My husband and I booked for a 5 hour trip. Sadly we were only able to go about 3 1/2 hours because of some down trees blocked the whole river and there was no way to get around. We could have got out and picked up the kayak but at that point it wasn’t worth it. We loved every minute of it though! Definitely would book again when we come back to the area!
Really enjoyed my experience with both Third Coast Paddling for kayaking the Paw Paw River and with Third Coast Surf Shop for surfing at Tiscornia Beach. Over Labor Day weekend I booked a surf lesson for my daughter which was outstanding! I cant say enough great things about Lori who gave my 8 year old surf lessons for the first time. She was so good, careful and my daughter was in heaven. Lori even allowed my son to try it when my daughter needed to take a break. Of course he didnt want to surf until he saw her doing it. The next day I booked a kayak trip down the Paw Paw river for my son and I and it was his first time doing anything like that and he loved it. Im in the tourism industry and I understand how difficult running a busy weekend like Labor Day can be and Al & Lori were outstanding. I bought a t-shirt from the shop as well as a bumper sticker to put on our Tiki Bar back home. We will be back next time we vacation in St Joes. Thank you Third Coast - Jon
Great place. Service, clean port a potty, everything. River very clean and easy to navigate. Vests were the cleanest Ive ever seen--were they new? Young man who assisted was great and really appreciated the tip.
Lovely and peaceful. Nice staff. Just a lite busier near the beginning, bit of you get out more to where you are away from the golf courses, it opens up to some beautiful marshy wetlands but the river is nice and deep and clear.
My daughter and I had a wonderful 2 hour paddle. The young man who helped us was helpful and enthusiastic. Will definitely do it again with the whole family next time!
I’ve been a lifelong resident of Southwest Michigan, so believe this: there’s no better rental site for paddling than Third Coast Surf Shop. I’ve kayaked through them numerous times alone and with others. They continue to be professional, use quality and well-fitted equipment for each client, and are lax if I sometimes go a bit over my time slot!The added appeal is that they’ve got a great spot. Along the Paw Paw River, youll get a taste of Harbor Shores, maybe see a few fishermen, or if youre into it (like me!) you’ll find plenty of swans, ducks, and turtles.
Great online reservation system. Pricing was very reasonable. Check in system went well. Park in the shade if you can since no one really seems to care. Would recommend that Maps be provided for the area as well as Landmark information rather than a 30 second in person brief
So easy! Scheduled online, filled out the paperwork online. Walked up, gave my driver license. The guys working were very friendly and cheerful. Loved the experience!
We rented a double Kayak for an hour. It was wonderful. Very peaceful. Saw several different kinds of ducks with their families and a pair of swans with 4 babies. Equipment and life jackets were clean and like new. Very helpful gentlemen pushed us off and helped us back in. Very glad we went.
We had a great time kayaking on the Paw Paw river! The current is practically non-existent and the water was smooth. Saw a lot of wildlife, including the swans, a muskrat, turtles, and many other birds. We highly recommend taking time to paddle on the Paw Paw!
We had a great time kayaking on the 4th of July! We saw tons of turtles and birds, and my son saw a snake! The kids were thrilled! Easy rental process, friendly staff helping us get checked in and situated, and comfortable kayaks (loved the back rests!). Will definitely do again the next time we are in the area!
Staff was very friendly.. We did kayaking for the first time so was not sure how many kayak’s we would need for 2 adults and a toddler so we booked 3 but when we realized we can all sit in a double they were quick to refund us the money and also they helped us toddler switch seats and then go back out again.. all in all a great experience
The person working was awesome!! He had wonderful customer service! We had a great time, will definitely be back! :)
Great time… The river was smooth. We saw a family of swans, ducks and geese. The guys were great at helping us in and out. We’ll be back!
Beautiful river. Very scenic lots of wildlife. All of the equipment, kayaks, paddles, lifejackets were very clean and in good shape. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Would totally recommend it!
Kayaking along the Paw Paw River was a real highlight of our stay. We were met on time and all proceeded without a hitch. Would highly recommend.
If you have never Kayaked before and youre hoping to get a quick run down of the equipment and how to use it, this is not the company. The gentleman was friendly enough and professional. Kind of pricey I thought for an hour but hey my kayak game is sub-par. The kayaks were durable the life vests were reliable and the river was smooth enough that myself, my gf and my daughter were able to make it a decent way down and back in an hour. Mind you, neither of them have ever been on a kayak before. So, the experience would have gotten 5 stars if it was a little cheaper and there was a little more explanation for novice paddlers.
This is a no frills kayak place. They rent you the kayak, take it to the water, and send you on your way. Its an easy paddle and nice for a relaxing kayak run
Great experience! From reserving online, receiving very clear instructions in email, easy to park/pay, kayaks were ready and waiting for us, attentive team AND a gorgeous day to be on the Paw Paw River!
Had an awesome time kayaking with them. Getting the rental setup was super smooth too. 11/10 would paddle again.
