I recently rented a cabin through here and went tubing. The cabin was one of the 3 newer log cabins down by the bridge off cox rd. It was 100 per night and had 3 queen beds, 2 twins on a large loft, ac, electricity, ceiling fan, microwave, large mini fridge. This was ten dollars more than the cost of two camping spots down the road and it was absolutely perfect. There was a camping ring and spot sat right overlooking the river. Very close bathroom and shower stall nearby. These are newer buildings in good condition. Shower and bathroom were single stalls with a locked door. 2 shower rooms, 2 toliet rooms. Only complaint was one toliet didn't have a lock on the door. These cabins are off by themselves and do not have lots of people or crowds. We thought the price was great. Raccoons do live all over and come out at night but they are friendly, don't feed them . We enjoyed r the tubing trip too. Each tube was 20 and they provided rope to connect tubes. Check in was a bit crazy with lines like other reviews so expect that. Also after tying 8 tubes together, we couldn't get the twine unknotted at the end and had to carry all of them together up the hill which was a pain but we enjoyed the trip and would go again read more

The river itself is WONDERFUL. A blast to actually be on, if you can actually get through the rental process with the company. Every step of our rental reservation was unorganized, chaotic, and had problems. When making a reservation online, I couldn't select tandem kayak, only singles. It asked for a Group Name, which as a large group of people, we attempted to place one so we could all match under one reservation, but it didn't do anything at all. And then, when two people tried to call to make reservations, the group name again was not allowed, and they had to instead add themselves to another individuals reservation under their last name. Once we arrive, the check in booth was messy and chaotic, all the customers were gathered around a wooden table trying to sign waivers and papers that definitely should be provided online ahead of time, with only two pens for about 10 people to share. I asked if tandem kayaks were available to rent, as advertised on the website, and I was told they flat out don't have tandems (despite definitely later seeing them being pulled off the truck). Despite the bumpy start, we could have overlooked that and had plenty of fun... If it wasn't for the main event: arriving at the riverbed. Despite having a 10am reservation, our group, and a huge chunk of other 10am customers, did not get onto the actual river until 11:20am! Although it was the very first group of the day, the kayaks and canoes were not all at the riverbed ahead of time, meaning only about 20 people got theirs... While the probably 50-60 rest of us had to awkwardly stand on the riverbed and wait for a truck to deliver small batches of more, repeatedly. This meant half of group was sitting in their kayaks, beaches on the river, waiting for the other half of us to actually get in the water for over an hour. There were families trying to keep their kids entertained and hydrated while standing in the sun. And since the very small amount of employees were way too busy trying to keep up with dropping off the heavy boats over and over, there was no one to enforce a line or wait-list. So eventually, 11am reservations started showing up and just grabbing kayaks off the truck without waiting on line! There was no one to stop them from doing so, and anyone who was polite enough to ask staff about it, would be told off. I don't blame the staff in this scenario, they literally were completely outnumbered and needed every hand to grab the kayaks off the truck to get them as fast as possible in the water, but the company really needs to dedicate ONE staff memberto keep things civil, as I started to see guys getting agitated and looking to start a fight. Considering I see a lot of adults bringing alcohol, they're standing around in the sun bored and annoyed for over an hour, there's no way that won't lead to intoxicated fights over kayaks one day. We loved actually being in the river, and had a wonderful time seeing all of turkey run, stopping off at the suspension bridge and relaxing for a bit. If it wasn't for the bad experience at the riverbed, we really would go with sugar again despite the chaotic check in, but that riverbed dysfunction was just too much for us to want to try them again. read more

See all

In years past, we have taken the Sugar Valley Canoe trips down Sugar Creek. It was always a positive experience, and this week's trips were also great. We took both the canoe six-mile trip last Tuesday and the tube floating trip on Wednesday. Both trips were excellent, with weather, scenery, creek flow, even our fellow travelers on the creek - so friendly! The staff at Sugar Valley are all very professional, from the check-in, to the bus rides, to the assistants at trip beginning and end. We have nothing but good things to say about Sugar Valley! "5 Stars"! Paul & Pam E. 8/7/26 read more

We booked a 3 mile trip for 3 of us in one canoe. Had a blast. The 7 year old grandson really enjoyed it. The river is very busy with tubers, kayaks and canoes. I'd suggest bringing your own life jacket if one is needed. The ones that the offer have seen their better days. Overall, I'd recommend this trip. read more

We were stir crazy and looking for a close-to-home adventure that kept social distancing top of mind: voila! Here's to $10 inner tube rides down the river on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Located just an hour and a half from Indy (it's a pretty drive to boot!), you can spend half a day soaking in nature and blobbing down the river. We opted for Sugar Valley's three mile inner tube float ride. Upon arrival, you sign in, grab a life vest off the ground, use the bathroom (good news: they're not porta potties) and load up in a bus to take you up the road to the drop off point. The unfortunate part was their wasn't a ton of attention to social distancing and COVID throughout the process. Luckily, we had our masks on until we were out of the bus because otherwise, they used the phrase "pack them in".... ack. Our ride down the river was so peaceful and just what our souls needed. This was a brilliant use of $10 during a time when we all could use some fresh air and nature close to home. read more

