Easy to book boats in advance on the phone. Was a bit hard to find the shop (van + stall) itself, they're situated in the parking lot across from a restaurant. There isn't a designated lot but you can either try to park near the visitors center (small amount of not timed parking) or along the street which is what we did. Decided to do some single kayaks. There is an option for either a 2 hour time frame or a 4 hour one. If you have the time then I would honestly recommend the 4 hour one. The routes that they have you travel are different (but the 4 hour also covers the 2 hour loop). Overall the water was pretty calm and we got to see plenty of seals. Recommend stopping by the beach, they'll point out where you can do so during the orientation talk, and walk along the shore to the seal and birds area. It's also a nice area to take a food break. read more

Two family adventure - four adults, four teenagers. What a lovely family experience. It was easy to book a few days in advance, and they even accommodated our request for 1 canoe, and then honored our 2 solo and 2 tandem requests. The on-shore guide showed us a nice map with a suggested route. I would have been happy with 90 minutes, but the rest of my avid kayaker group was happy to have the full 2 hours. Memorable summer family memories. Our friends had kayaked in Bodega in the past, and thought this experience was far more interesting and easier to navigate. read more

I was visiting Jenner and called two days ahead to make a reservation. The process was easy and I was happy that my dog was allowed to ride along in the double kayak I rented. Day of we had a little trouble parking but it worked out. I recommend getting there 10-15 min early to find a spot. Keith welcomed us, gave us gear, and led a super informative quick history of the land and water. We really enjoyed our two hour ride on the most beautiful part of the river. The best part was watching the harbor seals swim and play around us. Two hours went by fast, next time we'll do four. read more

We had a blast! Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Super easy and fun adventure. I totally recommend going here.

We have our own kayaks but decided for just one day it would be easier to rent them vs packing and traveling with them. The guy who checked us in was really friendly, knowledgeable, and polite. We did the shorter trip and it was plenty to get around the area and see everything. There were other places around that rent kayaks, but this one was right by the water and it's their specialty, so I'd suggest them over other rental places for sure. read more

If you want to do some canoeing/kayaking in the Guerneville Sonoma area, you can try SOAR inflatables or Watertreks Jenner. At first, I set up a time for SOAR and kept changing it. Eventually, I just canceled it to go to Jenner and have the Watertreks experience, which I think was more suitable after all. I would want the kayaks instead of those SOAR canoe thingies I don't like. Also, Jenner is awesome! There's a small island to kayak around and there's a beach to kayak to. You park your kayak and hop onto the land masses. It all can be done in 2 hours. I was out for an hour and a half and that was enough. The water is not deep. I got out at 9:30 AM. The staff were so friendly, nice, and cool. Jenner is a "blink of an eye" and you might actually be in Oregon or Washington. This is Jenner, California! A hidden gem to visit. read more

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On Jun 27th, I called the company the day before looking for a last minute kayak rental for one person. I had no clue how it all worked but Johnny was super patient and provided answers to all my questions. I was camping at nearby Willow Creek and he asked what time I was looking to paddle stated that they did a "taxi" service (in a kick-ass limo) from wherever you decide to park you car for any 1-way paddle and he will bring you back to Jenner, where his parking lot business is located, to launch your kayak. The launch site is located at the mouth of where the Russian river meets the Pacific Ocean and a great place to start since you will see sea lions swimming in the river and there's a cool little island to paddle around and look at wildlife and a gnarly eucalyptus tree on Penny Island. Johnny provides you with everything you need except for lunch and a camera. You get a kayak (1 or 2 person) or canoe, vests, paddles, and a dry sack to keep your belongings free from water. If you forget food, Luckily there is a deli in the store where his parking lot kayak outfit is located. I ended up doing about a 3-hour paddle up the river to the Casini Ranch family campground where I left my car and got to make stops all along the way taking my time and eating lunch. There is no pressure to finish at a certain time and you are not charged by the hour. I highly recommend this outfit if you are near the area and looking for something fun to do. read more

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So cool and fun! Thanks Suki And WaterTreks team for sharing your professional experience of kayaking, teaching us about the natural world around the Jenner estuary, and overall being a first class outfitter. We are already looking forward to our next trip! read more

