Markus and Michael S. were awesome! Markus was the tour guide on our boat. My sister booked a trip…read morewhile I was in town visiting! I had an absolute blast! We had great conversation the entire trip and I truly enjoyed his story! He listened to our stories and we had an amazing trip! Thank you so much for the adventure and positive outlook on life!

We took a Class 3 day trip on the South Fork of the American last week. Everything was…read moreprofessionally done and went smoothly. Our equipment was in excellent shape. Our guide was experienced, patient and knew the river well. He took good care of my 10 year old granddaughter, who was a first-timer. This is a quality outfit. I recommend them without reservation. Of note: the South Fork has become a bit crowded with rafts. I'll be trying a different river next time.

Very enjoyable Mothers Day tour. Thanks Joe, Katie and Jeff…read more From the grandkids (12&13) all the way to Grandma in her upper 70's, we all had a great time. The weather in the parking lot scared away some, as the wind made it pretty chilly, but once in the kayaks and on the water, the wind was knocked down substantially and the paddling was easier than they described it to be. Water resistant clothing would certainly help, though I just wore shorts and a sweatshirt. It was nice that they were so careful and thoughtful, but none of us felt cold at all the entire time. We had a harbor seal join us for part of our tour and the views of the USS Hornet and SF in the background was pretty sweet. Great memories and pictures to take home. Thx to all!

I took the Intro to Kayaking class this morning and I am very impressed with their level of…read moreexpertise and attention to safety. I learned a lot! My favorite part was the harbor seal that surfaced quite close to check us out. Many thanks for Katie - she's an excellent and patient instructor.

I was afraid to go Whitewater rafting because I get seasick very easily. But I tried it anyway, and…read morethere was absolutely no problem. No seasickness at all. Not to mention how wonderful our guide Gretchen was, and how beautiful the river was. I'm 66 years old and this was my first white water raft. I wouldn't call it scary but it was very thrilling and exciting.

I've rafted on the South Fork and Middle Fork several times times with various companies- I have…read morealways had a great experience- but the companies change names or stop doing middle fork- which is what led me to Whitewater Excitement this year- Everyone who works there from admin to guides to drivers etc are super helpful and nice!! My sister, nephew and I wanted to do Middle Fork this year and I remember it being an adrenaline rush and challenging but so fun- We picked a Tuesday so it was not crowded, but when it ended up being just the three of us in the raft with Juli, I was a little nervous, remembering how intimidating tunnel chute was- and I didn't have the security of a full raft of people to weigh down the raft and help paddle to build up speed. This just goes to show you how important a seasoned veteran rafting guide is Juli was amazing. He gave clear instructions, he was very calm, and he managed the raft like a pro. No no flipping over and no one fell out. So exciting! Now I want to go to Costa Rica and look up Whitewater excitement there and request Juli. Hope to do this at least one more time this year. If I lived closer, I would go more often. Ps- I read some people complaining that you have to pitch in to carry the raft from the water up to the trucks and from the trucks down to the water, I've only been with one company that did not ask you to do that. All the rest have always had the rafters help out in pitch-in.

My sister And her family enjoyed their first kayak outing with me on a great sunny day! We felt…read moretaken care of and the kayaks were in great condition and the staff was very helpful! I recommend this outdoor company for great service and awesome value! The estuary is calm but exciting surrounded by all types of boats and marine environment. Thank you!

I signed up for their half day basic kayaking class for today. First off, even though I've been…read morekayaking before, taking the basic course here was very humbling, ha, ha... I'd no idea of how much there's to learn! I highly recommend this class! If you're a novice, by the end of the class you'll be much more experienced. I'm really looking forward to practicing what I learned. One of the things I really appreciated was the detailed list they provide of what to bring to the class. Additionally, the location of the class is the best! I really enjoyed going to Alameda and also the estuary, plus a great view of SF. I look forward to continuing to support this business.

Could not recommend more! I came here for my birthday with about 7 other people and we had a…read morewonderful sunny paddle! We were able to bring coolers and food along on the kayaks with us and the whole process of arriving and getting on the water was really smooth. BRING SOME HOT DOGS! GO GIANTS! The two young men who helped us board and disembark the kayaks were very nice and helpful. Definitely a San Francisco bucket list item that I was happy to check off with Dogpatch Paddle.

Amazing experience - we came here after a…read more Good: - Super patient staff and they explained all of the rules to us and also let us stay a few min longer in the hot sauna cold plunge - I loved going out on the kayaks, the place is beautiful on a summer afternoon - and our kayaks were all set up and ready for us when we got there - So convenient that there is a sauna cold plunge attached! We spent the hour after our kayak here - The place feels very much a community hub Bad: - A bit pricey for the kayaking - If you're a beginner, limited routes Overall would come again, the whole package experience was so good.

Truly a great business to work with…read more If ever there were people who went above and beyond the call of duty to help their customers, this is the one. They really know their business --- and they excel in working with and helping their customers. I purchased some equipment and electronics from them and they asked how much experience I had with both, and I had to admit that it was minimal. Not only did they show me tricks for operating the gear, but went into detail about storage, maintenance, and even the registration process. I had a lot of questions and each was answered capably -- but they wanted to know that I understood what I'd been told and shown (without condescending about it). I called once, having some difficulty with the gear and I was invited to stop by the shop. When I arrived, they went through the process involved, not only explaining it to me, but then having me do the physical task. Sal remembered me and asked if I was maintaining the equipment, and took some time to show me steps (and tricks) for maintaining it. I offered to pay for their time but I was refused, telling me that I'd already paid for it. Sal asked if I'd had lunch and told me the best places nearby to patronize, even recommending their specialties and "best dish" -- even letting me in on the secret about the best place to park. What's more, the purchase was at a very fair price -- especially considering the ton of customer service and support they put into the deal. They were generous with their time -- and they've always answered my questions, even if the correct answer at the moment was "I don't know..." (and they made they effort to find out the answer and call me back). I appreciate the courtesy shown, as well. I called during a busy day and they promised to return the call, doing so after normal business hours -- and phoning me back the next day to make certain that my questions and needs were all answered. I heartily recommend this company, the staff and owner. I don't think you'll find a better group of people anywhere to work with.

though I never used Sal's services, I had a strange interaction via phone when inquiring on…read moreservices to repair an inflatable kayak. They wanted payment up front (didn't know that lack of business etiquette/professionalism still existed). When I asked about guarantee/warranty, he shot back a rather snide reply, but did end text saying he would warranty work for 6 months... Don't know how good a job he would have done but first interaction was a red flag!