Based on the reviews, I'm not the only one that left Sugar Valley unimpressed. The *only* reason I'm giving this two stars and not one star is because it truly is a beautiful, scenic canoe / kayak / tubing trip through Turkey Run. The topography is stunning. That being said, I wish the service and experience at Sugar Valley was stronger. + We rolled in on a Saturday morning and it was already PACKED. Parking lot nearly full and a line of people waiting to check in. + No rhyme or reason to the check-in process. We figured out you walk up to the window and check in (the reservations are written on a notepad - sophisticated) and you're told to grab a life jacket and head to the bleachers five minutes prior to your departure. + It took 10 minutes to find the bathrooms. You think they're in a shed with the dressing stall area, but nope - back by the life jackets. At least they're not port-a-potties? + The bus for the 3-mile trip was PACKED. The bus driver said "If there's no more room, you can just stand"...what? So our full school bus had 10 people standing in the aisle. Oh, and the door doesn't shut so it's swung wide open for your 5-10 minute drive. Definitely seems safe. + The staff member drops you off, barks orders for your trip and you are on your own to walk down a steep hill to the creek. It's a messy free-for-all and it's on you to grab a paddle and get in your canoe or kayak. + There was rain in the forecast and it started POURING 15 minutes into our trip. There were dozens, probably hundreds of people in the river with us so we weren't alone in seeking shelter under some trees/caves. It got scarier later on when we saw lightning and thunderstorms in the distance. WHY did they put us in the river? This was a dangerous situation in my opinion. Don't endanger your customers. + When you pull out of the river, there is NO organization and NO help from staff. It is a steep set of stairs and you are expected to drag your own heavy kayak / canoe up the stairs. It's a traffic jam, and luckily kind people help each other out to complete the task. What was even weirder? Some people were loading IN here. This is an accident waiting to happen. Meanwhile, staff was standing around or organizing boats instead of helping customers out of the water. + You then wait to board a bus to take you back to the Sugar Valley building about a mile away. Overall, I was disappointed in this experience and lack of customer service. Such a shame that they monopolize the canoe rental business at Turkey Run and prioritize making a buck over customer safety and support. read more

If you ever find yourself in western Indiana take a float down the river from sugar valley! I was really impressed! The front has all these broken canoes that are decoratively places around the parking lot. You go up to the front pay and sign waivers, everyone is very friendly and makes sure that you are all set to go. Then you travel to the area where you can pick out a life vest and then you hop on a bus to your drop off point. The driver gives great directions on how to look for the mile marker points which are beautiful bridges! Then you get in, on the river and float! (That's what my group picked) you can also canoe as well. Floating was so nice and peaceful and the inter-tubes are pretty legit quality! The river route is awesome, seems like it's pretty well maintained, the people are nice and it's all around very enjoyable and reasonably priced! read more

See all

This is a summer speciality for me and my friends. We enjoy going to Turkey Run State Park and then heading the Sugar Valley Creek to cool off. The prices are pretty reasonable. On Tuesday if you like tubing you can go for just $5. The trips on the canoes are about 2 hours unless you sit on the many shores you pass. How fast you go down the creek is contingent on the level of water in the creek. Sometimes the creek is too low and sometimes the creek is too high. The bus driver is very kind and lets you helpful hints about the river. The entire staff at Sugar Valley are very attentive. At the end of the canoe trip you have to bring your canoe up a steep hill. If you have trouble walking this may be difficult. Lastly they make you put down a deposit at the time of the rental it's $20 cash and if you use card they will just hold it until you get back from your trip. It's a very beautiful trip down the creek. Some parts get a little deep but if you can swim you should be OK. read more

See all

The staff members are rude and misleading. When this was informed to the "Owner," (an old man with long white hair) he HARASSED customers and said "I should get in your face too." RENT FROM ANY OTHER PLACE, not worth your time or giving a psychotic business owner your money. read more

I never make reviews but the owner of this place is actually insane and started yelling in women's faces and telling them how fat they are, he also kept bringing up "my boys" and being overly protective and it made me feel weird if you know what I mean.... the workers were a little rude as well. so if you'd like to have a good time and support a business that truly deserves it I would pick ANYWHERE else fr read more

