Adventure Rents Canoes & Kayaks

My girlfriend and I got down to the launch area fairly early (10:30 am) and spent 4 enjoyable hours paddling both down and upriver. Because we’re frequent paddlers, we requested and got a couple of the better sit-​inside «recreational» kayaks (Wilderness Systems Pungo 120s), but there were many other boat options for all skill levels. The website has a nice run-​down of options which also include canoes and SUPs. I wished there were some slightly better kayaks for the cost involved, but the boat selections are typical for this kind of operation.
The older teens doing customer service were friendly and helpful. The lower flow upriver conditions necessitated a couple short portages, but the scenery was generally nice. Lots of redwoods and lush riparian vegetation with swimming holes and gravel bars. Downriver dead-​ends at the sandspit, which gave us a nice opportunity to get out and explore the scenic beach. The renter boys helpfully suggested we do upriver AFTER downriver. There was less afternoon wind to deal with. Besides the scenery, we had a few interesting wildlife sightings: osprey, mergansers, herons, tons of pelicans, and even a couple landlocked steelhead darting out from the shady submerged logs.
My only minor complaint is that the parking situation at the launch area is poor. It’s a one-​lane dirt road with just a few parking spots to the side. Come later in the day and you may have to walk a ways from near Hwy 1, which could be a bummer if you have much gear to haul, or have small kids in tow.
I would definitely do this rental again.

Absolutely excellent experience! The owners were friendly and very wonderful to talk with. My family (mostly beginners) worked our way up the winding river through the redwoods. There are numerous river bank beaches which was perfect for a lunch break. Will definitely be coming back!

We used this service on a warm day in February and it was as close to perfect as we could have asked for. Everyone we talked to (the owner and his wife) were polite and accommodating. We were met right where they said (the sign just across the river as you head into town from the south) and right when they said. They helped us get our car to a safe place and then took us a few miles up river. Once there, he helped us adjust our kayak and life vests, gave us a few tips and set us off. The river was gorgeous and very calm and quiet. All in all, the whole experience was painfree and worth every penny.

Great experience, especially given the price! The owner drove us up to a drop off point up the river, and we got to kayak down the river. It was very serene, quiet, and because the current flows downriver you don’t even have to paddle if you don’t want! Great place for a date, if I ever want to kayak again in this area I will be coming back here.

This is a «mom& pop» little business up in Gualala, the woman on the phone was really sweet and accommodating. We were very late to our scheduled time and the guy waited for us for 20 minutes! He was really laid back and cool about it too. The pricing is fair. The kayaks were very comfortable. We all had a fabulous experience. My two kids LOVED it. We went while the river was very calm and low but still beautiful and full enough to enjoy. Perfect for beginners. There is a picnic table on the river so I recommend bringing a picnic and stopping to hike and stretch your legs. I did this for my b-​day and it was a GREAT way to spend the day! Enjoy.

I couldn’t wait to take my fiancé away to canoe the Gualala river for his birthday. We had read a bunch of awesome reviews and needed a fun day out. Reserving the canoe was no problem and the lady was super nice on the phone. Finding the place was a bit of a pain as there is no set coordinates for the GPS on the website but on our way into town to get sandwiches for our picnic, we saw a 4×4 parked at the side of the road with adventure rents written on the side and figured that would be for us. Good job we noticed them as we had no cell phone reception (AT&T) for the last hour of our drive! We got dropped off and it was explained we had a half day reserved but if we didn’t like it and were back within a couple of hours we would get the adjusted 2 hour price. We decided to canoe towards the Redwood trees — it looked beautiful despite the overcast cold weather (had to purchase sweaters in the local grocery store and it was in the three digits at home!). At many points our canoe scratched the bottom of the river as the water levels were so low. The worst part was when we got 0.5 to 0.75 miles up there only to find a tree had fallen down and blocked the river. We got out to see if we could pull the canoe around but the water levels on the other side were even lower and there was no way we’d be able to canoe further up. We sat and had a nice picnic on what had been described to us as a «beach». It’s basically the dried up river bed, is covered in stones and is used as a bathroom by the dogs from the campers near by!
Feeling defeated, we came back to the launch site (it took us 1.5hrs), dropped our stuff off and left a note explaining the fallen tree so that the owner could give warning to others. Perhaps they could go in the direction of the beach instead of the redwood trees. On our walk back to the car, we saw the owner in his truck waiting for other kayakers — we explained why we came back so early and his comment back to us about the fallen tree was that he hadn’t seen that yet… it kinda came across that he knew about it though which was quite disappointing.
Anyway, we set off on our drive back down Highway 1 and I wondered whether we’d be charged the two hours as we were told or the half day. We got billed the half day. No surprise there.
We won’t be back. The water levels are way too low and the drive is long and winding from the East Bay. We have two great keep sake, matching sweatshirts to remind us of our outing! I wanted to write this review to bring to peoples attention the low water levels and fallen tree so no one wastes $ 80 for a 1.5 hrs canoe trip. It’s sad as it’s not the owners fault but I don’t want people driving all that distance and not being informed.

The folks who own this rental are absolutely wonderful! Friendly and accommodating so they get 5 stars. We rent kayaks instead of hauling them and have kayaked from San Diego to Fort Bragg, ocean and fresh water. As far as rentals go, this shop is top notch.
The Gualala river was a fun and easy kayaking experience for my young granddaughter and myself. We paddled up stream and found a cool swimming hole with a rope swing and on the way back observed a river otter playing on the beach. Summer water can be low, so wear Crocs or Vans and be prepared to lug the kayak over the sand bars.
The road to the river was pretty rough, not a problem for our Jeep or pick-​up, but a low clearance car would be best left on Highway One… there is a parking area just northof the bridge on the east side.