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Suki and George are a pair of local guides and extremely experienced kayakers. They are great at taking shy beginners and showing them the basics of paddling and controlling the boat. Our tour was four girls and two guys, none of which had ever been in a kayak before. By the end of the day we were all paddling around with confidence and comfort. The tour starts next to the post office of the thriving metropolis of Jenner, CA. Yes that's the name of the town. Did I mention that the post office is a nasty old trailer that's painted rusty pink and looks like it's been sitting there for at least 30 years? I posted a picture on the business info. Park on the back side of the post office in front of the visitor's center. That way you aren't filling up the parking lot of the local businesses. Suki will give some instruction on land about emergency situations and what to do if you fall out of capsize. Then it's in the water for basic training. Once everybody is comfortable, the group goes on tour around Suki's Family island including nature walks, wildlife spotting, padding among seals in the water around you, and lunch. This is a great tour for beginners looking to get their feet wet in kayaking. Water Treks also provides 100% of the equipment including boats, life vests, waterproof pants, waterproof jackets, bottled water, and lunch. I also suggest wearing a wet suit. read more

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The customer service is a little cranky and not friendly but the kayaks were fine and enjoyed paddling around.

We picked a chilly, windy day to go out. Our guide, Chad, took the time explain the challenges of the weather, and let us decide if we wanted to brave it. We went for it. We were beginners, and Chad took the time to explain the basics. He was perfectly patient as we drifted off course more than once, and got us through some tricky spots. We saw gorgeous scenery, spotted an egret on the shore, and were surrounded by harbor seals most of the way. read more

My wife and I spent the weekend on the Sonoma coast for our 5 year anniversary. Had a block of time on a Saturday and after looking on Yelp I figured going Kayaking would be a nice romantic activity. We arrived around 11:30 without a reservation and were able to get a double kayak without an issue. They did say that single Kayaks are more popular and they tend to book them all on the weekends. We paid $65 for 2 hours which includes the kayak and all the gear. They even let my wife use a windbreaker since she didn't really have a suitable top. After walking across the highway (2 lane, with light traffic so no need to recreate frogger) we met with Mike who set us up with our kayak. It was in good condition, and he took the time to setup the foot pegs and gave us a bunch of helpful tips since we were first timers. They pushed us out and we were off. I was surprised how easy it was to paddle around. I'm not the most physically fit person and I didn't feel strained at all. Even so much I told my wife to take a break and let me paddle her around. The route they suggested for us is to circle this cool island in the estuary and up to the mouth of the river to watch the Harbor seals and osprey. They did say a bald eagle lives around there and sometimes hunts near the island. We landed on the island and there was this cool willow tree growing out an old house/barn. The island had a bunch of raspberry bushes growing everywhere. We ate lunch before we went kayaking, but next time we'll pack a picnic and spend more time exploring the island. We set off again and paddled towards the beach near the end of the river. The cool thing was we paddled by about a dozen seals just frolicking in the water. I think that was the highlight of the experience. We landed on the beach and had a wonderful time walking around by ourselves visiting a beach that can really only be accessable by boat. Sadly it was time to head back, but we felt that 2 hours was the perfect amount of time to have a truly enjoyable experience. Couple of things to note: WaterTreks is based in a stand in the parking lot by the deli across the highway from Cafe attica. Doesn't really stand out so its possible to just drive by and miss it. You have to park across the street and not in the deli parking lot. Bring a few snacks and relax, it's enjoyable and peaceful. Stop at the island, it's not very big but it's a fun exploration. Watch out for nails in the collapsed building. You will get a little wet, but if you're purposeful with your paddling you won't get soaked. Bring shoes you can get wet so you can jump out when landing. Makes it easier to push off and land the kayak. read more

Second time coming here and the first time around we thought. "How unprofessional," but we went anyways. Their card machine conveniently can't read flat cards. Why you wouldn't write it down instead I'm not sure why. So anyways we scraped together enough cash to go and got out a little early which was nice. The area is so beautiful that is five stars. Our second trip here we called them several times to try and find out if they were even open and never got an answer. So we went there the woman there is so rude! Makes you feel like you are inconveniencing her! The owner! Felt like our business was not appreciated so we left and have decided we will no longer be using their services. read more

What I like best about this place is that it is very low key and easy, the rates are reasonable and of course, the location is a great one for a short kayaking trips. I'm not a very experienced kayaker but I don't need a pep talk or safety warning or endless waivers etc. I call 'em up, make a reservation, get on the water quickly and when I'm done, just turn in my oars and life vest. Today we arrived earlier than I expected we would and they were able to accommodate us almost an hour before our reservation. The people who work there are friendly, helpful and efficient. And the location is a great one for beginners, at least before the wind picks up. Today we saw many seals and birds and were able to do a decent 2 hour paddles for $30 each, no muss, no fuss. This the second time I've gone this summer and will definitely go again. read more