I'm so glad that I made contact with this unprofessional business and then came to check reviews before booking with them and dropping a hefty wad on a family kayaking trip. Looks like I'm not the only person that's perturbed with their rudeness and unprofessional dealings. We have a large camping trip booked with our family, and we thought we would treat everyone to a day of kayaking. On their website, they offer a 10% discount on canoe rentals when you make reservations for 10 canoes. Nothing is said about kayaks or anything else. So I tried calling many times to ask if we can get a discount on kayak rentals and to make sure they also have toddler sized lifejackets, since not all liveries have toddler size. It rang "busy" or "off the hook" for a few hours. Since their website also says, in bold bright letters at the top, that if their phone rings "disconnected" to please email them. Well, since we aren't in the stone age anymore and there's been amazing inventions called "call waiting" and "multi phone lines," I start thinking "maybe that's a disconnected sound?" Heck, I've not heard a "busy signal" on a phone line in decades! So I shoot them an email with my questions. Holy.freaking.rudeness. I had to do a double take when I got their response! I was rudely informed it is NOT a disconnected sound and to just keep calling to make reservations "because we're busy." Well, I'm busy too and not interested in spending all day trying to make contact to find out if you can even accommodate our family. There ARE several other places in the area to get kayaks, you know. They proceed to inform me they do have lifejackets available but that they do not allow toddlers to ride in a kayak, at all, and state that a kayak is only for one person. But they then go on to say they "will only allow toddlers that can walk who are accompanied by an adult who can swim and is experienced?" Huh??? First, how do you know who can swim and who has experience? Cause even though I am both, I could tell you anything. Besides, didn't you just tell me no??? I respond with my confusion...do you or don't you? Because that was clear as mud. I received a response that toddlers are allowed on kayaks for the 3 mile, but not the 10 mile, the route we're interested in. Mmmmkay. We've already successfully kayaked with the girls before and when we were booking that trip, we called many places and the only issue we were faced with was that many places don't possess toddler sized lifevests. I specifically asked every livery that I called if we could have a toddler on our kayak with us and every other company was absolutely fine with it. Extremely unprofessional. If you're "so busy" that your phone rings "off the hook" all day long, then you need to upgrade your phone system to meet customer demand. You should also remember that your business is fueled by your customers experiences, word of mouth and reviews. Thank you for diverting our business to another livery that will surely be much more welcoming and friendly. read more

If you are nervous about getting out and being around others at this time, in addition to safety in general, DO NOT go here. Masks are "required" on the bus rides, but not enforced at all. Few staff members were wearing masks properly. Social distancing is not encouraged on the buses except for at the office to register and check-in/out. Sanitation was not taking place on the buses or on the canoes and kayaks. Canoes and kayaks are not washed, wiped down, etc. and are just handed straight to the next guests. Same thing with the paddles. Their equipment needs to be better maintained. Out of our entire group, all life-vests were ripped, stained, and dirty. One of our kayaks had a hole at the bottom. The bus ride can tend to be a little bumpy. While on the bus ride, the bus driver said "I have to make sure to stop at this stop sign. The cops like to sit around here because that house reported us not stopping at this corner." At the end of our experience, we had to carry our canoe and kayaks up broken, sandy steps. Everyone's exhausted and wet at this point, so it's easier said than done. They claimed that if anyone left theirs at the bottom of the steps, they would be fined. So overall, many parts of this operation are sketchy and not right. Yes the actual experience of kayaking with a group was fun, but each part of this "business" needs to be worked on. Without the river, they would be nothing. read more

Disgusting place, everything is dirty and broken. Life jackets are tore and missing buckles. They look 30-40 years old. Canoes have holes and cracks. Oars are bent and broken. The best part is when you get to the end and you have to drag the canoe up a hill with railroad tie steps that are falling apart and the first step is 3 feet high. They have a bunch of teenagers sitting around getting high doing nothing but the customer at the end of a 2 fight with poor equipment then has to do that. Very bad equipment very bad service read more

We scheduled a 15 mile canoe trip. It was awesome! The day in question, the river was up a couple feet because of rain, so they asked (but didn't check) that you don't bring alcohol on the river that day. And if you're inexperienced with canoes In fast water with possibly downed trees... it's good advice. We received a courtesy call the day before letting us know that river conditions may cause them to be closed and to check in the AM on the Facebook page before coming in. Sure enough, announcement was made they were open with restrictions (obviously for insurance reasons) They said to be there at 8:30 to get checked in. Due to lack of other customers that early, there was no trouble checking in. Just wait for the bus which left on time. The canoes and oars are at the put in location, they let you put yourself in. Which I appreciated. If you're doing 15 miles, you probably don't need help. The river was great, views were great. Due to speed of river and my wife's fear of getting caught in a storm in the afternoon (which never came) we finished in about 4.5 hours. But for $35ish bucks for the 2 of us it was still well worth it. At the end, we hopped out of the canoe and someone (not sure of it was another company or how the take out is setup) but a couple guys grabbed the canoe and slung it up the hill for us, which I wasn't expecting based on reviews. The only awkward part was at the end in the parking lot, no one reminded or explained that we were waiting for the bus and not the van. Not a big deal, we asked they answered. And all was good. All in all had a blast and we are excited to come back with friends and take our time on the river. Thanks for a great adventure! read more