One of my most favorite experiences ever.
Adventure Rents Canoes and Kayaks makes if very easy to rent and be on the water in no time at all.
Please please please be careful heading down to the river in a low car (ie anything not a SUV or truck) the road can be tricky and although it’s convenient to park on the beach next to the river it’s very easy to get stuck in the sand/​pebbles.
I’d park across the highway near the Gualala town sign and walk down, it’s not far.
Doggies welcome :)

I took my four year old son camping at Gualala River Redwood Campground. We rented a Kayak for Adventure Rents while at the campgrounds and made great memories. The staff was very knowledgeable, helpful, and made me conferable with the idea of taking my son on the river. The river was very sallow when we went (08−29−10 through 08−31−10) and we (OK me) had to pull the kayak through the river a lot but it made for a wonderful adventure (hence the name :). I am sure my son will remember for years the day we spent hunting frogs (tiny frogs) in what he named frog country. The Kayak made traversing the river faster and easier then just caring a backpack and lunch. I would recommend this for anyone with a water loving child. I hope to return next year.

This review only applies to the rental company itself. Actually getting out on the Gualala River is a four– and maybe even five-​star experience; it’s tranquil, relaxing, interesting, and enjoyable and safe for all ages, even the smallest children. (And I know, we had a two-​year-​old and two four-​year-​olds with us.)
But Adventure Rents? Hm. When we got here, the guy working wasn’t very helpful. My brother explained to him how many of us there were (six adults and three children), and the guy went into trying to calculate exactly how much it would cost. Pretty simple, right? Well, apparently not. He asked my brother how we wanted to do it. Um, my brother repeated how many people we were and asked about some options for canoes and kayaks. The guy just kind of looked at my brother and asked him how many of us would be paddling and how many would be «passengers.»
What? You either rent by the number of people or you rent by the number of canoes and kayaks used. What does paddling have to do with it? The guy was still staring at my brother and trying to calculate how much it would cost, so my brother started suggesting options for seating arrangements and how many people could fit into each type of boat. Twenty minutes later, it was all figured out. Except that the guy still hadn’t calculated it right; so my brother’s girlfriend, who wasn’t going with us, ended up explaining it to the guy.
I know summer jobs can be boring and that tourists can be annoying, but it wasn’t exactly a high-​stress situation. Count. Distribute. Collect. Then you can go back to your truck and sit there for the rest of the day.

In celebration of the husband’s 40^th birthday, we decided to get outdoors, and kayak on the Gualala River it was. We were delighted with Adventure Rents. Easy to reserve our kayaks over the phone and when we arrived all our gear was ready. This was my first time kayaking and I loved it. I had a nice sturdy (and roomy) kayak and life vest which was comfy for my larger frame. Ryan, who helped us get settled in our kayaks at the river’s edge was super nice and helpful. They will also set you up with drybags for your gear and a dry box for your camera.
If this is your first time kayaking, you might want to go for the 2 hour rental. That was plenty of time for us to paddle up stream, stop for a picnic lunch on one of the cobble beaches and then head back. The time of year we went, the river was like a lake, so lots of paddling. Our arms were getting sore after two hours. This experience can be different at different times of the year, depending on the river flow, etc.
All in all, a great (and relaxing) experience. We plan to go back again!

We spent a great two hours floating down the Gualala River in our kayaks. The price is pretty decent considering it’s only a 3 mile course and the water is pretty mild. They warned us it would be quick if we moved and encouraged us to stop on some beaches to eat, walk around, and enjoy the scenery. We even met a friendly river otter along the way! When we reached the windy end of the river (where it meets the ocean) we just left our kayaks there and they assured us they trusted us and would come pick them up later. It was a nice little afternoon and I recommend this great outfitter!

We just walked up and rented a kayak and it cost $ 60 for 2 hours for a 2 person kayak. The water was relatively low in late July so there wasn’t current at all so we paddled all the way and also got stuck in a few places because of the shallow water. It was very calm and serene. We even saw a family of ducks with the mother teaching the babies to dive under water.
They provide you with lifejackets and dry bags as well. If their employees leave before you return from your trip, you just leave them on the edge of the water and drive away. The road is rocks/​dirt only so no low-​riding cars or thin tread.

Six of us walked in without reservations on a busy holiday weekend and they managed to accommodate us. I kayaked the Gualala River last year, so I knew the weather is warmer upriver. My friend, however, was unconvinced. As we walked up to the downstream pickup/​dropoff, she yelled at me and said «You said it would be warmer!» I looked at the guy helping us into our kayaks and said «Would you please tell her it’s warmer upriver?» and he didn’t skip a beat, just turned to her and said «It’s warmer upriver.»
I was wondering how many other things I could get him to say… «Would you please tell my friend he’s being an asshole?» «You’re being an asshole.» «Would you please tell my friend he drinks too much?» «You drink too much.» «Would you please tell my friend she’s being a bitch?» «You’re being a bitch.» Love this guy!
If you find yourself anywhere in the area, go to this place and then kayak the river! On non-​holiday weekends (I think) they drop you off upriver and then you just drift down. We started off downstream, paddled our way up to the rope swing, and then drifted back down. At this time of year there’s very little current, but you also have to get out at some points and pull your kayak over the rocks because it’s so shallow.