My family and I had an excellent experience. The river was challenging, but it was a very memorable trip! This is run by a lovely, local couple who almost felt like family in the short time we were there. They boosted the confidence of my son with reassurance and also took the time to help us get back to our vehicle after it unexpectedly broke down on our way to the river. Just wanted to say they are really good people. They also gave us great guidance to navigate the river with quality equipment! read more

First off, we do this river day trip every year. We -highly- recommend experiencing the river, it's always fun and rarely disappoints (even as our kids get older!) While we have used different outfits lately - we had a great experience with Russian River Adventures a few years back, so we came in excited to return. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing, mainly due to poor planning by the staff. We booked for four people on a Thursday - my wife, myself, and our two teens (14 and 16)--with the expectation that we'd have two boats, which is standard for this group size. However, the team miscounted the boats that morning. When we pointed this out, instead of fixing the mistake, they pulled us aside and crammed all four of us into a boat intended for three, squeezing in an extra seat to make it "fit." Visibly frustrated, the team promised to speak with the owner and make it right (it was two high schoolers running it that day). I didn't argue and wanted to at least try to have a good time and not be that Dad. The result on the boat? A very cramped and uncomfortable setup that made the inflatable much harder to steer and navigate--especially on a 9-mile river trip. This wasn't the experience we paid for or expected based on our prior trips. The staff seemed more focused on moving us along rather than making it right. Still haven't heard from the owner. We'll likely explore other options next time around. Disappointed to see the service slip like this. read more

Was advertised as calm and relaxing but was actually Class 1 River Rapid Boat disinflated and when we told the owner he said IF that was true he'd invite us back for free but would verify by checking the vessel first and then we new saw or heard from him again. Either way, was a bit rough for my liking but obviously scenic with lots of wildlife to see. Just wish I was better prepared by this outfitter read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - canoe was VERY snug - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

The river is lovely, the people are nice. I had a mishap that was mostly my fault but the SOAR canoe, esp a solo one, has downsides. It's pretty easy for beginners, and the trip is mostly like inner-tubing but with more control. More control, but not a ton. Because they're so light and lack the hull features of a kayak or canoe, they're really susceptible to being blown around, and don't maneuver as quickly and cleanly in a pinch. So take that "get over to the right when you see the blue ribbons" bit very seriously, don't make that cut too late as i did. And the last couple of miles, when there's no real current, can be a slog, esp as a solo. Stop paddling for a second and you'll just spin around, it just doesn't hold the line. But knowing all that--enjoy a beautiful 9 miles with plenty of places to put out and picnic or swim. read more

We just did our 11th Annual trip with Russian River Adventures and had a great day. If you pay attention during the pre trip briefing and follow the instructions you'll be in good shape. Larry and his crew do a fantastic job and are alway a pleasure to work with. We'll be back next year Dave Householder read more

Fantastic day. We are loyal Soar clients and always feel safe and have fun. Their new digs are sweet. They're simple and well made things like 3 privacy booths with locks and mirrors and hooks. Clean safe floors. Nice washing stations. Pet relief stations. Quality and clean auxiliary toilet facilities. Far nicer than a porta John. Staff were helpful and polite. Pay attention to the tutorial !! Dude is full of tips. It really helps. A lot !! Pay attention. 1. Sunblock. A lot and often. The water reflects the sun. Respect it ! It was 101 and I was comfy and am not burned. 2. West water wicking UV clothes. Stay cool. Stay protected. Stay comfy. See reason above. 3. Hydrate. Open cheap water bottles sip a bit and then recap and freeze 3-4 bottles for each person. Then put 3-4 in cold water. Lotsa water !! No alcohol. Use water bottles and even ice tea bottles pre frozen (sip some so they don't explode in your freezer. ) instead of ice to keep your cooler semi dry. Then. Zip lock bag your snacks. Keep as much as you can in a nice zippered cooler. 4. Dry bag. Use it. But use ziplock bags too. It is an adventure. You may fall in. You may flip. Be water and valuables aware. Use the trash bags too. Don't be nasty. 5. Be prepared for a tense learning curve and agree to laugh rather than bicker while learning. It's not impossible. I'm 45 and as fat and out of shape as I've ever been and I survived. 6. Advil half way through. lol. Soar. Sore. But if you're smart. Not broken. read more