My family and I had an excellent experience. The river was challenging, but it was a very memorable…read moretrip! This is run by a lovely, local couple who almost felt like family in the short time we were there. They boosted the confidence of my son with reassurance and also took the time to help us get back to our vehicle after it unexpectedly broke down on our way to the river. Just wanted to say they are really good people. They also gave us great guidance to navigate the river with quality equipment!

First off, we do this river day trip every year. We -highly- recommend experiencing the river, it's…read morealways fun and rarely disappoints (even as our kids get older!) While we have used different outfits lately - we had a great experience with Russian River Adventures a few years back, so we came in excited to return. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing, mainly due to poor planning by the staff. We booked for four people on a Thursday - my wife, myself, and our two teens (14 and 16)--with the expectation that we'd have two boats, which is standard for this group size. However, the team miscounted the boats that morning. When we pointed this out, instead of fixing the mistake, they pulled us aside and crammed all four of us into a boat intended for three, squeezing in an extra seat to make it "fit." Visibly frustrated, the team promised to speak with the owner and make it right (it was two high schoolers running it that day). I didn't argue and wanted to at least try to have a good time and not be that Dad. The result on the boat? A very cramped and uncomfortable setup that made the inflatable much harder to steer and navigate--especially on a 9-mile river trip. This wasn't the experience we paid for or expected based on our prior trips. The staff seemed more focused on moving us along rather than making it right. Still haven't heard from the owner. We'll likely explore other options next time around. Disappointed to see the service slip like this.

It was an awesome trip. First timers…read more A little bit more challenging than we thought it would be but loads of fun. Maps of the rapids locations and the names of them would be nice to have. The staff were very friendly and someone is always nearby when you need assistance. Food was very tasty and always plenty for seconds because your going to burn up some calories on this trip. Had a great time and look forward to going again with our entire clan next year!

I had an amazing time with Whitewater Adventures. This was honestly one of the most fun and…read morememorable group trips I've done. I went with a group of 10, last July, and it ended up being such a chaotic (in the best way) and bonding experience. We still talk about it to this day. They also offer a group discount, which is worth looking into and made it feel like a really good value for everything included. All of us were first-timers, so we were definitely a little nervous going in, but the staff made it feel really welcoming right away. They gave a quick crash course/overview on how to navigate the water and what to expect, which helped ease a lot of the nerves. I'd say it's very beginner-friendly, just keep in mind it is a Class 2-3 course, so there are still some rocky and more exciting sections. The rafting is self-guided, so there's no guide on your raft, but there is a sweeper raft at the end making sure everyone gets through safely. There was also one section where the rapids got pretty wild, and staff were there helping anyone who got stuck, which I appreciated. Overall, everything felt organized and ran smoothly. We did the 2-day experience, and I'd recommend it if you're comfortable with camping. The overnight stay is outdoors, so just something to keep in mind if you're not used to that. The campsite had a really social vibe with a happy hour, group activities, and just people hanging out, which made it even more fun. The food was honestly better than I expected. We had steak and baked potatoes for dinner, and a breakfast burrito station in the morning. During the rafting, there were also a lot of scenic spots along the way where you could rest and take everything in. I remember passing by what used to be a volcanic site, which was really cool to see. Each raft comes with a waterproof bag for your belongings and lunch, but I'd recommend bringing extra snacks, water or electrolytes, sunscreen, and good water shoes. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this for friend groups, especially if it's your first time rafting. It's a great mix of fun, a little bit of challenge, and just a really unique experience. My friends and I are already planning to go again this year.

The service at this place is amazing, from the person checking you in at the top parking lot, to…read moregetting you squared away down at the gas dock. Instructions were provided concisely in an easy to understand format for new drivers. We rented a Chaparral for 4 hours on Labor Day and it couldn't have gone smoother. The boat was in excellent condition and everyone had a great time. Gas came out to about $57, keeping in mind we had 5 adults, lots of food, and towed a tube during our rental period. Definitely recommend Berryessa Water Sports and will see them again soon!

What was once a worthwhile club appears to be in clear decline. From my direct experience, the…read morewarning signs are hard to ignore: management turnover, frustrated employees, and ownership that no longer seems willing to invest in the club's future. Prospective buyers should look closely before committing. The fleet is now made up of aging boats, roughly 4-6 years old, and the wear is evident. Inventory has reportedly been reduced from 9 boats to 5, including only 2 surf boats, while pricing remains unchanged. At the same time, members are being asked to move to an "unlimited bookings" model that still limits usage to no more than 3 bookings per month!!! Last season alone, boats experienced issues ranging from failed ballast pumps and broken amps to damaged railings and inconsistent availability. Yet despite reduced inventory, aging equipment, and declining service levels, ownership appears intent on maintaining the same pricing without meaningful reinvestment. Anyone considering joining should do their homework, verify the facts independently, and speak with former members. Membership has reportedly fallen from 42 to 17 and continues to trend downward. That kind of decline does not happen without reason.