Wonderful day in the river. River was beautiful and the staff were great. Looking forward to using them again. read more

Higher Pursuits - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

This was my first experience on the Duck River, and it was a great one! Higher Pursuits made booking online really easy, the pricing was fair, many different options as to what type of boat you wanted for the day, and offered updates on Facebook in regards to weather/closings for the day. The location was really easy to find, once we arrived we checked in and were offered some general information about what to do and the location of changing rooms/restrooms. We were also given instructions about the route we would be floating, the vast collection of mussels we may see, and information about other wildlife we may come across, and safteg information. The launch is a quick drive from the base location. The employees were all very friendly and helpful. They got us all set up and sent us on our way. The water was shallow, but still had some nice current in places. The Duck River was extremely peaceful, and not over crowded (the spacing out between groups from Higher Pursuits helped with that greatly). Getting picked up at the end, and knowing where to stop was also made to be a breeze. Higher Pursuits runs things like a well oiled machine and really has a great system going! Between the ease of everything, the peaceful kayaking location, and the friendly customer service I could not have asked for a better experience! read more

I have been out twice with Higher pursuits kayaking. They have professional staff and the awesome Duck river to kayak on. It was a beautiful experience both times! read more

I want to preface by saying that I have been on a TON of rivers. From Washington state to Tennessee. I have rented kayaks/canoe from many places and HP was 10/10. They were so friendly and informative! Highlights: The staff was so nice! They hauled the boats from the trailer to the river, which is A+ service. They let you leave your car keys in their office- this is a big one because I have personally lost hundreds of valuables on rivers lol. The staff was informative about the river. They went over laws and endangered species in the area. The river itself is not my favorite. However, I have been on the Duck many times, so I knew what to expect. I keep going back only because of the "easy" factor. I had a beginner with me so this was perfect for the day. read more

Higher Pursuits - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

Awesome experience from arrival to pick up and departure. Make a plan to spend ample time at the various sand bars and islands along the way with appropriate food and beverages. We'll go back for sure. read more

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Fantastic experience even being first time kayakers. Answered all our questions and made our time incredible. Thank you again for being so welcoming! read more

My husband and I basically had the River to ourself! It was such a peaceful kayak float and so beautiful. The employees were very kind and helpful. I would totally go back! read more

Higher Pursuits - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

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I'm going kayaking with higher pursuits 2 times and have to say everything was perfect and lovely. The boats and equipment are in great condition. The staff gives good information and they are friendly and helpful. We went by van to the put in location and have a lovely float down a beautiful section of the river. The day we went there was plenty of moving water but there was no difficult paddling. I highly recommend higher pursuits if you're looking for a great way to be outside by yourself, with a friend or with a group. Thanks for everything! read more

What a treat to have Higher Pursuits near our backyard! We have floated several times with this great company. Jan is so helpful with knowledge about boats and the river for anyone starting out or more advanced. They let you demo boats that you are interested in, and they have a good selection of kayaks for different sizes and preferences. Their online reservation system is easy to use, and the prices are good especially for the awesome customer service they provide. Safety and fun are clearly their priorities. We will continue to visit Higher Pursuits and recommend them to friends! read more

Higher Pursuits - Beautiful Duck River - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

One of the best kayak rentals I've been to in TN. They love what they do and love the river and it shows. This will definitely be a regular spot for my pup and I now! read more

Higher Pursuits - Dog on kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

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Here we are again. Back at Higher Pursuits. Awesome place to use for kayaking on the Duck River. Jan and Dawn are great hosts and are always attentive to their customers needs. Their staff are pretty awesome too. I even got a happy Father's Day out of a couple of them today. Made for a good trip. read more

Great experience kayaking with our family today! Price was good and we were able to take our time for the day. The drop and pick up locations were fairly close so we didn't have to spend a long time on the bus/van. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable of the river and gave tips for swimming spots and fishing. Also, sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference, like providing dry boxes for phones and keys, at no extra charge. And the 50 cent ice creams at the end of a long day on the water!! read more

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Just finished a wonderful float down the Duck River. This is a 1st class operation & we will come back again. Thank you for making our excursion so easy!!!! read more