After hearing that kayaking in the Russian River during the summer is quite popular, I decided to call ahead when planning a kayaking trip for my friends and I. Suki was very knowledgable and came up with the perfect plan for us for the day. When we got there, the staff was very friendly and helpful. They even had extra windbreakers - useful because the weather was much cooler than forecasted due to the fog. We went with the Willow Creek option, and appreciated that they knew what time the winds start to kick in and were famliar with the river currents (or lack of). It was a fun, relaxing day and I would definitely book with Water Treks again for my next trip! Note: * The staff prefers cash because they can't run a card from the kiosk... there's no cell service or wireless in Jenner! * Don't look at the weather forecasts for Jenner, they are useless. Dress in layers and bring warm clothing, even in the summer. * Food options in Jenner are limited, but Cafe Aquatica is a little gem and Rivers End is pricer but an amazing dining experience. read more

I don't even know where to start, this was one of the most pleasant guided kayak tours I've had! Hut(spelling?) was our guide to see the bioluminescent plankton, and he did a spectacular job! It was just myself and my daughter in our party, she's 6, and they were so accepting of her, even at the end of the night when she was getting cranky. Super reasonable prices, knowledgeable and friendly guides (what more could you ask for, seriously.) We drive through Jenner quite a bit, and we will definitely be back for more! Thank you guys for everything!!! And to whomever reads this, GO SEE THE BIOLUMINESCENT PLANKTON. Once in a lifetime experience!! read more

My husband and I had reservations to kayak today. Originally we were supposed to go out in the afternoon, but the company called us to reschedule for 8:30 am, because of wind in the afternoon. We got up in time to drive 2 hours to be there at 8:15 for check in. A lady at the van did get us checked in and took our cash, but then told us the lady with the keys to unlock the boats was running late and would be there soon. We waited until 9 - to be told she had finally got hold of her (I'm assuming it was the owner of the business) and said she was still 20 minutes away. At that point, we decided to cancel and get a refund. So completely unprofessional. Find another company to do business with. read more

A must while in Jenner! The river was calm and scenic. Keifer, Taylor and Dave were awesome! They gave us good directions on where to go and also told us where to see the seals and other animals. Penny Island was lots of fine with the largest eucalyptus tree! And the soft clay felt amazing on your feet. Goat island provided views of seals and birds. Made a visit to Jenner the best. read more

Great friendly service from Randy. Even as a beginner I felt comfortable with the equipment and had a great two hour tour of the estuary and island. Pulled up to the beach and walked to the ocean side for a peek at the crashing waves. Great paddling around on the calm water checking out the flora and fauna. Recommend for beginners. Bring a waterproof GoPro for pics and video. The kiosk location is easy to miss the first time and parking is limited. read more

Suki should not be in business! When making the reservation over the phone, I was repeatedly told to be there early because of the winds they wanted to get us on the water as close to 9:00 as possible. Got there at 8:40. Was told "we open at 9:00." Another couple who also had a reservation walked up at 3 minutes to 9:00, Suki said, "we open in 3 minutes." Zero welcome. Once Suki was willing to "deal" with us, we had to listen to her berate - I mean berate - the one staff she had there helping her. She did this over the walkie talkie system for all to hear. I told her staff she needed to quit and that no one should talk anyone like that. If you go, take cash. There is no Internet out there so if you pay be credit card Suki makes a copy of all your card details and on occasion has to leave the kiosk unaccompanied - with your card details floating about. Outdoor recreation is supposed to be fun and rejuvenating. Suki comes across as a miserable person and seems she wants to bring you down with her. read more

I wanted a wonderful experience for my son (14 years old) and I to enjoy before summer was completely over-where the air was salty and the temperature of weather was no more than 83 degrees! I have been all over the world including Singapore, Australia, Japan, Europe, Indonesia, and to all of the states in the USA, but I had no idea of the beauty and wonderment that is nestled directly in my own back yard of California! "The Russian River" has got to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever traveled in the world! I must say the water of the Russian River is the purest in the United States! We could see all the way to the bottom! The water was 86 degrees the days we were out on the river! Suki packed us up with Kayak, suit, vest and shipped us out from Monte Rio-a gorgeous vintage town with more than an eye-full for those who long for beauty! We packed our tent, equipment, and food into our tandem Kayak (how much fun!) and "shoved off" out into the most divine, and heavenly adventure of a lifetime! The water was tranquil the late afternoon as we headed out! The views were spectacular featuring deer-four and five at a time drinking peacefully from the river's edge! The Bald Head Eagles soaring above were numerous-almost unreal with their large nests in gigantic trees overhead, and the little creatures like the squirrels were abound! Stellar Blue Jays colored the air and filled our ears with their little songs! The plant-life was green-green-green, and so refreshing to breathe! Elegant homes resting on the cliffs above the river with canoes attached to their little docks were like a storybook view, and the people were friendly, and welcoming! Suki was a very knowledgeable guide and has experience with many Non-profit Organizations associated with this natural region, so you feel honored that a real "Native" of this territory is teaching you about the land, and the sea of her homeland! The river "empties out " into an enchanting estuary, and at 9pm Suki will take you out in your Kayak and guide you through the "bio-planktin" which light up the river on certain nights! How magnificent! There are lovely restaurants right on the rivers edge, excellent food and good coffee houses with lovely art and colors and little shops to entertain one's lust for trinkets! My son and I had a life-time experience in which can only be described in the photo's I have included with my review of this wonderful adventure Suki designed! I would recommend everyone go to this "little piece of heaven" once in their lifetime! Soooo Gooood!!!!! Thank You... read more

