get crowded. Staff working are very friendly. Fill out the waiver and pay for tubes. At the time of review, the cash price for tubes is $20, and cooler tubes are $10. I believe there was a service charge for paying with credit card. Come with a group and tie your tubes together for a great time! The staff drive you and your tubes to the drop off point. It is about 3 to 4 hours to experience the tubing. Tips 1. Wear water shoes as some areas are rocky. 2. Don't dehydrate! Bring water. Alcohol is allowed in cans. Glass bottles are not allowed. They provide you with garbage bags. Don't be a jerk. Pick up all of your trash. At the end of the route, there are garbage cans for your garbage. 3. Reapply your sunscreen. 4. Our group likes to hit Subway before hitting the campground. Something about a sandwhich in the water hits the spot. 5. Bring a change of clothes, towels, shoes (leave in your car). They have shower areas which are very nice for a campground.

OMG...so much fun!! Amazing!! Affordable way to spend your day alone or with a few friends.read more

From the owner: Join us on a Pecatonica River tour in Freeport, IL When you…read moreembark on a Pecatonica River tour with Pec-N-Paddle, you'll get a chance to see the river like never before. Bob along with the current as you float down the river. We can provide all the equipment you need through our kayak rental services. All you have to do is show up and get ready to paddle.

What a great couple that runs this place. We couldn't canoe because the river is well above safe…read morelevels. But they were awesome local guides for us! And they have great prices on really good firewood. Not the junky stuff you get at the hardware store. We will definitely be back to canoe when the river levels drop.

Company shut down early on day of reservation, leaving our party with one too-few canoesread more

Have had two great experiences with Drift Away on the Yahara River! Both were for groups and the…read moreowner Clark led guided paddles. Beautiful scenery, very relaxing, quality equipment and great customer service.

From the owner: Call or text 608 295-4348. Same day reservation available read more

We haven't been canoeing in years, we decided on a whim to go and we brought our dogs and kids, 10…read moreand 14. The outfitters are very nice and friendly it seemed like they really cared about your experience. The setting is beautiful and there is a farmers market, live music and tap house right there that you can enjoy. It's very popular and there were lines to get in. It was also very dog friendly. Overall a great experience, we are glad we did it and the kids had fun too!

Unbelievable experience all around…read more The owner/operator is an incredibly nice and accommodating guy. We had a group of 10, I accidentally booked 5 kayaks instead of canoes. Day of, the owner doesn't flinch at my mistake. He quickly corrected where I dropped the ball and it didn't seem to interrupt his operation. The Sugar river is a blast. Smaller and more technical than the nearby Wisconsin River. PLUS! There's some killer breweries, tacos, cocktail bars, & a live music venue to welcome you back once you're off the river. 100% would recommend and will most certainly use Sugar River Outfitters again.

I wanted to try Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) for about forever…read more The concierge at the Abbey gave me a coupon for a discount rental at nearby Fontana Paddle so I decided to finally give it a go. It was an excellent decision. Rates are reasonable. They fit you with a flotation vest, changing rooms are available and they have small lockers. You do not want to have your smartphone on you in the event you fall in the water on the lake. It is better to lock it up, IMO. The training overview was pretty detailed and there is a lot to remember and coordinate all at once. I liken it to riding a bike or driving a car. Once you learn it, you'll always have it and it becomes normal/natural, until then, you have to remember to switch hands, stay balanced, etc. I did go out too far from where they told me to stay, but that was unplanned. A little wind and then a boat sent me even further out which resulted in my instructor dude coming out on board to see if I was okay and if I could get back in on my own. Embarrassing, but also super cool because he gave me some on water tips that I somehow already had forgotten. Also, the further out you go, the more the wind affects you and there are more boats, so you can expend more energy on balancing rather than paddling enjoyably along. Once my guy knew I was okay and headed more in the right direction he went back and I went on to a very enjoyable experience. Prices are good. Staff is helpful. Get out early on summer weekends, too many boats on the lake will not make for a good SUP experience.

Perfectly located on the shore of Geneva Lake in Fontana. You can walk 20 feet to the lake to…read morelaunch. I have been in the store/shop countless times over the years. They have a huge selection of standup paddle boards, kayaks and accessories. I am actually wearing one of their shirts right now. Cool thing is, I just found out they sell ans rent snow shoes also. Being right on the lake, a hike on the lake path is something to behold anytime of year. A lot of my Rockford, IL friends kayak and have either friended them on facebook, visited the website or store itself. If you have any questions while you are there, which I always have plenty which I think some are kind of dumb, they are right there to answer them. I plan to take my family for lessons this Spring.

Blackhawk River Runs canoe rental was awesome from start to finish! They provided great guidance of…read morehow to navigate the river and provided phenomenal customer service with detail to cleanliness. I highly recommend using them if you are looking for a fun day on the Wisconsin River with 2 pickup times to provide plenty of flexibility.

We had a perfect rental and canoeing experience! The Blackhawk River Run team was extremely…read moreprofessional. They were very helpful with upfront reservation communications, provided great instructions on how to navigate the river, had our gear ready, had a very clean restroom and clean bus. They were timely on our return run pick up. Our group had a blast and Blackhawk River runs made everything seamless. Can't wait to go again!! Gorgeous river experience! Amazing!

If you've never been kayaking and want to try it, check this place out. $45 a person per kayak, or…read moreyou can rent a canoe for less. The owner will take you to the drop off site at Epensheids park and away you go. Life jackets are provided. The trip can take 4-8 hours depending on what you do along the way. You can bring a soft sided cooler that can mount on the boat. Wear shoes as there are some rocky stopping spots. My friend and I had a blast on a gorgeous day on the Kish river.

CAMPING: I camped with a private group at Larsen's Landing…read moreas part of a weekend canoe package. We had the campground pretty much to ourselves. Pros: This camp site is off the beaten path. Literally. The road is not paved. There's no city noise and it really feels like you're in the wilderness even though you're just a short drive to civilization. Cons: You're in the wilderness. This is rustic camping. Forget about electric hookups. No water spigot. Not even a pit toilet. They did provide a port-a-potty. CANOEING: The canoe portion of our trip was no fuss. They drove our group by bus up-river and dropped us off - each with a sack lunch and a canoe - with instructions to just follow the river back to the landing. This was very well organized and they made sure everyone was set before taking off. I wouldn't change a thing. TIPS: If you're camping, bring your own water and a roll of TP. Invest in a dry box. Your canoe *WILL* tip when you least expect it. The sack lunch is worth it.

This is a lovely little park on Decatur Lake, at the Dam. There are some really impressive bluffs…read moreand cliffs. Be careful, they're easy to fall down! It's a nice place for a picnic lunch if you are in the area. Hint: On the other side of the dam, to the east, is the mill race park. This is a beautiful long mill race that used to deliver water to the old mill and hydro plant down river in the city of Brodhead. It's a great place for a walk, dog friendly, and very nice kayaking! Just lovely