They felt a little bit disorganized, but overall they did a good job, we had a blast, and the price was reasonable! There is quite a lot of parking in their lot and they have a little check-in shack, some tables and chairs and umbrellas, and a bathroom -- all of which was useful while we were waiting to get on the river. They take about 10-20 people at a time every 20-30 minutes from their HQ down to the put-in point on the river, which is a 8-10 minute walk along a street, over a bridge, through a park, and through some sand. They have a truck that brings your coolers and heavier gear down there if you don't want to walk with it (and they took our senior dog who isn't great at walking, which was very nice). After a 15 minute orientation you push into the river. We did the full day trip and it took us about 3.5 hours to get to the pull-out point (and that included a 20 minute lunch stop on a sand/rock-bar along the way). The inflatable canoe was more like a canoe/kayak hybrid. We had 2 people and one dog in ours and while it was deeper inside than a kayak, it wasn't nearly as deep as any canoe I'd ever been in before (the seat is only a few inches off the bottom of the boat). Also, we each got paddles not oars, and it was incredibly long, which meant it was way harder to control than any canoe or kayak I had been in before. The first half had a pretty strong current and lots of turns and some narrow passages, this meant we did a lot of donuts and bounced off quite a few logs and went through a bunch of "strainer" trees along the side of the river. So while that part was fun, it was also a bit tough. The second half of the river was a much slower current and had a lot of wider parts with long straightaways, which was relaxing and easy to navigate, but required a lot more paddling. When we pulled out at the end, we stood around for about 15 minutes waiting for a couple more canoes to come in. Then we all piled into a short bus and sat in there for another 10 minutes or so before it was decided we could get going and then got driven back (about 20 mins) to their HQ. Overall we (including the dog) had fun and we'd definitely try these folks again. read more

Staff was awesome, just too long of a day for younger kids. They need a pull out place earlier in the trip.

I highly recommend this bike wine tour. It is very unique. Russian River Adventures wine bike tours have helmets that are blue tooth which really adds to the adventure. It's nice to be able to talk to each other and the guide also tells you fun facts while riding through the beautiful Healdsburg countryside. The bikes are easy to use and very comfortable too. The wine country we rode through was so beautiful. The owner is very personable and accommodating. He took the extra time to make sure we understood how to use the bikes. When we got back he wanted to know all about our trip and experiences. Jullian was our guide and also make us special treats that day as she was entering a baking contest. She also knew some of the people in the wineries personally which made the trip even more special. Debbie read more

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We had a great time. My husband, 5 year old and I went on the half day trip. I would say, unless you paddle all the time, you probably want the half-day. Also, this isn't a great option if you have never kayaked before, while it's not difficult, it's also not basic. Due to low water, there was a fair amount of having to get get out and carry the kayak over low spots. and the current was mostly helpful and sometimes added fun 360s to the trip. We got to see a fair amount of wildlife, it was super peaceful and relaxing. The staff were super kind, friendly and helpful. at the end of the half-day trip there is a spot across from the landing were you can ride the current in your life jacket and we all had a blast. read more

We absolutely loved our first trip down the Russian River on our double SOAR kayak. We did the 9 mile trip and selected for our car to be there once we arrived at the end, which was really convenient. It was an amazing experience. The people that work there are really friendly and will take any ice chests/backpacks/etc. to the place where you will start your adventure. You will walk a short distance in order to get to the start of the 9 mile kayaking trip. Like others have mentioned, if you are not in great shape you may need to take breaks along the way so allow time to stop and take in the scenery. We saw lots of wildlife such as birds, a bald eagle, turtles, salmon, and butterflies. It was such a great sight to see and we really loved the trip. The views of the river were relaxing and you will even see vineyards for a short stretch of your trip on the side of the river. We ended up bringing an ice chest with sandwiches and other snacks. I would recommend bringing lots of water, sunscreen, and waterproof shoes or water shoes. You can bring your phone if you would like and they have a waterproof bag that you can put stuff in if you don't want it to get wet. I would also consider bringing a hat to protect your head. I didn't do this, although it would have been a good idea if I had. I would definitely go on this trip again! read more

