I had an oar problem while on the S. fork. I stopped in to see what they had in stock. Unfortunately, they didn't carry the oar shaft I needed but Kim let me borrow an oar for backup so I could get another run in. The staff is super chill and helpful. I definitely wanted to patronize the store so I picked up a new whitewater helmet. I will see you guys the next time I'm in the area. read more

The River Store - Back on the river - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

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The store owner was nothing short of unbearable. I tried on multiple dry suits and I was in tears and my face was turning purple, feeling so close to passing out. This owner told me that there's nothing to do about it and it's normal. Many people in my group had a similar experience, which was comforting because I wasn't the only person who had such a negative experience, but I think it's unfortunate that this business owner has such a bad rep. The woman Penny was kind and helpful though. I just feel bad she has to work for such a Scrooge. You would think someone who is outfitting people for the river would be more go with the flow and pleasant. read more

Came in to get a new helmet and left with a Sweet's Protection Full Face Rocker. I absolutely love everything about the River Store. The store is completely stocked with all the latest and greatest gear and boats. The owner Dan is a staple in the community and just the most down to earth Man. I've had the pleasure of working with Kristen, the store manager, a couple times now and I can tell you that she was patient with my 1000 questions and she had an educated answer for every single one. The River Store is truly a gem and I am grateful to have this place so close to home. Thank you Dan and Kristen for all that you do read more

The River Store - Sweet Protection Full Face Rocker. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

I've bought a river runner here, taken advantage of the demo program, taken a couple private Eskimo roll lessons with Dan Crandall and purchase much other equipment and books. But this specific review is on behalf of manager Kristin. I had broken the button which holds in the straps for the chin strap of my whitewater helmet. I had not been able to get a repair from the company. I had purchase the helmet at the River Store. I brought it in to them to see if they could contact the company and get my helmet repaired. Kristin took the initiative to make repeated inquiries to the company. Many months later I had given up home on the helmet. Kristin sent me a note recently: after many months of her contacting the consign she had a new helmet for me. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise! Thank you Kristin! read more

The River Store - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Lotus, California

Customer service is lacking. Workers act annoyed when asking for help. I am a local and have lived here all my life.

This kayak and paddlesport shop is so well run. The staff are always friendly and willing to help us with our latest adventures we are seeking on the water. We have purchased a number of kayaks from them over the years. Dan has always been so helpful in going above and beyond with his customers! Our family has been involved in a number of the Current Adventures outings and camps, too! We will continue to make The River Store our primary kayak gear shop! read more

100% absolute amazing instructors through this place with current adventures. The store has everything and a super awesome selection of kayaks. They even have a demo program to take a kayak out for the day to test drive it before you buy it. $100 gets you 4 demos. Highly recommend taking a some classes before getting out in the river. Dom and Jason are the best!!! read more

Booked my first river Kayak trip with The River Store . What a great shop and crew ! Kim was my guide , what a great guy! I'm an ex ocean kayak guide and was very impressed with the quality of gear and instruction. I will be booking more trips with this business and recommend them highly ! Thanks for the great paddle ! read more

They have a well stocked store and a pool that offers lessons. They do not have a staff that can answer any questions. They are very polite children. But if you need important advise you should probably try some place different. It is a shame, i would love to spend my money in my own community. When you are going to be spending a few thousand dollars on Kayaks, you should expect professional assistance on your purchase. I have visited the store 2 times with the same results on both occasions. When a person asks enough questions that you do not have a answer for they should get help from someone that maybe does know. I think the store is for profesional kayakers that need a local spot to replace there gear. Not for people new to the sport. read more

An absolute staple in the kayak community at the American River. Community, friendships and good gear all start at the river store. To Dan and all the staff thanks for always being there... See you soon! read more