The bus driver used fowl language in front of my scouts, and was trying to antagonize the adults in my BSA Troop. This was nightmare situation. Very disappointed in the rude behavior from the unprofessional employee. They should require a breathalyzer for this driver before every work shift. This situation happened on Monday June 22, and the manager has been too busy to respond to our multiple requests for help. 4 days later and we are waiting.... read more

Sugar Valley Canoe Trips - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Marshall, Indiana

See all

they were nothing but rude to my cousins and her friends. I wouldn't recommend them at all. The staff are unfriendly, rude and act like they don't want to be there. Like they are wasting their time. read more

Pros: - Their rentals are cheaper than the four surrounding businesses that offer the same (but significantly better) services (kayak/canoe rental, drop off to/pick up from River drop points) Cons: - Their business location is rundown - Their alcohol policy is not enforced - Not a family-friendly atmosphere - Their staff is incompetent and inexplicably rude - Their business has no protocol for violent patrons - Their kayaks are not well preserved and often have cracks or holes - Many of their floatation devices smell like cat spray and do not function properly - Pricing on merchandise is steep for low quality - Business phone is often unreachable, not because it is busy but because it gives a disconnected message - Email response time is more than 48 hours and often no response - Review option not available on social media, and if one is left in comments review is deleted and reviewer is blocked - First aid is not available to injured patrons - Misleading information provided concerning water levels (check the DNR, anything under 2.75 feet will lead to an unpleasant kayaking/canoeing experience) My subjective experience: For five years, my extended family and myself have taken annual kayaking trips with Sugar Valley, often driving 2 hours from where we live. While all of the above information is true, we did not experience the negative consequences of those cons, at once, until this year. Without going into all of the details, our party, which ranged from 13 years old to 50 and consisting of nine people, went on our annual trip as usual. My 13-year-old nephew struggled to stay afloat for six miles as his kayak had a hole in it, the end result being frustration for everyone and him losing his glasses- unable to see for the remainder of the trip. On the bus ride back to the business, a girl in her early twenties, who was intoxicated, provoked and proceeded to physically assault my 50-year-old sober sister, without any instigation from my sister. After punching my sister repeatedly in the face, resulting in facial contusions, the staff mocked my sister, laughed at her, offered no medical assistance or aid, did not call the police to document the incident, did not make any attempt to detain the younger girl from further attacking my sister or until authorities arrived. Update: My sister ended up going to the hospital as a result of this attack, and had a concussion. At the very least, it is a business's responsibility to ensure the safety of their patrons while on their property. That starts with enforcing their alcohol and drug policies, and in the event things go awry such as they did in this instance, following a safety protocol. My family and friends will never return to this place. I certainly will have nothing positive to say to anyone on social media or in kayaking associations moving forward. Turkey Run's beautiful scenery is largely thanks to the DNR and it can be enjoyed without the help of this business. read more

See all

After reading so many negative reviews, I was really nervous about booking a cabin and canoe trip for my six person group. However, I was pleasantly surprised! We stayed in Cabin #4, the cabin that sleeps 9, and it was better than I was expecting for $45. There were three bunk beds, each with a twin bed on top and a full bed on bottom. The air conditioning and fans worked, so it remained a nice temperature the entire time. My only complaints about the cabin were the birds that had taken up residence in the wall. We were awoken by the flapping feathers and angry screaming of fighting birds. The fire pit was pretty nice, and there was more than enough seating for everyone in our group. You definitely need to bring your own firewood, as the Sugar Valley store only has charcoal and the places around charge twice as much as I would have payed at home. The canoeing, which got the most bad reviews, was actually incredibly relaxing and stress free. We showed up thirty minutes before 2pm with no reservations, and were on the road to canoeing by the time it was 2. The bus was just a white-painted school bus, but it did the job. The driver was definitely a lot more knowledgeable than the girl working at the reservation building, so I would suggest asking your driver any questions you have about canoeing and the route. The canoes were not infested with spiders, which made me happy, and they easily fit three people. The scenery was stunning, and the 3 mile was perfect for a short trip with people that aren't super athletic. You did have to walk your canoe up a sandy hill at the end, but the guys loading them into the truck helped with no problem. If you're looking for luxury, this is not your place. But for a cheap and stress-free outdoor experience, Sugar Valley is perfect. read more

See all

My friend and me went yesterday Wednesday, June 28. We went out on the 3 mike tube trip at 1230. This place had lots of parking. The older gentleman that drove us to the drop off was nice. He explained everything well. The only thing he said that wasn't true. Was there would be someone one to help you get the things you need to go afloat. No one there to help with the canoes or kayaks. At the ending point no one helped you up the muddy hill that they are getting steps. Everyone had to bring there canoes and kayaks up on their own. Not safe. They had 2 hoses to rinse your feet off when you return. Dressing rooms (outside) wish they had some hooks to hang your clothes on when changing. You are standing to change so have good balance. We did have a great time on our float. read more

