My partner and I had such an amazing experience kayaking in a secluded area suggested by Carl. And WOW was he right!! You will not be disappointed if you decide to kayak with his company. We saw a sea otter, 2 bald eagles, and other amazing wildlife. Don't skip out on this experience!! read more

See all

Super nice owner/operator. Easy to schedule and had a great 122 day on the river. You follow him to the pick up point and then he takes you up river for drop off. You paddle down at your leisure and cal him when you arrive at the bottom. He provides water shoes and water proof cases for your stuff. read more

Smith River Kayaks - Fishing Near Me - Smith River, California

An absolute blast! With so much to do here in the coasts of California, it might be easy to miss gems like these. It was our first time Kayaking and by the end of it we felt like experts! (Relatively speaking). It's easy to drive by this place but if you see a sign that says Smith River Kayaks, do yourself a favor and stop there, especially if you're looking for a good time. You'll be greeted by one of the coolest kinds of people you'll ever meet, the guy that runs the joint. He very informative, funny, and is great at asking questions to figure exactly where your skill level is. We did about a 5 and a half hour kayak down the smith river through some smooth waters, And some not so smooth 101 rapids. We enjoyed every last bit of it, the view was beautiful most of the ride down and it felt like a massive adventure. Towards the end of the trip we even got to see some otters and some river seals! Prices were very good compared to some of the other places we looked at and honestly feel like we wouldn't have gotten the same experience elsewhere and mainly because all other places are missing one key ingredient. The man that runs this show, he's a one of a kind character you only meet one in a life time. He was a blast to be around and a blast to listen to. He made the whole experience seamless and incredibly rewarding. We will definitely be returning next time we return to Crescent City! read more

See all

This is the place to rent a kayak whether you're an expert or a novice. Carl is knowledgeable and passionate with great customer service. He had very reasonable price options for equipment rental by day of his high quality gear. He will drop it off to you at the Smith River and pick up at end, hauling and cleaning everything on his own. He made sure we had life vests, sun hats, water sandals, and sunscreen before we left his property without any extra fees involved. That's caring for your customer! We had fun paddling across the river to sand bank then upriver for a while before my boyfriend tipped into the river which was thankfully not too cold. We dried out on a bank then got back in to paddle strong against the wind. Good workout and fun day thanks to Carl! Posting this review on TripAdvisor too to help get the word out! read more

See all

Great kayaking trip with our family! Excellent customer service. It was so nice to have no time boundaries to explore and enjoy.

Definitely stop here if you're on 101 driving through. This was our first kayaking experience and it was very enjoyable. There is a lot of equipment to choose from for you and even your dog. The rentals are for the whole day so you don't have a time limit which is very nice. Definitely stop here. read more

Smith River Kayak was great! Carl was very responsive when we called to ask about dogs in the kayak. He had all the equipment available including extra shoes if you needed them and doggy life vests. His instructions were clear and he let us have free reign down the river which was great! I would highly recommend! read more

Carl outfitted our group of 6 kids and 7 adults with life jackets, water shoes and even sun hats. He even provided waterproof cases for our wallets and devices! He took us to a nearby spot for a peaceful afternoon kayaking with seals (so cool) and had the perfect suggestion for us to grab a picnic lunch to eat on the beach. We really enjoyed this afternoon and appreciated how easy Carl made it for us. read more

Smith River Kayaks - Fishing Near Me - Smith River, California

Our family had a wonderful time out on the river with Carl! He was helpful and accommodating with our kids and dog so we could all come along on the adventure. He provided life jackets and water shoes for everyone and put in a padded mat for the dog, brought along a jug of water for her and found a great calm section of river for us to paddle. He pointed out bald eagles and other birds to us and took us over some baby rapids that was the highlight of the trip for our kids ages 7, 5 and 4. We were glad we chose to have him come along as our guide! read more

Smith River Kayaks - Fishing Near Me - Smith River, California

My fiance and I absolutely loved our experience! Carl was so friendly and helpful; he supplied us with all the equipment, gave us detailed info about our route down the river and even dropped us off at a great spot. We were able to explore at our own pace and really enjoyed ourselves on a beautiful day. We can't wait to come back! read more