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You know what is even worse than a horrible experience? Having an owner trying to discredit what you went through!!! I went on this trip June 3, 2021. I've included a pictures that my husband took during the trip for proof. And thank you for trying to discredit my doctor as well. Please tell me what medical credentials you have? Since you are clearly NOT a medical professional, I recommend that you Google "Giardia rash". You will see that the CDC states that Giardia can cause itchy skin and hives. Forgive me for not wanting to air my gastrointestinal issues on a public site, but since YOU brought it up, I also had very bad diarrhea! Happy?!?!? Your boats are horrible and cheap! The experience was horrible! And your response to my experience was horrible! In the future, I recommend that that you APOLOGIZE instead of tying to put the blame on someone you scammed! Do better! read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Still don't believe I went? - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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Everything from beginning to end was perfect, I highly recommend this business. Easy to book, friendly staff and amazing communication. The river was gorgeous and our family had a perfect SOARING day down the beautiful Russian River. Can't wait to do it again! read more

Soo fun! I had an amazing time doing the full 9-mile canoe adventure on the River, solo. The scenery is gorgeous, the route is super peaceful, and the staff are fantastic. Stephanie and Derrick were very chill, while being professional, efficient, and knowledgeable. I was grateful for their relaxed attitude and their expertise. They make sure your river adventure is fun AND safe. Do wear sunscreen and water shoes. I also found a wide-brimmed hat and toobies (to keep my sunglasses from falling into the river) very helpful! (The company sells stuff you might forget to bring.) Bring snacks and drinking water, and attach everything to your boat in case you accidentally tip it... you don't want your stuff floating away or sinking to the bottom of the river! I did tip my boat in the rare less-mellow waters (I went when the river was high), and I was grateful that I had used the dry bag the company lends to customers! (my phone still works, yay!) Highly recommended. :) read more

I call it "organized chaos" they did excellent with operating such a huge group this holiday weekend (Labor Day) I feel like there was a dog for every 3rd party. From the lady putting on wrist bands to the lady Loading the kayaks back for home. So smooth and What a nice group of people and they really took care of us. 10/10 would recommend. Took us from 11-4p. We brought two beers pp and a turkey wrap lunch. Super fun read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Listening to the morning instructions before taking off - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

***Changing this to one star after the comments by the owner that are not an accurate representation of what happened** I am super hesitant to leave a bad review for any small business, because I own one myself, but I feel this is necessary so others don't unknowingly go through the same experience. I want to start out by saying that my boyfriend is an experienced waterman who has kayaked, canoed and boated on various waterways his entire life. We are both in above average shape with no physical limitations. Before you book this trip, take a look at the handful of reviews that mention how challenging the canoes are to paddle. By the mixed reviews, my guess is that some of the canoes are more maneuverable than others. We didn't capsize or get stuck like many other reviewers reported, but there were many close calls, and it was literally impossible to keep the boat going straight. We ended up making a makeshift rudder and this helped a lot. We stopped briefly to do some fishing, and eat some snacks, and ended up being late so we were charged an additional $50 late fee. When we arrived at the bridge, I told the staff that our canoe was extremely problematic and hard to maneuver. They smiled and asked if we still had fun. I said, "No, not really." When I called to inquire about the $50 late fee, the women I spoke to said we wasted too much time fishing, and that's why we were late. In reality, we barely fished at all, and spent the majority of our time paddling in circles and trying to avoid the brush and trees. I do not recommend. read more