You can't go wrong with this place!!! Super cheap and busy! Watch out for DNR!! They are strict but it is not sugar valleys fault!! So no recreational use because you will get caught, no under age drinking, and no jumping off rocks!! Just go kayak, drink , and enjoy nature! I highly recommend this place for cheap kayaking read more

Do not use this company. Pick a different one, any other place is better than this one. We had a multi-family trip for 19. Their bus driver tortured both the children and adults on this trip, please read below . read more

See all

Can't believe some of the reviews... lol. My FAVORITE place to kayak in Indy! Its beautiful, and best to go on a week day because the weekend is packed (obviously, just like any other place) The owner is super nice and the dad is funny! Loved his story's about planting all the trees etc Go! You won't be disappointed! I use to go every week and can't wait to go back :) read more

Horrible! They fail to mention that at the end you are responsible to carrying a huge and heavy canoe up stairs by yourself or they refuse to refund your deposit. I had to struggle with my 9 year old (who could've been seriously injured if that canoe fell on the stairs) while a group of about 6 young men goofed off and carried canoes of those who refused. Then they sat around laughing at us saying I needed the exercise and upset my 9 year old son who saw them taking his picture. Disgusting! read more

See all

Had a very good day on the sugar creek , the people were very nice and helpful. Be ready for a rustic experience but if your not close minded you should have a great time . We had the pleasure to see a bald eagle, a adolescent bald eagle,a grate blue heron, and the king fishers . read more

we have been kayaking here and tubing for 28 years! Have nothing but happy times! the owners, their children and staff are there to make everyone's experience fun and memorable! my children have been kayaking since they were 8 years old! The Concerts are great.... we've seen Mac McAnally, Scott Kirby, the Doerfels to name a few! Ron also puts on an awesome firework show! The trips vary in length and difficulty! It's a wonderful way to spend a day! you can even get breakfast or lunch! Last year we camped there instead of the state park. Reasonably priced and nice sites. look forward to camping again this summer! read more

See all

We try to do a canoe trip once a year. This year we picked fourth of July. We reserve ahead of time, pick up canoes, take the bus etc. It is a pretty great little operation. It can normally be a peaceful trip depending on the group on the river that day. I would recommend the canoes as they are in good shape and pretty comfortable. We have never gone tubing. Take a cooler and enjoy your day. Just read the rules online and follow them and you should have a great day. read more

First the good part. Float trip itself with three covered bridges and the trees and nature around it were great. Bus drivers were super nice. Now the not so good. A place like this that puts so many people on the river should be offering mesh trash bags. They SHOULD NOT be optional. I have been on many Missouri rivers with a lot more traffic and they were much cleaner then this river. We saw trash everywhere. Not only did you have to request a trash bag from this place but there were no trash receptacles at the end of the float. This is a huge fail in my opinion. They warned us that at the end we would to bring all of our stuff up some stairs at the end, but most places will at least grab your canoes or kayaks and take them up for you. Why have three workers at the end if they aren't going to help you with this? And while I said the bus drivers were great, the young men they had working at the put in and the take out points were not very helpful and bordering on rude in some cases. And I am talking about communication wise. In fact one young man at the take out spot was extremely rude to us and many others. read more

When you find out that you are going to be laid off in a week, you freak out a bit, try to figure things out and inexplicably want to have fun. Which is not the best thing to do when you won't have a regular paycheck for a while. Enter: Sugar Valley Canoe Trip & Cabins. For $40 a night, you can sleep with 8 of your friends in a wooden cabin, make your own fire, tell ghost stories (or attempt to), stumble in the dark, brush your teeth in smelly water and feel like you are in summer camp all over again. Doesn't sound appealing? I promise it is!! I was excited beyond words when we parked our cars in front of cabin #4 and I saw the fire ring going strong. Conveniently located two minutes away from Turkey Run State Park, this campground is ideal for low-key fun with friends, and you can't beat the price; we each paid $5 to spend the night, and even if the bathroom facilities were definitely not impressive, we had a wonderful time. You do have to come with your own bedding and everything you need because the beds are bare. And yes, the bathroom is communal. Get over it for one night and just enjoy the simple joys of being in nature, under the Milky Way. Grill, laugh, be silly, sleep tight and wake up the next morning ready to conquer the Sugar Creek below. Tubes, canoes and kayaks are available to rent next door, and prices are super reasonable. You can take alcohol (up to 3 cans per person, no glass allowed) or your dog for an extra fee, and lazily paddle down the river. It's relaxing, lovely and will reconcile you with Indiana forever. For the non-grill masters, the place is also equipped with a mini-mart/restaurant that offers food items such as quesadillas, sandwiches, pizzas and breakfast all day. If you like Jimmy Buffet, you'll feel at home. Highly recommended for an easy weekend of fun. read more