See all

Anyone who can put up with my crazy family is good in my books. Carl was extremely helpful and set up all the equipment and provided us with everything we needed to rent out the kayak. He was quick and simple teaching us how to kayak, which was awesome. He also gave us a lot of information about the redwoods, local animals, and places to stop by on our trip. Definitely would go there again. read more

Carl was great! Super available. He created a kind of custom package for my son and I. He also gave options on what to do, where to go. We had a great time at Smith river on a beautiful sunny day. read more

The man in charge was easily one of the kindest and warm people I have ever met. He went above and beyond to meet our needs and exceeded expectations. read more

We rented a tandem kayak from Smith River Kayaks and selected the guided tour. Carl was really accommodating from the beginning - we were able to book the day before and bring our dog along on the kayak. During the tour, Carl was very knowledgable about the river and the history of the area. We had an amazing time! Smith River Kayaks had very reasonable prices and there was a bonus - Carl brought along his camera and took some great photos for us, and then e-mailed them to us after! We highly recommend Carl and Smith River Kayaks :) read more

We went with a group of 9 people to kayak down the Smith River and we all had a memorable experience exploring and sightseeing down the river. Carl was very happy to help us out even with our large group (most of us had no idea what we were doing). He gave us clear instructions and helped us out with organizing everyone. Carl was very accommodating, he lent us hats (it was drizzling at the time) and even gave us Kit Kats after we finished the trip! All the kayaks were in great condition and we didn't encounter any problems along the way. We were very happy with the experience even though the weather wasn't too nice. We'll definitely come back to Smith River Kayaks next time we visit! read more

This guy is wonderful. Very friendly, very knowledgeable. He'll recommend different points on the river based on your experience and skill level. He'll set you up with clothing and anything else you should need. Completely reasonable prices. Overall great experience. Carl is the best. Highly recommended using him. read more

Reasonably priced, all equipment supplied, and very helpful. Tons of fun with friends. We will definitely be coming back when people visit. Be prepared to get wet and bring some drinks and snacks. read more

We rented three tandom kayaks and paddled the smith river. Two of the couples had never paddled the river. We picked up equipment at the business and found it to be well maintained end of reasonable quality. The owner dropped the qquiptment at the top of the run and then when we arrived at the finish of the run we made a phone call and he arrived shortly and picked everything up. The owner was very knowledgeable about the area and willing to share his thoughts. I felt the river was appropriate for beginning paddlers and was very scenic. The Smith RiverIs a treasure and I recommend you spend some time paddling it if you're in the area. read more

5 stars for such an all-rounded experience. We were camping in Jedediah Smith Redwoods and decided to kayak along the Smith River. The experience turned out to be amazing! Along the river, it was very peaceful and the view was just jaw-dropping! We were also able to see otters, seals, birds, and many other animals! After, the owner showed us such great hospitality by bringing us to his home to get a hot shower. This is definitely a must try for anyone who is planning to spend a day in the area or even driving by! read more

This was an amazing trip lead by an even more amazing guide. He knew the area well and prepared the necessary equipment for the trip. He was extremely hospitable and just a great all around guy. One of the highlights of my trip for sure. Given the opportunity would definitely visit again. Otherwise I strongly recommend him to anyone else who would hope to experience his services. read more

Probably my favorite and most worthed kayaking experience ever. The host provided us very good quality wetsuits and kayaks, and we took off on our 3h kayaking journey. At the end of the trip he picked us and our kayaks up at the pickup point, then let us into his house. He let us gather around his fire place and take hot showers. Overall he showed us really great hospitality and provided us really personal service. Must try! read more

We are regulars. Carl is the coolest guy ever, he lets us customize our trips, and couldn't be more accommodating.

Phenomenal host. We called him in last minute and he was able to get us going within the hour. We had to get 6 kayaks and the host could accommodate us with ease. Getting gear and wet suits was quick and he was even kind enough to let us use his house to shower after the trip! If you're looking to kayak and you want a more personal connection with the person you're renting from this is the place to go to! Best place to rent out of from Jed Smith! read more

Super fun day. Spent 3 hours on a beautiful river watching birds, seals and otters. Highly recommend.