A tired dog is a happy dog, as the adage goes, and my husband and I were surrounded by half a dozen of them on the bus ride back to the starting point of what had been a long, lazy day on the river. It can be difficult finding rental places that allow dogs on kayaks/canoes/inflatable rafts, but this business welcomed them with open arms -- and biscuit treats. It also set customers up for a good day by offering a very thorough orientation that included advice on how to navigate some of the trickier spots along the 9-mile course without going for an involuntary swim (which happened anyway, but that's another story). One of our dogs got his first swimming lesson in the shallows; the other enjoyed simply lying down in the water to stay cool. And we took a welcome break from the daily grind with a slow journey through some lovely countryside. Sweet memories! read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Watching the world drift by on a lazy, hot summer day. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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Had an amazing time canoeing with Russian River Adventures! Staff is super friendly and orientation was quick and to the point. I've kayaked/canoed before but their explanations of everything were great in layman's terms for those who were unfamiliar. Parked at the location and walked over to the canoe sendoff area which was about a 10 minute walk away. I would invest in water shoes as flip flops were not recommended and a cut/scraped foot could ruin your day. Our group consisted of 4 people and 3 dogs. Canoe breakdown was 1) 2 people, 2 dogs, waterproof bag amongst other junk. 2) 2 people, 1 dog, large cooler. Everyone and everything fit comfortably. Great lazy-river adventure. Stopped a few times to eat/drink and even linked up our canoes at one point to enjoy mimosas. With a handful of stops, we finished the excursion in 6 hours. Wear clothes you don't care about as you may get dirt/mud/bugs on them. For those who can't swim, a majority of the river seemed to be waist-deep. I could smell the river on us after, but nothing a nice hot shower can't fix. My body was aching afterwards, but I enjoyed every minute of it (except when I got hit with branches along the way)! Knocked out nicely once I got home. Wonderful day-trip!!! Will be back!!! read more

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The kayaking half-day experience was so, so fun! We were assigned 2-people per kayak which made it super fun and helpful in the 3-4 sections of the river that were a bit tricky to navigate (not 'white water rafting' by any means) for a novice kayaker. The staff at check-in were very friendly and helpful and our safety instructor and driver, Derek, was clear and friendly, and a great driver to boot. Thank you for keeping us safe! read more

We had so much fun! We did the 9 mile trip with our dog. (Very dog friendly) The canoe was somewhat easy to manage and we found that doing "donuts" was just part of the fun and to roll with it. Larry was awesome and helpful. Took his advice to strap on the life jacket and use it to float along in the water. Was a really chill time. The last mile or so was fairly still water and required quite a bit of exercise to get to the turnout. Sore today but grateful for the workout! 5 stars from us and we will be back! read more

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An entire day of complete meditation and wonderful imbibing, great scenic river, for under $30/person! Leave your car at their office and put your things inside of a dry bag. Bring a cooler with yummies and great drinks for the day...wear tight sunglasses and a tight-fitting hat, cuz if you flip ( as we did) from the strainers in the water, things are gonna go floating!! Inflatable canoes are not the most aerodynamic inanimates---one does have to overpaddle at times to correct direction, and it's not going to make you go very fast, like a kayak. However, the sights!!!!! The river here, named after late 1800's Petr, sports clear water, wonderful trees and birds, and a very scenic route from Memorial Beach to Wohler Br. 8.5 mi. paddle jaunt. There is a rope swing along the way for fun. Parking canoe and getting a tan or a nap very viable. For the most part, one floats...about 20% of the way, there is a current that one needs to seriously navigate so as not to bonk or flip from the jutting tree branches in the water. A great, beautiful portion of the sunny River to enjoy. The temp was amazing...mid 80's for a paddle and a swim:) allow 3-5 hrs for the water jaunt. Get to the office by 9:30AM to maximize the day. read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

Honestly, to start off this was one of the funniest family trips my family and I have had since Covid hit. It was incredibly fun. When we got to the check-in area, it was very quick and easy. We walked over to our river raft, they gave us a safety speech and we were off on our trip in the river. The river was very mellow, but there were points where it was pretty fast. The only thing you need to keep an eye out is for the branches on the sides that can scratch you or poke you. Keep in mind, if you think you don't have to paddle, you absolutely do so that you can stare straight!! Lol it is a fun experience, but just know you may be a bit sore when you are done with your trip, but I honestly that's part of the experience:) Also make sure to take water guns, because you are in war with others and you will get soaked so make sure to take them to protect you and your family it is absolutely so much fun so be ready!! Also we were able to take our cooler with some snacks and drinks. I will definitely be going again next year with my family and turn this into a tradition, I hope one day when I have children of my own I will bring them as well read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - My family and I ready to go on a river raft trip - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

