Your rental price covers your boat (kayak, canoe, or raft), paddles, and life jackets, plus round-trip transportation between RiversEdge and the river. There are no surprise parking charges or hidden fees added at checkout: what you see at the time of booking is what you pay.
You’ll also have access to our two flush-toilet restrooms, which are both equipped with sinks and mirrors, as well as our two changing rooms.
Wear closed-toe water shoes or sandals with a secure strap. We recommend against flip-flops, since they tend to rip off and float away in the water. We also suggest packing a change of dry clothes for your drive home.
Bring sunscreen and a hat, and pack your water and snacks in a soft-sided cooler small enough to carry in one hand. Please leave glass and Styrofoam at home.
Leave your valuables inside your vehicle. We have a convenient key rack at check-in so you’re not carrying your car keys on the water.
The minimum age is 3 years old, and the minimum weight is 30 pounds. U.S. Coast Guard child life jacket regulations start at 30 pounds, so that’s the smallest guest we can properly and safely fit. For safety, we don’t allow infants on the water.
Life jackets are self-serve and sized by weight. Our team will make sure you and your child get the right fit.
Alcohol is discouraged. Open container laws apply, which means you could potentially receive a ticket from local law enforcement. We don’t search personal coolers, but we do reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who is visibly impaired or intoxicated.
Due to insurance restrictions, we unfortunately can’t allow dogs on our property. Guests travel together in shared shuttle vans and share the same launch and takeout beaches, so keeping dogs off the property helps us keep our guests safe.
Reservations are required for our Kenton’s Run trip. Departures take place at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. sharp, and we operate a fleet of two vans with room for about 28 people total.
Reservations aren’t required for our Blue Jacket’s Best trip, but we recommend booking ahead to secure your spot, especially on weekends.
You can book online up to a year in advance. In most cases, you can even book on the same day. Contact us for the latest updates about availability.
Full refunds are available with 24 hours’ notice. If the weather turns bad, someone in your party gets sick, or you have a family emergency, we’ll work with you regardless of timing.
Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your departure time on weekends. On weekdays, arrive 20 minutes ahead. That window gives you time to check in and get your wristband, use the restroom if needed, grab your cooler and gear from your car, and get fitted with a life jacket before your shuttle van leaves. For the convenience of all our guests, vans depart promptly on the hour.
You’re welcome to take as long as you’d like on the river, as long as all equipment is returned by 6:30 p.m. A late fee will be charged to the card on file if you arrive back past the posted return time. We open the gate around 9:15 to 9:30 a.m., with the first shuttle departing at 10 a.m.
Due to insurance restrictions, we’re not able to transport private watercraft on our vehicles, allow private watercraft on our property, or let private boats exit from our takeout location. We also can’t allow parking at RiversEdge for vehicles transporting private watercraft.
If you own your own boat, you can still enjoy this section of the Little Miami. Just 1/3 of a mile upstream of RiversEdge is a public access point with a concrete boat ramp and plenty of parking: the Spring Valley Wildlife Area river access on Roxanna Road, just off Route 42.
Single-person kayaks hold up to about 275 pounds. Tandem kayaks and canoes hold up to about 450 or 500 pounds. A small raft can comfortably handle around 1,000 pounds, and a large raft can go up to around 1,400 pounds. If your group is over the kayak or canoe limit, a raft offers a comfortable alternative.
Kayaks are our most popular option. They’re easy to paddle and are comfortable for solo trips, couples, or a parent and child. Canoes seat two adults and require more coordination between paddlers. Rafts are spacious, comfortable, and virtually impossible to tip, making them a great fit for families and bigger groups. Pricing is based on which trip you choose, not which boat you’re in.
We don’t have a strict policy. We leave that decision to you and your doctor’s judgment. If you have medical concerns, check with your physician beforehand.
Yes. We maintain two flush-toilet restrooms with sinks and mirrors, plus two changing rooms where you can change into dry clothes before heading home.
Yes. Groups of 10 or more booked through our online reservation system automatically receive a 10% discount. Groups of 20 or more receive 20% off. Schools, churches, and other nonprofit or educational organizations also qualify for a separate rate of $20 per person on weekdays and $30 per person on weekends. Rafts are a popular choice for 4-H camps, YMCA groups, church youth groups, Scout troops, and school field trips.
Children under 12 ride free when paired with two paying adults in a canoe or small raft, or three paying adults in a large raft.
No experience is necessary. The Little Miami is a Class I stream, the most beginner-friendly rating for rivers. There are no rapids or technical sections, and the current moves at a comfortable pace of roughly 2 miles per hour. First-timers join us regularly, and we’re always happy to answer any questions you have about getting started.
Water levels can rise after heavy rain. When that happens, we adjust which boats are available. Canoes are the first to be restricted. At higher water levels, we may move to single-person kayaks and rafts only. We keep an eye on conditions and reach out to reservation holders with updates.
Most likely. Guests regularly spot bald eagles, osprey, river otters, and beavers along this stretch of the river, especially in spring and early summer.
Every boat rental includes a $1 donation to the Little Miami Conservancy, a program we started in 2020. That money goes toward protecting the riparian corridor (the wooded strip along the riverbank), which helps shade the water while reducing runoff. It also gives wildlife a natural path to travel along. In addition, the Conservancy monitors water quality around the clock and advocates for the river if it’s ever threatened by development.