I recently purchased two Jackson kayaks from Higher Pursuits. Since I was looking for a prior year model and I live 2.5 hours away and had to phone them to ask about their available stock. I spoke with both Dawn and Jan a couple of times over the course of a day and each time they were very friendly and helpful; so much so that I and my fiancé drove all the way over to purchase our kayaks from them. Knowing we would be late in arriving due to the drive, both ladies stayed around the shop to meet us and walk us through everything we wanted to know about the boats. I can't stress how wonderful and helpful they were! If you're within a 3 hour drive, I'd definitely recommend contacting Higher Pursuits for any kayak purchasing need! read more

Higher Pursuits - Drove 2.5 hours for great customer service and would do it again without question! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

Super fun kayaking with them. They were incredibly helpful and thorough with their explanation of how the trip was going to go. Would recommend for first time kayakers. read more

We visited for our anniversary last week and had the best time! We weren't planning on kayaking the Duck River, but due to a drought and the river we planned on doing being too dry, we decided to give it a try. We are so glad we did! The Duck River is beautiful and had really good movement even at these low water levels. The entire team at Higher Pursuits was so kind and friendly, and super helpful. They gave us all kinds of useful tips and fun information about the area. We had 0 wait time to be dropped off or picked up. Couldn't imagine a better experience! We will definitely be going back to do the longer trip. We live 3.5 hours away but it's still totally worth the drive! Thank you, Higher Pursuits, for making our anniversary so memorable this year! read more

Higher Pursuits - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

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Great outfitter. Seamless transport to put-in and take-out and very friendly staff. Plus the Duck River is a perfect excursion to take a family paddle trip. So many great places to stop and let the kids swim. read more

I would highly recommend this outfitter. Our BSA troop was trying to replace our usual summer camp and we paddled the Cheeks Bend trip as part of a campout at nearby Henry Horton state park. Amidst precautions for COVID19, they were able to manage our very large group and got us to the put in with ease. read more

From booking our trip to driving away with my $0.50, (yes only 50 cents)ice cream cone, this was a wonderful day thanks to the folks at Higher Pursuits. The facilities are rustic but immaculate, even the outhouse how do they do THAT?! They provided changing rooms, free dry boxes for cell phones, they will hold your car keys if you like, hand sanitizer and sunblock is available at no charge and you are given a briefing on your route and safety. After a perfect day on the water paddling, exploring and lunching we were picked up and driven back to the office where we had ice cream! My family had a perfect day all thanks to the wonderful staff and owners of Higher Pursuits. We'll see you all again soon! read more

I highly recommend Higher Pursuits if you want to have a great kayaking experience. The staff is extremely friendly and professional. They provide you with good equipment and shuttle you to the River. The River is calm and tranquil and the scenery is beautiful. It's roughly a 3 hour journey depending on how frequent you stop. They meet you at the end and take you back to your car. A perfect experience from start to finish. Thank you! read more

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Sign in office and gear shed is easy to find. Owners and staff and extremely professional and genuinely friendly. They have their gig down and are happy to help you. Canoes and gear are in excellent condition. Departure and pick up are prompt, very prompt. They lent us a dry box for our phone, no extra charge, no nickle and dime'ing you and exploiting the fact the recreational users don't have specialized gear. Great people and a welcoming atmosphere. This section of Duck River is enjoyable and safe for families and novice paddlers, even when the river is up a bit and a little swift it's an easy and relaxing trip. You get the vibe that these folks are pursuing a life they love, not looking at you as a dollar bill as you walk in the door. I would recommend Higher Pursuits to anyone. read more

Incredible gem! The women that run operations are on it! They are excellent communicators and total professionals. Check in was easy, the transportation to/from the river was quick and smooth. And if you have never seen a super clean and comfortable port-a-potty, you need to check out theirs! They have very clean changing areas too. Oh and very cool merch! read more

This past Sunday we went Kayaking on the Duck River and rented through this company. The owners were the nicest ladies you would ever meet and catered to our every need. They have great equipment that is well taken care of and all looks to be very new. I cant say one bad thing about them or their company. If you are looking for a great place to Kayak this is the only place that I would reccomend. They are also very knowledgeable and really care about the river and the ecosystem. Give these ladies a call and set up your next trip. You will be very glad you did!! read more