See all

SO DISSAPOINTED with my experience at Sugar Valley. We went for a bachelorette party so showed up in a limo. There was no "drop off" area so our driver pulled around to the front to drop us off. As we were getting out of the limo this guy (owner maybe) comes storming up to our limo driver yelling about how he can't park there. As our driver was trying to explain he was just dropping us off the guy continued to then call him a "dickweed" and told him he had to loose weight. The guy then stormed over to me and my girls and started yelling at us about it. Very UNPROFESSIONAL. Equipment was dirty as well. The rest of the staff we encountered were nice and the river you flow down it beautiful. But unfortunately I will not be returning. read more

We took a 6 mile kayak trip this weekend from Sugar Vally and on that trip there is a nesting Bald Eagle in a river birch on the left bank of the creek. The nest alone was awesome 3 or 4 feet around. AMAZING to see our national symbol in the wild in central Indiana. I guarantee you'll have goose bumps from this majestic site. If your thinking of putting a paddle in the water this spring, Sugar Vally Canoe & Kayaks should be the only option on your list. read more

See all

We made a reservation 5 days ahead of time online and on the day we got there, they told us they didn't accept our reservation because it had to be made at least a week in advance. They never notified us that they cancelled our reservation, we drove an hour and a half to find out. We even had a confirmation email. The family in front of us had the same situation, their tubes were "given away". When you are there in person they tell you to call ahead of time, but they NEVER answer the phone. The girls working there were very rude and shooed us away after telling us we got cancelled. This place is very poorly ran, the one star is for the beautiful river itself. read more

Worst experience of my life! I thought I was paying for a fun tubing experience with lots of beautiful nature for my birthday. However that wasn't the case by any means. I was scammed out of 50$ and was given a filthy old pool donut and got in a stagnant creek with the majority only being less then a foot deep. Therefore I was forced to scraped my genitalia on jagged rocks and received a bloody rash. So then I was like I'll just walk these parts. Nope! Not that simple sliced up my knees and feet. Creek had trash everywhere was honestly very shameful to be part of it knowing that it's this company that's destroying this nature. Bathrooms didn't even have flooring just a nice patch of dirt. Honestly felt like I was putting my husband and I health and safety on the line and there was a point we're I was crying thinking I wasn't going to make it out of it. And to top it off when we finally got back on the bus to take us to the facility our bus driver was going 50 in a 30 with lots of small children in that bus and was making lots of other reckless driving maneuvers. I strongly urge you to put you and your families health, safety, and finances first and choose literally anywhere else to go tubing canoeing and kayaking read more

I have been here several times and have never experienced the lack of customer service I did today. Water was up 2.5 ft from the day prior and when I called in they said as long as you are 18 and over it's fine and that dogs are good as well. Never once explained over the phone you needed to be experienced with canoeing (I have been a handful of times so I am assuming I'm fine. Plus I know how to swim) so in my mind I am assuming it's just due to high water and being able to swim if you flip out. They said nothing more. Well my boyfriend and I arrive with our dogs, after a 1.5 hour drive. Rightfully so, they are excited to jump out of the car to check out a new area and all the new smells and people. As all dogs would be. We get to the counter to check in and the girl working...first laughs, in a snarky way, and says "you need to be at least 18 to canoe (she paused and stared as if we were doing to say otherwise-we are 27 and 30, probably much older than she was), you need to be advanced with canoeing (okay. So like just having canoed a few times or needs to be a hobby because the person I called prior didn't say that. And if we are discriminating, I saw plenty of "young" girls running around in almost nothing. Not what I would expect from someone who is advanced) and..if you flip you will lose everything including your dogs. My boyfriend and I ask some follow up questions like how serious is this because we just drove 1.5 hours based off the conversation over the phone being so light. And she continues to laugh in her snarky way, eye the dogs, and proceed with "well by looking at your dogs..." "I mean I just would be worried that they would flip you looking at them" I'm happy she is concerned with safety first. But please don't allow someone to drive 1.5 hours (as I'm sure they know people drive from all over to visit turkey run) for you to make judgement calls by looking at us. It should be a strict no pets allowed if you're going to throw the 18 and older in our face when looking at my dogs. My dogs are very well behaved, they were just excited in the moment-in which I allowed them to be. I would just expect the conversation both over the phone and in person to be the same. Same seriousness and tone. And definitely not discriminatory. If safety's an issue, say all of that up front over the phone first. Or maybe say "we don't recommend pets when the water is this high" Luckily the park entrance is right around the corner. read more