I would like to take a second to seriously recommend this business to anyone who is willing to read this post. After searching for two hours for the perfect kayaking business in the Smith River area that is professional and knowledgeable for me and my partner to experience for the day, we stumbled across Smith River Kayaks located across from the Lucky 7 casino. Do not waste your money at the casino if you truly want to enjoy what the area has to offer. I have been to the casino many times and I would choose an adventure with Carl over the casino from now on every single time. Carl is an expert in the kayaking business and will treat you with respect and kindness. He absolutely knows what he is talking about and I would recommend taking the easy course if you have never been in the Smith River. It is perfect for enjoying a 3 hour kayak session down the river to the pickup spot where your car is parked waiting for you, because Carl will drop you off at any of his strategic drop off zones for an overall cheap price that I can honestly say we have never found anywhere else for his type of amazing customer service and well run business. I have read online that he also gives guided tours of the river and next time I think that I will purchase a tour of the Smith River for me and my partner by Carl. I have the utmost respect for Carl's knowledge and love for the Smith River. Absolutely recommend spending your money with Carl if you are ever near Smith River, CA hands down!. Thanks Carl I appreciate all that you did for us. Sincerely, T.L 02/08/2020 read more

Carl was such an amazing help for our kayaking experience. He was so helpful in going down the river an knowledgeable about the area. His kayaks were the real deal they were more sturdy for first time riders like myself. He even took pictures for us an emailed them to us, also offered us shoes so we didn't get our own wet! We had an amazing time an would definitely use his services again in the future. read more

I brought my four grandkids here. They didn't want to leave. The owner took personal care of us and made certain we had everything we needed. This was their favorite adventure of a week-long redwood roadtrip. Plenty of seals to see too read more

Overall we had a very positive experience renting from Smith River Kayaks. We called and tried to book a rental very last minute on a whim (the morning of our afternoon trip). Carl was very accommodating and set us up with a tandem kayak. He ferried us to the drop in and picked us up at the drop out, which made everything super easy for us. The actual trip was a very nice time kayaking, we went from Ruby van Deventer County Park down to the mouth of the river. We saw some river otters, and the water was crystal clear and refreshing. It was very relaxing and we hope to rent again when we're in the area and do another stretch of the river! Prices were good for what we got out of it! read more

Amazing experience! We were camping in the Redwoods and decided to kayak along the Smith River. Carl personally set us up with complete equipment and drove us down to the river. Afterwards, he let us rest and take a hot shower in his cozy home. He even gave us extra firewood for free. Also, Carl is super knowledgable about the area, giving us a ton of camping recommendations. Would definitely recommend! read more

This was my first kayak experience and I couldn't have it any better. The host was super prepared with good quality equipment, wetsuits, wetbags/boxes for phones, and even a GoPro mounter. After we kayaked for 3+ hours, he welcomed us to his home, let us take hot showers, and gave us snacks. He even gave us free firewood and scenic recommendations. All in all, the host was very knowledgeable, amazing hospitality for a very affordable price - 10/10 would recommend! read more

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful experience here with Carl. It was already late in the day and Carl was able to take us out on the River around 3. We had been searching for a place to kayak but everything was booked. Luckily Carl wasn't busy and took us even though we were really late. He had so much patience with us and made us feel comfortable for the trip. If you have a go pro with the attachment, let him know! He has kayaks with the little slot for the attachment. I have 0 experience with the kayak and cannot swim, but Carl did if not most, all of the work for the kayak made for two. My bf wanted to test the waters on his own, and fell in a few times but had tons of fun! Carl was also very knowledgeable about the wildlife and river, which was a fun lesson as we toured the river. We really wanted to come back the next day to do the full day, but next time we are in town, we will definitely do it again! He also has some kayaks with fishing poles or lines attached, not sure how that works.. but I think next time we'll also go for that. (: read more

Excellent service, extremely knowledgeable and flexible. A very nice owner with many options for all skill levels. Sometimes it can be very difficult to arrange to meet a river shuttle at a specific time, but Karl allowed us to proceed at our own pace and call him when we were finished. Don't worry, there's excellent cell service there. I'm looking forward to more trips with this outstanding company. read more