This company has the worst customer service. When I emailed about my reservation, they replied with the rudest email! I cannot believe this is how they treat their customers after the hundreds I spent! The river was hard to navigate. The canoes were hard to maneuver which made the trip unenjoyable. Also, their shuttle was extremely dirty. The driver drove extremely fast and I felt unsafe. I would definitely not have a return trip with this company. read more

This trip came as a surprise and I did not know what an awesome treat I was in for!! The River and surroundings are incredible. Breathtakingly beautiful. Dozens of places to dock your boat on the side to swim or stretch. Lots of nice people along the way. Very dog friendly! almost everyone had dogs in our group. We had no problem making it back by 5 pm. One of the best days of my life. We heard some people complaining that they had to paddle and thought it would be more of floating down the river. You 100% have to paddle. Was it strenuous? Maybe for like 5 minutes but we all need to work out a little more anyway. 100% doing this again on the future! read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Scene - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

I've been here twice in the last 5 years. Both of my trips here have been a great time. The staff is super friendly and helpful. The canoe trip down the river is quite peaceful and relaxing. You can also see some wildlife while paddling down the river. It was a little unfortunate that the river wasn't super deep throughout the whole 4 mile journey, so we would need to step out of the boat at times. Overall the trip was really great and I would hope to come back in the future for another trip down the river. It is definitely a perfect adventure for the hot summer days. Highly recommend: - lather on the sunscreen to avoid burns - water shoes read more

I wish I had read the reviews before booking this to be better prepared. I think if you know what you're in for, it's easier to deal with the bad parts. So I hope this helps someone. Do the half day!! We arrived at 9:15 under the impression you show up from 9:30-10:30 and launch when u get there. Long story short, nobody acknowledged us or paid any attention until we signed some paperwork at 945 and a guy (who saw us arrive at 9:15) begrudgingly said after 10am, "since nobody will else will take you, I guess I will". The woman who booked us over the phone was super friendly but we found the rest of the staff to be pretty rude and unhelpful. The 15 minute training was a guy saying basically to save our energy for the end and there's a small rapid at the beginning. He also told us where to call to be picked up. Pros- -beautiful section of river. Very clean. We launched first and the only people we saw was a group of Hobie kayakers who passed us and a few people at Riverfront Park. Also a random few people fishing. -we took our 2 dogs and the "kayak" comfortably fit them and 2 adults along with 2 ice chests and a backpack -very relaxing for the first couple hours -the kayak is impossible to control and the inflatable component is nice when you're running into everything. -roomy shuttle back to our truck -they are on time for pickup which was nice since we were gassed. Cons- -do the half day. Full day is exhausting -as the Hobie kayaker guide who passed us perfectly said, "trying to steer a SOAR out here is like trying to control a balloon in the middle of the ocean." It was awful. We spun out at least 30 times despite having kayak and canoe experience. They're really hard to control. Especially with no current. -they claim the route can be completed in 3 hours. Maybe in springtime with a current and expert Soar kayakers. We are two in shape 30 somethings and we left around 10:20 and got to the pickup bridge around 4:15. We stopped a few times to swim and eat but not for long. It's just really hard to make progress. -the fabric on the seats hurt my butt. Had to sit on a folded towel -the last hour (after riverfront) is grueling and miserable and undoes all the relaxation the previous part did. We took turns getting out and pulling the kayak because paddling was futile and the river is relatively shallow (4-5 feet). The wind was howling and blowing us all over the river. There's no current and it's a grind. Overall it was a fun experience and the river is gorgeous. But we were unprepared for how hard the full 9 miles is. We also think the staff could be more helpful and accommodating considering how expensive it is. read more