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We ADORE this place! I by "we" I mean me, my girlfriends, and my 5 year old son. Went on my first time kayaking (I've canoed a lot over the years and I just hate it) here and everyone is so pleasant and friendly. Some places I've rented from before around the Harpeth are stressful to deal with. Higher Pursuits has online booking (THANK YOU!), they go over everything with you in great detail, and even tell you some fun spots to look for along the way. Dawn and Jan are both fun to talk with. My second trip with them was with a friend, her teenage son, and my 5 year old. It was both kids' first trips on the river and they loved it. The Duck is a great river for first timers anyway. But everything that's included at Higher Pursuits just makes it so much better. They have drinks, dry bags, some ice for sale. They'll hold your keys for you. They have a dry box you can borrow. They help you figure out the best/safest way to take your kid along with you. And no one ever got perturbed with all of his questions. And if you have a kid, that type of kindness is priceless! My son was already begging to go back before we got off the river. I was thinking of trying a different river, but they are so wonderful I think we'll just go back to them again! read more

What a fun and relaxing afternoon! Not very far from Franklin; not nearly as crowded as the Harpeth. The Duck River was beautiful, calm, wide and perfect for a family outing. The owners and staff were incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and accommodating. It is such a well-run and smaller-sized rental place! Our kayaks and canoe were great. We will definitely return and would recommend to anyone! read more

The best canoe and kayaking rental business I've experienced. I've been on hundreds of floats from the Midwest to southeast and they are serious about this business. They were so efficient and professional even though they were so busy! I felt their concern about our safety and our overall experience. I'm so thankful I found them thanks to others reviews! It was worth a drive for my family and I'll be sure to use them again! read more

By far the best kayak rental business on the dock for this area. They people running this operation have it running very smooth. I was very impressed. The sections in the duck were great. Definently be coming back. read more

This was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had in a long time. The staff was friendly, reassuring, humorous and just all around helpful and amazing. The trip was relaxing and peaceful and I couldn't have asked for a better weekend activity. I would recommend to anyone - even beginners. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Higher Pursuits - Duck River fun - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Columbia, Tennessee

I highly recommend Higher Pursuits. We rented a canoe this morning, and we had a wonderful trip down the Duck River. Higher Pursuits is well-organized and got us on to the water quickly. They had dry boxes for our cell phones, which was very helpful. Everything went smoothly. It was a beautiful and easy trip, and we were picked up promptly at the end. I can't wait to do it again! read more

Family fun! Father's Day present to go kayaking down Duck River with kiddos ... relaxing time taking in nature, with a slow easy current. The staff was exceptional and made our trip a smooth process! read more

Hands down, the most organized paddling outfitter I've ever encountered (Across the country. Really.) Check-in is easy as pie with friendly and informative staff, clear and concise put-in and take out instructions, and of course top notch Jackson kayaks. This is a great place to go for the beginner, as well as the peeps who float flat water often. If you're looking for a great kayak rental, this is your place. Do it! And... if you're shopping for a Jackson, it's also great way to test drive all different kinds before you buy. read more

At this point I have visited most of the river outfitters in mid TN and Dawn & Jan were the most welcoming and safety-forward that I have visited. The equipment is well cared for and the facilities are top notch (read: CLEAN). Some places just tell you to sign a form and stick you in the water, at Higher Pursuits they will make sure you know what to do and will take care of you if you don't. The staff kindly helped me move my kayak around and strapped it to my car for me after our float even though I only needed the shuttle. Bonus points for being only 45 minutes away from Nashville. Long story short, I would definitely recommend this outfitter for the Duck; friendly and helpful staff, hospitable owners, awesome facility. A+ read more

This was our first trip with these folks. The reason we chose Higher Pursuits was their selection of kayaks from the most simplistic to high-end fishing kayaks which is what I wanted to try. my wife and I rented two kayaks for the day. Jan, Dawn, Faith and the rest of the crew were awesome! They are very friendly,professional and knowledgeable people in regards to the river as well as their equipment. they took the time to fit us in kayaks and answer all our questions, as we are experimenting with different models to determine which one we want to buy. we love the place so much we're going back the next weekend to float the entire 13 mile route. we will definitely buy our new kayaks from these folks. thanks so much for making a great weekend for us. read more