My girlfriend and I woke up really early to go canoeing. We made the trip from Bloomington, Illinois ! Don't forget Indiana is on eastern time ! We were told to get there at 9:30 est for our 10am departure time. We arrived about 20 mins early. It was Labor Day weekend ! Lots of people ! It was definitely a chaotic scene when we first got there ! I had never been there so it was definitely overwhelming at first ! The first thing you do is get in line at one of the available windows. An employee was handing out liability and deposit forms. My advice would be bring a pen ! They didn't have a lot of pens. We got to the window. The young gal who helped us was friendly. We had a reservation. We booked a 10 mi trip with 1 canoe 2 people for just $25 ! The price is great. They give you a little waterproof container with your deposit form. $20 deposit. I used cash. I paid for the canoe rental with a credit card. After you pay then it is time to board the bus! This is a very unorganized experience! At first, we were going to board a bus for the 12 and 15 mile trips. We then got on the next bus. Literally we had no idea is if it was for the 10 mi trip or another trip. The bus driver left before everyone had a chance to sit down! The bus driver drives fast ! It adds to the chaotic experience ! They obviously know the roads ! We got to our destination ! The bus driver was great ! His safety and trip instructions were spot on! You have to listen up ! Then it's off to the races to get your canoe kayak or tube. They have canoes just randomly spread about the shore of the creek. Grab a paddle first from a guy standing near the paddles. My gf and I found this lonely canoe in some grass! Flipped it over and off we went down the creek! We had to maneuver around quite a few canoes , kayaks, tubes ! We continued down the creek and made our first stop near the walking bridge for turkey run state park! It was a good stop ! We got our picture taken on the bridge! A few families hiking the park were on the rocky shore too with their dogs! We took off again down the creek! The water level is really low at times! A few times we even got stuck and I had to push ! We ventured under the cox ford (red) bridge. This is the end point for the 3 mile trip ! After the cox ford bridge the trip flew by ! We still had a few more times where the water level was low! However, at times the creek was fairly deep with a few really good currents and obstacles in the creek! A lot of tree limbs and bigger rocks! We saw the silo which meant we were 2/3 the way done for the trip ! We soon saw Jackson (white) covered bridge which was our ending point! We went to the shore before Jackson and had lunch ! We had some sub sandwiches ! We reached the stairs just beyond Jackson ! It was a muddy mess! We had to carry the canoe up the stairs ! Kept our life preservers. We got our deposit ticket initialed. Then we waited for the bus ride back to our car ! The bus smelled awful and was jammed with people! It took us about 4 hours to get to Jackson bridge ! We were one of the first groups to get on a bus! The bus ride was fairly short for the 10 miles back to the car! We returned our life preservers. We returned our deposit ticket and got the $20 deposit back ! We washed our feet off with the hose ! We wished they had some showers!!!! Maybe, they did have them but we missed them ! Also, wish it was more organized getting onto a bus ! This is a no frills adventure ! It's bare bones and fun ! Overall, we loved our Labor Day weekend adventure ! We recommend giving Sugar Creek Canoes a try for a good time ! We recommend you wear some sandals or water shoes ! Bring a small to medium sized cooler, lunch in zip lock bags, lots of sunscreen, a few towels , change of clothes, and deodorant !!!!! read more

I love Going canoeing and tubing here. It's cheap to go, the staff always take great care of you, and the canoes/kayaks and tubes are of quality. We always pay the $50 deposit to drink as we float down the river. Just grab an extra tube for the cooler and some Of their rope to float in a big group. The scenery is obviously beautiful, they couldn't have picked s better place to set up shop. The shuttles comes often and checking in and out is simple. If you are interested in the company itself I grew up in the area and they provided jobs to a lot of the high school boys for the summer and paid them well. Everyone knows and loves the owners, they are a big part of the community. read more

Stayed on a weeknight and brought our own canoes. The river was nice to float, we did have to do a lot of paddling though. I'd recommend a 6 mile float at noon and in the morning hike Turkey Run trails. There is so much more to see than on the river. We stayed in a cabin at sugar valley, not impressive but the AC worked. It's not really camping as you are 50ft from Hwy 47. So if you are looking for a true camping experience travel to MO and check out a spring fed river at Bass River Resort or Ozark Outdoors they have the experience down to a science. Overall nice float trip. read more

See all

I've been coming here for ~20 years, renting tubes, kayaks, canoes, and the nearby cabins. Today, my husband and I took the 10-mile canoe trip that was estimated to last between 3-5 hours. We did in in 2.5 hours on what was a 'low-water' day (had to get out 10+ times to pull the canoe through shallow parts). We then had to wait 2 more hours to be picked up (for the 10 am drop off the earliest pickup is 2:45). My Garmin GPS only clocked 7.5 miles for the "10" mile trip and 2.5 miles when we had reached the "3" mile mark. It's a fun trip, but they need to work out the logistics. I'll probably try a different company in the future. read more