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A beautiful, relaxing nine mile trip on Russian river. The canoes are roomy, not easy to navigate though! The first six miles are easy, the last three miles are tough due to headwinds and almost no current. The journey took us 6 hours with three brief stops (less than 10 minutes each) Remember to take plenty of drinking water with you, and apply sunscreen frequently. You will need to take food as well to last you for the few hours. Follow the instructions on their website which are very detailed and comprehensive. The seats on the canoes hurt after a couple of hours of sitting on them, you might consider bringing a towel to place on the seat for more comfort. We paid $40 for the shuttle back, but they brought our car to the endpoint, so that made it easy. The water is cold, but you could still swim in it. You will get wet, don't bother trying to stay dry. read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Drone shot of the river and the canoes. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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Such a wonderful company. We've used them in a few different ways. To rent from for friends who join us on our kayak trips, to have them drive our car to the bottom for us so we can load right up when we finish, and as a shuttle service back to the top. Depending on how well staffed they are, they'll take your car down. They service one of the most beautiful parts of the river. You'll see a variety of wildlife as you head down the river. From Egrets to Salmon, there is an abundance. Get some distance from your neighbors and favor in the silence, take in the birds, and enjoy everything this beautiful river has to offer. It's not too challenging, anyone can feel comfortable going down the river in one of these inflatable kayaks. They are very sturdy and well built. Plenty of great spots to stop and have a picnic lunch. Bring Fido! Very dog friendly. read more

DO NOT DO THIS !! We did this kayaking trip weeks ago and all of us are violently ill with giardiasis. The river is filthy with contaminants and there are blogs all over the Internet saying how individuals have had their pets die from swimming in this river. This was the worst experience of my life. I have missed weeks of work, and have had a number of medical bills and GI visits because of this awful place. I called in to let them know and they didn't even refund me after all the trouble they caused me. They couldn't even explain if they do anything to test the river for cleanliness and bacteria levels. All of us are still sick and we are reporting this facility to the Sonoma County health department. This is a health hazard and everyone should know. Ignore all of the fake reviews below. Edit: Also attaching screenshots from other websites where they outline the bacteria levels and people getting sick. Again - do not do this !! read more

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I've worked with a number of similar companies for group trips, but these folks really know what they are doing. Easily the best of them all. We went on a large half-day group trip and each of us were set up with 2- and 3- person canoe/rafts. The rafts were very solid and robust given the nature of the river (much of it at such shallow stage it's hard to not get caught on the rocks unless you're actively navigating around them). Also great was there were a couple dozen rivets to lash gear onto -- this makes a HUGE difference, especially when a few people (on pretty much EVERY similar trip I've been on) try to flip other people's boats. Unlike some of my friends that *didn't* secure their gear on this trip, when they got flipped I ended up rescuing a dozen or so beers, whereas when I got flipped, my gear stayed in place. The staff are all so sweet and accommodating. They also provide shuttle service to the put-in and from the take-out. The latter was particularly important on the half-day trip since the take-out is in the middle of a vineyard. :) I would highly recommend them for anyone looking to do group trips (or heck, even solo trips) on the Russian River. I had an amazing time and can't wait to do it again. read more

I just spoke with Joe from the company to give him the heads up and feel they are likely to do nothing about the experience. I work with small businesses every day and wish them the best except that we should have been told about the need to get out of the boat so often throughout the trip. I'm sure it was a misunderstanding, but to be told we wouldn't need our water shoes we packed made it even worse and a little dangerous. Also steering the boats is next to impossible because of the shallow water. Here is the email I sent to them before I spoke with Joe - "My family and family friends (10 of us) went through the experience yesterday (7/13/21) and wanted to report our disappointment on several issues.  I can respect your need to perform as a business especially after Covid but with the current drought the river, which is more of a creek, should not be used.  At a minimum, the need to portage through the shallow water should be the priority in the discussions online and in-person for those that attend. The worst part was the attendant, when we checked in, mentioning that we would not need our water shoes.  Without the shoes, the need to portage was all the more painful.  We got through it, but under the circumstances, we will be posting a less than a positive review.  Realizing we could be charged extra because we couldn't get through the river quickly was even more frustrating." I would stay away from the river and hope it improves. I'm frustrated that the company is glossing over the issues as well. read more

I'm not one to usually post comments but we had a great time! My Mom and I and my 2 daughters embarked on this trip with some experience (with kayaks and paddleboarding) but this was pretty intense towards the end. The last 3 miles you are facing headwinds the whole time but the 6 miles before it were amazing! We stopped at a sandbar for a picnic lunch, tried out the rope swing, and saw a river otter, turtles, and lots of fish. The owner gave great instructions at the beginning and I would recommend but please know that you will have to paddle! read more