It's only when I moved 4,000 miles away to Scotland and dabbled in some canal kayaking that I realized just how what an amazing little business Higher Pursuits was and how lucky I was to experience it. Let's break it down! First of all, the owners are SO nice. I really mean it here guys. They're the kind of women you wouldn't think twice to let look after your firstborn child or One Ring or whatever you consider your prized posession, that's how lovely they are. After our first go when one of our group realized he left his wallet there, they were kind enough to leave it in a certain location for him to snag when he returned late that same night. At that point after our wonderful trip and this helpfulness, we were sold and each of us returned, whether solo or all together, several more times in the next year or two. Not only that, but aside from running their business for the average bear who wants to rent a boat, they're often busy hauling all of their boats off and doing educational endeavours with big groups of students. Adding education of the young'uns to their repertoire? By Jove I can dig it. Secondly, the bits and bobs. The owners will glady supply you with dry boxes for storage of important things such as cell phones for your trip. This is a must do as they will pick you up at the end of your venture, and need a phone call to know when. Not only that, but their little shop does have changing rooms and even clean and spacious (if warm!) outhouse-style bathrooms. Also, if you're hungry and came ill-prepared for a trip on the water, they do have food and drink available and some other gifty items inside. Thirdly, the boats themselves are amazing. If I remember correctly, these are custom boats made from producers in Tennessee, which is impressive enough on its own. Then you aren't just given one or two measley boats to choose from, but if you're kayaking, they'll present you with a lofty selection of at least five or six different boats in all sizes and shapes. Anything from open-top kayaks to those nestled snugly below the water, and even if I remember correctly one that they referred to as the "cadillac"--a supremely comfortable kayak if you're looking for a drifting sort of day! Fourthly, location. The Duck River, as the owners of Higher Pursuits will proudly inform you, is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in North America. Who knew! That's mainly because of the insane amounts of species of mussels and freshwater critters, but still, it's impressive nonetheless. If you're not interested in your local fauna however, the Duck River is just absolutely a gorgeous river. There's plenty of places to stop off for picnics along shallow gravel banks, there's loads of beautiful rock formations, and there's even a cave or two along the way. One of which the gals referred to as their redneck AC unit--a cave just along the river that depending on the water levels, you can cruise your boats right into. It's chilly inside and nothing short of awesome! I've now been several times along the same stretch of river, and discover something new each time. It's really a gorgeous stretch. In conclusion: if you like the outdoors, fishing, socializing with friends, swimming, exercising, supporting local businesses, or all of the above, seriously consider giving Higher Pursuits a call. It's an amazing deal for what it is, and I guarantee you'll leave (like me) with some fantastic memories. Go on then, git going! :) read more

THE BEST!!!! Usually float the harpeth but wanted to switch it up and try the duck. Found Higher Pursuits via Google and wow was I blown away! The customer service from booking the trip to leaving was through the roof! Such nice people and the river was gorgeous. If you want to go kayaking in/near middle Tennessee, look no further! read more

I know it's the end of the season, but I can't say enough good things about the ladies who own and the crew who works at Higher Pursuits​! Jan and Dawn are fantastic, knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, and always make sure you know about the hidden gems and side trips on the different routes to make your adventure incredible. Emily and the entire crew who work there are also friendly, helpful, and always go above and beyond to make this an exceptional experience. If you are at all interested in kayaking, I would highly recommend renting with Higher Pursuits and checking out the Duck River. Great for individuals or groups, and would be a great idea for a company outing! Can be one heck of a workout, a relaxing float, or anything in between. And they even make buying a boat a fun experience as well! read more

Strongly recommend Higher Pursuits for anyone looking for a new kayak or canoe, Jan and Dawn are extremely nice ladies with extensive knowledge. I just bought a Jackson Big Rig from them and will post again once I receive it and book a trip with them, but I'm sure that experience will be great too! read more

The ladies who own the business were friendly and fabulous! Booking was easy and they helped me pick out a good kayak - had canoed before but was a first time kayaker, so the advice was extremely helpful. Everyone that works there is extremely friendly and polite. Everything appeared to be in great shape. They also lent us a dry. Box - which was awesome. We kayaked the shorter route - 5.5 miles. The was beautiful and took us about 2-2.5 hours - we stopped plenty to look at turtles and Kingfishers. we will definitely go back again this summer! GREAT experience! I would suggest this place to anyone in the area, or visiting/vacationing. read more

This place is super cool!! Me and 4 friends went one summer day and the lovely ladies who run the place are very helpful and really know their stuff. I love kayaking but don't have much expertise. They helped me pick out a comfortable boat that fit my preferences. Very pretty area, VERY clean restrooms, super laid-back and congenial people. Highly recommended! read more

This was a great company to canoe with. They managed everything smoothly, we didn't make a reservation, we just showed up, and they were able to accommodate us with minimal hassle. They lent us a dry bag for our phone and were there as soon as we hit the take out spot. Also, I really liked this company because they were concerned about the health of the river and spent a lot of time educating us and had stories about working with local schools. read more