Pick any where else please. I was trying to get info. Played phone tag for half a day. (They are much too busy to answer their phone) .. so I get a call back three/four hours later/8pm... only for the "lady" to complain / gripe / about how busy they are... really! Don't have time to do the job but plenty of time to call customers and BITCH. Wow. Everything That's Wrong ! Glad your so successful you can't answer your phones. Sorry it's so taxing of a position for you.. I'll support you by staying away and making sure friends, family , Hell , anybody who will listen spend their cash elsewhere... I mean since your so busy/successful it won't matter. read more

The reasons I'm giving this a three (and being generous....2.5 is more accurate): I've done the canoe trip twice and the tubing trip one additional time over the last several years, and all three were fine. This last tubing trip was not. Although they cannot control the weather, there should be a contingency plan when it gets as bad as it was while we were on the water. Signing a waiver does not mean leave all of the people on the creek with no back up plan. The three stars are for the safety of this trip. Not the weather. When we exited the bus we were told there were two trees downed in the water. We were also told there was no cell service to call if something went wrong. The weather reports had called for storms in the afternoon (3 pm and after), but as soon as we stepped in the water (11:30 am) the skies opened up and down came the massive thunderstorms. So massive, that we would later find out it blew the power out throughout Turkey Run. The water that day was dangerous. They should have cancelled the tubing trips for the day. Before we got in the water we had second thoughts when the first crack of thunder hit. Before we even had a chance to rethink it, the bus was out of there. Had I known what was in store for us, I would have gladly left and forfeited the deposit and tube money. The current was moving so fast during the storm that the tube I was in and my friends tube began going the opposite way down the river (this is before the first red bridge....we hadn't even crossed under the first bridge yet!) hail, lightning, thunder, rain....it was bad. We couldn't see, it was knocking my friends contacts out. we finally made the 1/2 way bridge and our hearts stopped racing. It had finally passed somewhat, we could see again, and now it was just pouring rain. That's fine, but the current was still VERY strong. We finally saw the downed tree, and I couldn't get around it. The current was so strong, that I actually pulled a muscle in my neck & shoulders trying to paddle away from it in my tube. It was inevitable I was going under that tree. I held on to my handles of my tube for dear life and I was in a whirlpool underneath it. Finally it spit me out like a pinball and I hit another tree uprooted in the water. I just prayed that it wouldn't pop my tube. At that point I was shot to the other side of the river due to the current and couldn't paddle fast enough back towards the sand bar where the exit was. I would have had to go another 3 miles down river. At that point my Husband jumped in and literally had to pull my tube back in towards the sand bar. There could have been a lot of tragedy on the water that day due to the conditions. Just when you think it's the end......getting out of the creek is awful. You can barely see the exit, and if everyone has already finished and you're one of the last ones on the water It's hard to spot. Because the weather had been so bad, the slope to go towards the bus was one big mudslide we kept slipping down. -Life Jackets I'm a busty woman, and I asked twice for a bigger life jacket. I could barely get it over my bust, even with loosening the straps. They just looked at me like I was an idiot. Due to the ill fitting life jacket, there were times on the water that it rode up so high on my neck that I couldn't breathe when I was paddling in the tube against the current. Also, the life jackets need to be in better condition. I saw many of them that were torn with the stuffing coming out. Safe? -Tubes Good luck finding a fully blown up tube. We had to search through the pile several times to come up with one that felt fully inflated. Safe? -Signs There needs to be signage indicating where the exit is. We paid attention to everything she said, and even with taking this trip 3 times before, when you're in a panic and can barely see due to the weather conditions, having some sort of marker would be VERY helpful. -Exit They need to build some stairs going up that hill, or something. I understand stairs get slippery in the water, but so do hills that turn into mud. -Water Just because the conditions may have seemed okay before we left, there should be a back up plan such as you're able to exit at the 1/2 way point in inclement weather. -Trees (This is not the fault of the canoe place) I understand that nature happens, but, either those trees need to be cleaned up and out of the water or they need to be somehow blocked off so there is no chance of happening what happened to me again. If I would have fallen out of my tube under that tree I would have most likely drowned. Between the whirlpool and the current, not to mention the portion of the tree that was still under the water....not safe. At all. When the weather got as bad as it did on that trip, they need a contingency plan. Whether they have a rescue boat that comes out...or something....That was very dangerous, and I'm just happy that I am here today to tell the tale. I will never tube here again. read more

I have been coming to Sugar Valley Canoes every summer for the last few years. I have never had an issue with the staff. They have always been polite, courteous, and helpful. Some of these negative reviews are completely ridiculous. I don't understand what these disgruntled customers expect when going on a canoe trip. Its as if their failure to check the weather forecast deems it necessary for rescue boats to immediately save them, or for there to be a handicap accessible ramp for them to walk up a hill that is clearly susceptible to erosion. In regards to the busy phone line, these guys get a ton of volume at certain times and have to deal with the type of ridiculous customers that leave unwarranted negative reviews online. So if you're not a complete idiot and jerk, you will love this place and likely return as I do. read more