Smith River Kayaks - Smith River, California

William B.

This place is very easy to rent from because there's nobody here in this part of the country. We literally showed up unannounced and he got us on the river in no time. The equipment was good quality and he fitted us fast.
He dropped us off at the river and told us about how long it would take us to get to the ocean and he was correct. Being on your own schedule is sweet. We took lunches and hung out on a sand bar looking at rocks and birds. The rowing was beyond easy. Saw otters, lots of birds and massive remains of a few redwoods.
We were the only ones on the river in 9 miles. It was late June.
Highly recommend this interesting guy.

Alex C.

Had an amazing time with Smith River Kayaks — Carl is incredibly approachable, knowledgeable, and prepared! Drove up without reservations and Carl had a number of recommendations and options to choose from and info on the latest wildlife, with all the gear ready to go. Would definitely recommend making a day trip if you’re going to be in the area!

Jon E.

What a wonderful experience the owner is knowledgeable about what he does. Safety first . He was pleasant professional and I highly recommend him. You won't regret the wonderful experience. He's a class act carl is the man. Thanks again carl will definitely be back next summer.

Abbigail C.

Carl was super nice! Anything we needed he had; shoes, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses strings to hold them on your head, etc. He dropped off and helped unload as well as pickup and reloading. 10/10 experience he also told us stories about the water from him living here. Very interesting and cool to learn!

Pranathi B.

Such a fantastic experience. The location, the waters, super calm and serene in end of August. Carl, the owner was a delight to work with. We saw several sea lions, pelicans and few other birds. We were also able to park our kayak on a beach and explore it. Overall great experience and would highly recommend it.

Adam S.

The equipment (kayak, paddles, life jackets) were excellent and Carl's responsiveness and professionalism was exceptional. I also appreciated his attention to ensuring safety during Covid times. I can not recommend Smith River Kayaks enough. Me and my two boys (10 & 12) went through the redwoods on a 5 hour self-guided kayak trip. The water was just rough enough to be exciting but still feel mostly safe. The Smith River is a jewel of a river.

Michael S.

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!

sierra K.

We had a wonderful time kayaking the smith river which led into the ocean where we were surrounded by seals! We also had the pleasure of seeing a family of river otters! Would highly recommend this adventure for families or even solo. Very relaxing and worth it all! We loved Carl, he was knowledgeable, attentive, and a great host. Will be back!!