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Our family of five had a wonderful trip down the Russian River with SOAR. A few highlights were the rope swing into the river, lunch on a small sandbar island and taking SOAR E-bikes back through winding, vineyard-lined countryto the SOAR hub in Healdsburg. The owner (Larry) was very helpful and answered all our questions. *Just a note on the river current-- there isn't much of it so you will be paddling. A lot. But worth is as the views and water were wonderful. read more

This was a lovely, peaceful afternoon paddling down the Russian river. The current was quite mild and we enjoyed riding down the River, taking in the gorgeous scenery, and wildlife. The whole process of renting the canoe, paddling down the river, and later being picked up by Stephanie and Joe collecting all the gear.. well, it was seamless. We also rented e-bikes which were so much fun. Biking through the countryside with vineyards for miles around.. Sonoma county is a jewel. Soar Inflatable Adventures knows all about how to enjoy the beauty of this area. So glad we came and let them introduce it to us. We'll be back! read more

We definitely wanted some adventure besides wine tastings while visiting Sonoma and decided on the Russian River Canoe Trip. They offered half days and we signed up for that since we had an early dinner reservation already in place. One of the first pictures you see on their web site is dogs in the boat. At the time, they only were offering the half days Friday - Monday and it only worked for us on Monday. Once we arrived they said dogs are NOT allowed on the half day trips. Fortunately they were nice enough to suggest my dog hang with other dogs in the office which was doable especially since we drove over an hour to get there. They have now changed the web site and it clearly says no dogs on half days but at the time of our booking that was not the case. It all worked out and the whole staff were very helpful and made sure we had a good time with lots of instructions, which we appreciated. I was a bit nervous since I read about some blooming algae on the Russian River and the water is low so the current is less. It took us about 2.5 hours to the final pick up spot. We were lucky to have the river basically to ourselves and only saw a few fishing along the way on the bank. They have a shower at the facilities that we were able to use to rinse off. Good thing since we were all a bit sticky from the sun. We recommend this excursion and think the half day is the best way to go. read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Brother and Sister - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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I recommend SOAR if you are a dog person. I would not recommend if you are terrified of dogs. I'm pretty sure there will be dogs on the full day trip because this only company that allows dogs. My dog, husband, and I went on this trip together. We're not that old, but surely do not have the amount of energy we used to have in our twenties. We DO NOT go camp, hike half dome, run marathons (or half marathons), go to Coachella, attend burning man. We walk a fair amount and can run a 5k, have a gym membership, like clean like things, and can handle nature in controlled and upgraded doses. SOAR is the right amount of outdoor for us. The entire process was easy. Book online. Bring your belonging as outlined on the list provided by SOAR. Show up on time. They have parking lots so you don't have to waste time looking for parking. SOAR basically takes care of everything else. The full day trip down the river is supposed to be 9 miles long. I'd say we rowed about 10 miles when you add the zigzagging, and the spinning in circles because you rowed yourself into a tree (don't laugh, it happens to all amateurs). I have T-Mobile and my Husband uses Verizon. I believe we had cell reception the entire route (or at least every 5 minutes I took my phone out to take pictures of my dog). This is what I recommend: 1. Go at 80+ degree weather with light wind (so you're not scorching hot) 2. Wear Rashguard. Helps if you are bad at reapplying sunscreen and also keeps the temperature regulated. 3. While alcohol is permitted, I do not getting drunk because you actually need to row the boat for the last couple of miles and it'll be hard while drunk AND REALLY HARD when you're under the sun AND drunk. 4. Buy your own lunch from a grocery store instead of getting the pre-paid lunches. We stopped by Trader Joes in the morning to pick up the sandwich wraps. It was so easy and much cheaper. read more