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We made advance reservations for kayaks, called the day before our appointment to confirm and even paid in advance. When we got to WaterTreks, no one was there. We called the contact number multiple times, left messages and no one answered/returned a call. After getting lunch and returning to WaterTreks to see if anyone had showed up (it was still empty...) we called the contact number from a different phone and someone finally answered. They never apologized or gave a reasonable explanation for why they weren't onsite for our reservation and informed us they weren't "coming down" to help us. The whole situation was incredibly strange and unprofessional... so much so that I downloaded yelp specifically to leave a review about this company. They wasted the first day of our vacation. I understand things happen, but I would've appreciated them being upfront from the get go (let us know our reservation had been cancelled, answered the phone the first 5x, returned a call, etc) And finally, the surrounding businesses said this happens to WaterTrek customers all the time. Proceed with caution if you opt to rent kayaks at this place. read more

Went on a 2 hour tour of the estuary yesterday with my girlfriend and had a great time. Make sure you wear layers as you'll probably need to shed a few depending on what time of day you go. Good times! I love that this is one of my local attractions. read more

Incredibly disappointed with this business and their lack of service. We made reservations on a Friday morning to take a friend kayaking as part of her bachelorette weekend. We showed up early and waited an hour for someone to show up to the WaterTreks stand to no avail. We called, left messages, asked businesses around the stand and no one could tell us where Dave (the man we made reservations with the day before) was. We finally left a note with our phone number in case Dave came back and headed out for lunch. We never received a call and when we went back to the stand later and called again, a woman picked up and rudely said: "don't worry, we won't charge you." When we said we didn't care and just wanted to get on the water, she said, "well it's too windy so we're not taking anyone out for the rest of the day." The whole experience was unprofessional and disappointing. Had we known they were this unreliable, we would have gone somewhere else from the get-go and may have actually gotten to kayak that day. I do not recommend and encourage you to go with a more reliable business if you want to kayak in that area. read more

My husband and I were coming straight from the wine country and decided to stop in Jenner. The Kiosk for Water Treks is small and on the right hand side of highway one as you come into Jenner (if you blink, you might miss the whole town). I was completely unprepared for Kayaking and had never Kayaked before. A little reluctant was an understatement, but Suki and Water Treks had all of the gear I needed, water resistant pants, shirt and jacket which was included in the price of the package. We had such a ball! Not only is Suki a fabulous teacher, but a historian and marine life expert. Her Native American Roots are tied directly to the Jenner area and she had many fascinating stories to share about her family's life both on the Island and in the former village. Be sure to ask her to tell the story of the Tidal wave that followed the '06 SF Quake! I would recommend Suki and Water Treks for Beginners and Experts! They are friendly, accomodating and knowledgable! We will definately return to see Suki in the future! What started as a lesson, quickly became a relaxing, and rejuvinating Kayak with our new friend. read more

We had a wonderful time kayaking this weekend. We were in the area and had no plans. We lucked out and a kayak was available. The owner was very helpful in teaching us how to use the paddles and be safe. Felt comfortable paddling around even though I don't have much experience on a kayak. The estuary is lovely to see up close and a fun little adventure exploring the island. Highly recommend this establishment. read more

