What an amazing place! We were looking for something to do and we found Shel-Haven on Yelp - I am…read moreglad we did. Easy to find and easy to get too. I have been to a couple canoe/kayak rentals down state and Shel-Haven is so much better! First, they will drive you to the spot on the river and then you kayak to where you car is parked. So convenient! Depending on how long you want your trip to be will depend how far up the river you get dropped off. Second, they do not hold your credit card and there is no annoying deposit. You just hand them your money for the time you want to be on the river and then you are done - transaction over! You do not have to check-in back and get your deposit back or have to pay more if you went over the time limit. Third, the staff is great. The gal who checked us in was amazing, so friendly and helpful! She also accepted the Yelp discount without hassle or questions. 2.5 hour trip in a two person kayak was only $18.00! Such a great deal. The kayaks were very nice, clean, and did the trick. Fourth, the river and trip itself is so peaceful and beautiful. A great trip to take if you are not an avid canoer or kayaker. River is decently wide and calm. Not a lot of crazy turns or quick current. We did not see a lot of wildlife.There are homes that line the river but some areas are pure woods with no homes, so it is a nice mix. The water is not that deep either. I would say the deepest we saw was 3 feet while on average it seemed to be about 2 feet deep. Fifth, easy ending place when you are done with your trip. You can also swim when you are done with your trip and the water here is about 3 feet deep. There was a worker at the return site to help you. Parking lot was also right there and you could go on your way.

We have been canoeing with Shel-Haven for over twenty years and have always had a great experience…read more We usually take the four hour trip from 612 and float the river for the day. Prices are reasonable and as the years have passed, more and more options for floating the river have become available. They also have a nice deck where you can watch the people arrive back from their trip.

Great experience. Knowledgable, flexible, and has great equipment…read more I was traveling to Michigan to meet up with a range of family. I wanted to rent some equipment that would allow me to have fun as an experienced windsurfer and to be able to teach a range of people weighing from 145 to 225 lbs, and ranging in age from 19 to 60+. Dave provided everything we needed and offered to swap things out as wind conditions changed. He knows his stuff and is fair and honest and a nice person.

Torch Lake is Michigan's longest inland lake at 19 miles, deepest at 285' and 2nd largest. What…read morethose facts don't convey, is the beauty of the lake. Drive NE Torch Lake from M88 for a couple of miles and look to your right take in the beauty of the lake from the hills NE Torch lake winds through. Locals say that 6 shades of blue can be found in Torch's crystal clear water and I believe it to be true. I've had the pleasure of getting to know the owners Dave and Lisa over the last couple of years. They are seasoned sailors and and can provide lessons if you are new to sailing/windsurfing or just rusty. In the case of windsurfing they have a simulator on land that allows them to give instructions while you practice, without getting your feet wet. They will also take you out into the lake and provide instruction based on your skill level. Their business is located in a small subdivison on the NE side of the lake. Wak-Wing can be challenging to find with a GPS, keep in mind the city is Central Lake. Look for the white sign with a sailboat on it. While it's possible to catch them at the beach, it's highly recommended that you call and make an appointment. Enjoy!

We had an amazing experience canoeing with this company. I called the day of to see if they had…read moreavailability and they did. We did the 2.5 hr paddle. It's with the current so it's very easy to do. There are a few stopping points that have portable toilets. They picked us up at the end and shuttled us back. We paid $36 for one canoe. They provided seat cushions. The staff did an excellent job previewing the route with us. It was easy to navigate. They also have mountain bikes and kayaks to rent.

My family and I had a blast! I'm coming back soon. You guys will have fun too. It's the right price…read moreand so much fun.

I walked that trail a few years ago with my son, I know since then, it's one of his favorites to…read morerun through with his dog The trail we took was challenging. A long down hill slope to a creek bed, which travels perpendicular to the downhill, the trail meanders down a little further, and then a nice steady trip back to the parking lot

There is a lower and upper level you can park at when you arrive. The upper parking does have one…read moreouthouse style restroom if needed. It was clean for being an outhouse. I appreciate that. It was a short gravel walk to the overlook. You could push a buggie or wheelchair if needed. There is a walking path that is clear. The area is established so there are large tree and tree roots to contend with while you walk about so watch your step. Maps are posted and trails are marked. We completed the 3 mile loop and loved every minute. Definitely a must see during the fall. This place would be spectacular for color! We will be back

Need a nice calm canoe ride? This place is it! The rentals are a great price, and you can't put a…read moreprice on serenity.The river is beautiful. And every time we rent canoes from here, they are comfortable, and the staff here make sure everything is A-OK before you go! And they will pick you up when your done down the river & Drive you back to your car. Just a great place to go with family or with a friend!

New owners since last year. They have a great bed and breakfast with really nice rooms, great food…read moreand steps away from the river or downtown. They have put a lot of effort into this place and it shows. Borchers has great amenities and the classic upscale B&B experience right next to the kayak and canoe livery. We recommend staying here as a couple or rent the whole place as a family.

My husband and I have been going to Borchers for years, staying at their B and B, meeting the…read morestudents they hire for the summer, using their kayaks, absolutely a wonderful experience. Great customer service, clean rooms, delicious breakfast, and we enjoyed the music on the front porch, overlooking the Ausable River.

After the CEO got involved I did receive a full refund. That doesn't excuse their major medical…read moreoversight, but at least we didn't have to pay for such an experience.

Amazing place for young boys and men to learn leadership. They have so much to do. Sailing,…read moreswimming, archery, rifles, high-ropes, camping, kayaking, crafts. Plus out of camp trips to Alaska, Caribbean and Canada.

Teresa and Hank at Alden Marine & Sport not only have nice pontoon boats, but they give you the…read moreBEST SERVICE ever! You can tell they truly love what they do, and give you that "mom and pop" service that is so rare to find nowadays. We thought we left our car keys on the boat so Hank came back to pick up my husband to take him back on the boat. It wasn't there, but thankfully we found them in one of the hidden pockets of our daughter's backpack. The next day Teresa called to make sure we found them. Who does that? Thank you again Hank and Teresa for being such gracious people. Keep up the great work that you do, and here's to more great years running your business! Maybe someday we will run into you down at the Keys during the winter. Cheers!

Awesome experience for renting kayaks! My boyfriend and I stopped at Torch Lake on our way up to…read morethe Upper Peninsula. We only had one day & we knew we wanted to rent kayaks. We stayed at Chain O' Lakes campground so Alden Marine & Sport was only around 10 minutes away. We went in, said we only had a couple of hours to kayak, we paid, they packed them in the truck & we followed the truck to the drop off point, which was only 1 mile down the road. Fast, friendly service, exactly what we needed that morning! So easy & no hassle. Definitely recommend!