I took a two day intro to whitewater kayaking course in the spring. The course teaches control of a river kayak (very different from a big leisure kayak), rolling, wet exits and an eskimo roll, and navigating class 1/easy class 2 rapids. The instructors were great. The water was cold. REALLY freaking, skin-numbing cold so the wetsuit and dry jacket they let me use was appreciated. It rained the whole time which was no big deal until it was time to dry off for the day; then it sucked and there was no good place to dry clothes and warm up. So I drove an hour home shivering, and snuggled up under my feather comforter, slept like a baby, and drove back the next morning. My fellow river runners spent the cold, wet night at one of the only campgrounds around. Mmmm, Bummer! Hanging upside down, submerged in icy cold water was NOT so fun; one guy dropped out the first day. Going in and out of eddies flipped all of us at least once unintentionally and staying calm while waiting for help to roll back over was scary. But the instructors were great at walking us through each step and overall it was a great experience. The River Store also taught the prep course for Eppie's Great Race which was also very fun! The warmer water in Sacramento helped a lot. read more

I think it was Gigi who helped me with my purchase of a paddle. They were having an awesome sell on the Advance Technology paddles. She took the time and explained the paddle to me that I ended up purchasing. Later that day, I used it in a roll class with Dan, and the paddle felt so great compared to my old one! I have no regrets with this purchase, and really liked that I had a women help with my purchase. read more

Purchased my first IK here. Dillan was so helpful; he had everything together for me when I arrived so I could head straight to the river. He helped me set it up, gave me some good tips and did not try and over sell me things that I did not need at this point. I highly recommend this store; helpful, knowledgeable, and great customer service. read more

Great place. They are the store front for the River. I've never gone wrong here. If you express a sincere interest toward the river community they welcome you without hesitation. Gigi has a wealth of knowledge and resources. As for the price marking, I'd say that its a $$ not a $$$ place. You can get cheaper stuff elsewhere, but you are getting the right stuff here. Watch the sales, join a class, look at their used goods and your $$ comes down even further. Then there are the freebies. A lot of social events, give-a-ways, and sales. The next time I'm up here, I want to get in on their rescue course. read more

Dan and crew are absolutely outstanding. Took a private lesson and then a rolling session. Instructors are top notch...Knowledgable, patient and fun. I went all in a bought a complete set up. They made the process seamless and took the time to fit me for the right boat. I highly recommend anyone interested in kayaking to visit their new home! read more

I was looking for a new sport and came here for an introductory private lesson -- I'm super glad I did! The owner, Dan, is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. My instructor, Dennis, was fantastic. He was relaxed and very attentive, gently progressing through the skills so that I was comfortable the whole time. I felt like he was personally invested in me having a good experience, which I did. I whole-heartedly recommend this place for anyone who wants to learn a new outdoor activity that is both fitness-enhancing and tons of fun! read more

The River Store has been a fixture in the Coloma-Lotus area for many years and has excellent gear and boats. The employees are friendly, if not terribly experienced on the water, and they demo boats as well. The prices are on the high side, but many times Ive been happy to lay out a few extra dollars for some small items that I had forgotten, rather than having to drive all the way back to CCK in Sacramento and miss the release. read more

My Partner and I headed up from the Bay Area for a mid-week kayaking adventure on the South Fork of the American. But much to our dismay we realized we had forgotten a few essential pieces of gear back home. We stopped by the River Store, which was closed, but a sign on the door listed a phone number to call during off-hours. We called, Dan answered, and in spite of the fact that his business was closed for the day, and he was leaving to go out of town in just a few hours, he went WAY out of his way to make sure we got all the gear we needed to have a safe and fun paddle vacation. Dan completely saved our vacation, and we are so grateful. This is a person who really goes above and beyond for his customers. read more

I've been a customer at the River Store in Lotus for a few years and I've taken classes through their associated kayaking school - Current Adventures. The store has outstanding, knowledgeable employees who love to talk about kayaking and will gladly go over the pros and cons of all the products they carry. They are patient with newbies and are super knowledgeable about rivers in the region. They carry a wide line of whitewater kayaks, paddles, apparel and related products. They also carry some rafts and inflatable kayaks and accessories. Of course good gear is expensive - and yes, you can get some great deals online, but shops like the River Store are a great resource for paddlers and they offer a human touch when you have questions or problems with a product. They have a great boat demo program and they are basically right on the South Fork of the American River, so boating is minutes away. They even have a rolling pool on-site for lessons! The guides in their school are outstanding. Two thumbs up! read more