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This review is a bit over due since I last came here in the summer. I came here for a half-day trip with my team which proved to be the best way to build camaraderie, test loyalties, and flip over your intern's boat. We were encouraged to grill and have lunch at the park right next to the river before assembling into our boats for our afternoon cruise. The river itself is super duper calm and wonderfully refreshing and cool, especially on a hot Healdsburg day. With minimal prior boating experience, our group was able to paddle our way down the river, albeit with a bit of spinning and bumping into the sides. The river is calm and shallow enough that when you fall out, you can walk back to your boat and jump back in. If easy cruising isn't your thing, I'd highly encourage bringing your own water guns and water cannons. The water is as warm as a heated swimming pool (except in this one part where a colder stream feeds in. It's actually pretty trippy when the water changes temperate immediately) and the river is calm and shallow enough that when you fall out, you can walk back to your boat and jump back in. Customer service was top notch as well! The entire event was coordinated over the phone and they were always quick to respond to my calls with concerns about changing party size and flexible dates. We were even encouraged to bring our own refreshments aboard in future trips (hint: not water), although you can't drink in the park itself (trust me). read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - teamwork! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

These guys are great. Not only did they accomodate Falkor (our 22lb) boston terrier, they also provide life vests - with handles. It basically turned my dog into a water suitcase. They also provide the highly convenient service of driving your car down the river so you don't have to take a shuttle all the way back to the start when your trip is over. Unlucky for us, we locked our key in our car. Luckily Soar employs Meghan who, as it turns out, is Healdsburg's female version of McGyver. Using tape, an old hanger and string she was able to unlock our door. It's probably one of the best customer service experiences I've had. thanks Meghan! read more

SOAR Inflatables & Russian River Adventures - Healdsburg's female McGyver. After locking our keys in the car Meghan rescued us with tape, string and an old hanger. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Healdsburg, California

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I really hate to give a bad review but we had a pretty awful experience at SOAR Inflatables and Russian River Adventures. Because we have a 2 year old we called in advance to make sure it was something he could tolerate. The lady said "Definitely! Sometimes they just fall asleep, they love it on the bottom of the raft." So we decided to go. The adventure was OK for about half of the way, but it turns out water comes into your boat off the paddles when you row. The water also may contain Giardia as some other reviews have noted. So Junior was not able to lie down, much less sleep, on the bottom of the raft. Not sure how he would do that anyway as he was wearing a bulky life jacket. Anyhow he started losing it halfway through the trip and we called the office for advice. Their response was "The river goes through private property and vineyards, so we can't pick you up and you're on your own. Wait until he is so exhausted he collapses. Then he will lie down." Fortunately we ran into a family that owned property on the river and was willing to help us get off the water and to safety. Although Russian River Adventures staff agreed to pick us up, it was a bad experience. They drove us to the spot where our car was parked and we found out that a woman was rescued from the river the same day. The staff were like "Meh... it happens all the time. Especially when people are drinking." There is more danger than you think and not much accountability for putting folks on the river. They will put you on but, as the waiver indicates, everything else is on you! read more

I canoed with SOAR Russian River Adventures after we got a group of 12 people to canoe along the Russian River. If you have 10 or more it's $40 per person, otherwise it's $45pp. Once you get to their company, you sign a waiver. If you bring a cooler than they drive it to the start. No Styrofoam coolers allowed. One guy gave the directions fast, I was trying to listen hard but too much info..forgot it really fast. I wish they gave basic directions on how to paddle - which they didn't. These canoes are inflatables but strong. We didn't tip over which was Great. One dry-bag for all important things like lunch & cell phone (to call them & tell them you're at the 1hr point.) From my experience I learned: if you want to turn Left, paddle Right. If you want to move Right, paddle Left. If you want to Stop..then Paddle in the Reverse Direction! Wish they just said so then we wouldn't have hit so many tree branches! We stopped a bunch of times: lunch, 2 swings (both on the right side). First one half-way point. Other one closer to the end. Once you pass the 3-Legged Tower you have about 1 hr more to go. Once you see a Bridge and a Weird Box thingie on the Left you are Done! Your arms will HURT after a while!! Biceps, triceps, oh another part of the body..Butt!! Stupid wooden board to sit on! I'm sore for 2 days now! We spent 6 hrs on the river. Most people do it between 3-5 hrs. Then the driver takes you back to your car. The bathrooms are still open and you can rinse your feet w/ 2 hoses they have. Not crowded at all, only 30 canoes allowed from their company. Prices: Adults $45pp (40 w/ 10 or more people) Children & Infants $22 Dogs $10 ea Overall: I'd recommend them, but I'm not going again. Website: http://www.rradventures.info/ read more