We did the longer 24-km run down the Rouge River in single kayaks. The scenery is lovely all the way through: wooded riverbanks; sand cliffs towering above us; deserted sand bars and beaches all the way along to take breaks, swim and enjoy the sun; the hills along the way and mountains in the distance… Some reviewers seemed unhappy about the presence of the road and houses along the way. I was expecting the worst but the road is noticeable only a handful of times during the day and, yes, there are cottages dotted along the route but the riverbank is superbly preserved with not a single clear-cut property to spoil the charm. The only downside is the rental company itself. The equipment is basic, but it does the job. The client experience is nonexistent. Except for the friendly woman who greets you as you arrive, there is absolutely no attention to the customer. No map is provided, no instructions on what to do if you need assistance, no pointers on how to navigate the sand bars or the rocks that block the route shortly after you launch… After the initial “have fun” at the counter, the rest of the staff don’t even acknowledge your presence as they drive you to the starting point, throw (literally) the kayaks off the trailer, and let you fend for yourself without as much as a “good day”. The price is low, so go for the great fun you will have along the route and don’t expect much by way of service.

A few thoughts about our trip: 1) The kayaks are open top. I am not sure if they have any closed top kayaks available. 2) The best thing about this trip is that you can take however long you would like. Many other places give you a set pickup time. Not here. This place transports you upriver and you end your trip at their base location along the river. This allows you to enjoy your trip without having to look at your watch. 3) In August, when we took our trip, the river runs lower and slower. The current ranged from barely noticeable to, on occasion, pleasantly helpful. I only got stuck on a sandbar once, but I was able to use my paddle to free myself without getting out of the kayak. You have to pay attention to where the channel is during this time of the year in order to avoid becoming stuck. 4) As others have said, the river does not feel remote. There is a road alongside most of the river and you can hear road noise. You usually cannot see the road. It's the noise that is the issue. 5) The biggest advantage of this river is all of the sandbars. There are lots and lots of them. They are the perfect place to stop, have a snack, swim, or just take a break. 6) The kayaks and equipment were of decent quality. We had no issues. 7) There were no large rocks in the river. There were a few fallen trees that you had to paddle around, but it was not a problem. We really enjoyed our 12km paddle on the river and would gladly return. As a matter of fact, I've already booked a 24 km paddle.