Hindsight is a wonderful thing for these matters and we now know what questions we would have asked under these circumstances. Pre-kayaking intsructions were provided from behind a mask (kudos for the COVID precautions) but were unintelligable at times and certainly not understandable. The route we should have followed made a turn within a hundred yards of launching. When they saw that we had passed it (and would only have been visible if we turned completely around!) they could have easily yelled out to us that we had gone too far. Instead, we paddled out for about a mile before turning around since we never saw the cutoff. On the way back, Suki yelled out from an overpassing berating our three adult children 'what the hell is wrong with you?'. When we finally made it back to shore we were reprimanded for being late and immediately asked if we would like to pay the ($125-150) late fee in cash or by credit card. Our three children were exhauted and had blisters on their fingers from a ride that ended up being ~2 miles instead of a few hundred yards. We were all looking forward to this and it could have been a wonderful family activity, but instead left us tired, frustrated, and a little poorer than we hoped. read more

Having dealt with Suki in a recent business transaction I must say I was impressed by her radiant spirit and great sense of humor! The next time my wife and I are on the way back from Mendocino county we will be looking her up for a much anticipated tour. read more

We showed up in Jenner without a kayak reservation and were sent by the visitor's bureau across the street Water Treks. They had us set up with a tandem kayak in no time, gave us a quick run down on how to handle it and we were off paddling around the estuary. It was super cool. There were seals swimming all over the place and lot's of easy places to pull of and explore including a little island in the middle of the estuary with trails. We were out for about two hours went to bring the kayak back and they told us we could stay out till they closed up at 6:00 if we wanted since they didn't have any more reservations! Bonus! Next time I'm wearing a wet suit and or bringing a change of clothes. I was soaked by the time we were done but that's my fault for not being prepared. We will definitely be back!! read more

We spent four wonderful hours with Suki as she guided us on a nature tour via kayak at the mouth of the Russian river and though the estuaries of jenner. We saw giant blue herons and harbor seals. We were in two double kayaks, with our 8 and 11 year olds. Great mixture of paddling instruction, nature education and personal history (she is a descendant of the native american tribe of the Jenner area). Trip ended with walk on goat rock beach, which was stunning. read more

My first kayaking ever was a great experience! It took a while to figure out how to go straight without zigzagging but oh well, it just meant a longer distance and more physical exercise :) I particularly enjoyed the educational component of the tour and our guide Suki's wealth of knowledge about local flora, fauna, and native American history in the area. That made the experience more varied and highly enjoyable. read more

Great adventure or date. Good kayaks and staff. Beach was great bring some food or eat after at the cafe. There's a winery across the street free tasting cool people. read more

Ended up in Jenner after a lazy Saturday drive up the coast. Saw the Kayak kiosk and decided it would be fun to kayak in the area. No one was manning the kiosk but there was a sign saying "if you need to get a hold of us please use the radio" so we picked up the walkie-talkie radio and followed the instructions hoping to get a response. No response. Waited about five more minutes, try again no response. In the time we're waiting two other groups of people show up either to return equipment or rent equipment. They also try the radio. Call the reservation desk. Try the radio. Call the reservation desk. No response. After about an hour of waiting, the person that was supposed to be manning the booth shows up and says she was out to lunch. We had children with us who were excited to kayak and had put on life vests to pass the time. As she strode up from lunch she noticed this and berated everyone for putting on life vests that we would've rented anyway. She then notifies us that she's not putting out any more kayaks because it might start to get windy. I get that, but then how about closing up your kiosk? Maybe put up a sign saying you're out to lunch? How about answering your phone or radio? Put up a sign indicating that the wind may be picking up and not putting out boats after XX time? How about not getting an attitude with potential customers that may not understand how you do business, because you're not there manning your effing kiosk for two hours? read more

My wife and I have gone kayaking here three different times. The business is basically run out of the back of a van, but nevermind that. Those who work there are really laid back and the kayaking is so much fun! Be prepared for seals-lots of seals! read more

Suki was great! She started with basic kayak instruction and safety information. She was very knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, and history of the island. It is clear that she has a passion for her town and the environment. She gave us tips and advice on what to do if we came back to the area. At times it was impossible to hear what she was sharing with us. A portable microphone would have made all the difference. read more

Last weekend my husband and I rented kayaks from the business owner Sukki. She endlessly talked about herself, when we were just dying to get out on the water. And we when came back, she flirted with my husband. VERY unprofessional and weird. read more

My brother and I had a tour with Suki and Tyler on 8/13/2013. We were VERY pleased with the staff, service equipment and tour. We got a GREAT lesson in water and estuary ecology as well as history of the native peoples as Suki is a descendent. The advice about layers is well taken as our day was overcast. However Water Treks provided tops and bottoms for extra layers. we recommend the group to anyone. read more

avoid watertreks. owner is awful. lotus kayaks in jenner is much cheaper ($20/pp/day) and owner is great.