Oscoda Canoe Rental, Michigan, United States

5evansmcgowan 5:00 PM May 26, 2018

Friendly Staff
Of the 3 canoe/kayak rentals, this was the only place open apparently the week before Memorial Day Weekend. The other outfits didn't answer or return my phone inquiry. That being said, these guys were great. They hooked us up with a tandem canoe for $45 all paddles and flotation devices included (seems to be the standard price) and drove us out to Foote Dam for the 4-hour paddle (we did it in about 3+ hours with one person paddling the entire time). There was not much instruction given, except that after we went under the RR bridge it was about ten minutes until the next bridge, which is River Road and the pullout/rental place. They said to simply leave the stuff on the lawn regardless of whether they were there or not. Note: While the 4-hour / 12 mile paddle is long, I'd recommend it over the 2 hour / 6 mile paddle if you have the time and enjoy being on the river, as it's more scenic and less exposed the first 2 hours. Saturdays in the summer are extremely busy and can be "a party" with all of the tubers. Pretty much any other day should be fine for some peace and quiet we were told. We went the Thursday before Memorial Day and saw about 15+ fishermen on the banks and about 10+ boats on the river. After we hit the railroad bridge near the end, the wind really kicked in and a less experienced couple flipped. They floated with the canoe all the way down to the pullout point but didn't try to get over to the bank. Someone called 911 and the company employees came out to rescue them... essentially telling them to swim to the bank and they got the canoe later downstream. Apparently, there was a police car and ambulance. Everyone was fine in the end, but do ask about conditions when you go out. If you have a decent amount of paddling experiencing (you know what a J-hook is and how to use the paddle as a rudder so that you face upwind and don't get turned sideways) you'll be fine. There were very few obstacles in the river and the wind was mostly not a factor until the end. However, the river was high and later on in the summer I'm sure there'll be more rocks, stumps, etc. exposed.

5M1461DXjamesk 5:00 PM Jul 16, 2017

Great opportunity for canoers and kayakers.
Oscoda Canoe Rental offers all day or half day trips for canoers, tubers, and kayaks on the lower AuSable River. The trip is pristine and undeveloped with several great places to stop and relax. The water is clear, clean, and pretty easy to navigate. The current is stong enough to move you along on a lazy tour, but not too fast to be difficult. The staff is friendly and offers great transportation to your starting site.