Great couple of hours on Paw Paw river. The Kayaks were excellent and comfortable. Staff made the experience very easy
Great service, good price, quality boats. It would be nice to have a phone option rather than just reserving online.
We had a great time paddling the PawPaw River on Father’s Day 2021.The price was very reasonable and the guys working (sorry I didn’t get your names but know they were brothers) were super friendly and helpful (especially helping me out of the kayak!)The river was beautiful snd we saw lots of ducks, geese, swans, turtles, frogs and dragonflies.Highly recommend this trip!
We misbooked our location and were frustrated that there is no human to talk to at their posted number. We actually went to the physical location to reschedule. Once we got everything straightened around, we had a great kayaking experience!
Wonderful experience! Owen (kayak onsite manager) was super knowledgeable about the area, natural habitat, and provided tips. Another thing I appreciate at the Paw Paw river launch site is the ease of access- you don’t even need to get your feet wet because there’s a little ramp. We saw ducks, geese, swans, fish, and many birds.
Easy to schedule and pay online plus fill out the forms you need. The staff was friendly and helpful, we showed up and were in the water in less than 5 minutes! This stretch of the river was beautiful, it had a slow current that was easy to maneuver and we saw lots of birds, turtles, deer and beavers.
Very Beautiful and peaceful. Staff friendly and helpful with check in.
Was a great float/paddle on flat water. Guys who worked there were helpful. 1 to 2 hours was plenty for Paw Paw River.
Fun for the whole family!There is parking at the paddleboard/kayak launch, the gentlemen who were working there were very nice and accommodating for our little family of three. We had a lot of fun on the water and plan on going back again.
Excellent service. Enjoyable paddle down the paw paw River. Great for a day that there are beach warnings.
Convenient location, solid equipment, great service and advice for novice kayakers. Our first time out, and the whole family had a blast. Highly recommended. Dont forget to tip the poor college students!
The young man working was pleasant and reassuring. He helped us enter the water and we were off. When we returned the guys working helped us beach the kayak and get on land
Everything was in place when I arrived. Had no problems and felt the staff did a great job getting me in the water and on my way.
Super easy to get started and seen lots of wildlife! Great way to spend some time outside with great weather. 0 risk of tipping over. You get in the kayak and they push you in the water!
Enjoyed the service provided. Reservation was completed without any issues!! Will come back for sure.
Super fun and relaxing. The Paw Paw River was ideal to kayak with nice scenery and calm waters.
Very friendly staff and made an 11 person family Kayaking trip smooth and trouble free. Highly recommend.
The staff was amazing so personable and polite. Very helpful and was a great experience except for the work lol
The guys renting out the kayaks were very friendly and knowledgeable. The river was beautiful. We will definitely be going again!
Great equipment, service, and explanation/helpful tips. I appreciated the parking information on their website!
Everything was on time and well provisioned. Staff was friendly and helpful.
We had a great time paddle boarding with Third Coast Paddling! Very friendly and helpful! Highly recommend.
Even though we arrived a bit late after our online booking time, they were very helpful and allowed us to get in our full hour. Thank you for an excellent time on the Paw Paw River!
THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND WERE VERY SWEET AND HELPFUL! BEAUTIFUL SCENERY!
We love Third Coast Paddling. We kayaked on the Paw Paw River this time and will definitely do it again.
The two staff members were very friendly and helpful, nice relaxing kayak trip on the Paw Paw river
Great people work here. We had a great time!
Very friendly and accommodate to our group needs.
Loved their SUP! Went with my husband for our weekend getaway for 2 hours, so worth it! We thought 2 hours was too much, but it wasn’t! The scenery is beautiful, fun to watch the golfers and check out the neighborhood. Ended up making it back to the dock with only 10 minutes to spare! We drove up from Bridgeman and made an afternoon of it. Great outdoor brewery close by too. If you’re concerned with time limit, bring your waterproof watch. Easy fix.
The staff are friendly and professional. The location is great!
Booking online was very easy, and when we showed up it was super quick to get on the water. The young man working was extremely kind and friendly and gave us great suggestions for what to look out for and where to go. Prior to booking online I also emailed a question about how much time they would recommend we book, and I received a response very quickly! Great service!
The guys who work here are fabulous!!! Such kind people and really made our afternoon special!!! Thanks to Ian and Owen for all of your help!!!
Super helpful staff, easy process, and fun time!
We had an amazing time kayaking on the PawPaw river. Looking forward to our next adventure
Such a great experience. Nice calm river with beautiful surroundings. We had no issues on SUPs, never came close to falling in and were not exactly season pros (or in shape).About a mile up the river is a brewery, although there isnt an official place to dock or anything, we saw people hopping out and grabbing a pack to go.
Made a same online reservation at the Paw Paw River location for a single and double kayak. Quick check-in, grabbed some life jackets and received a briefing of what was up and down river and then off we went. 40 min up river and 20 min back down with the current for a perfect hour of relaxation on the river. Pulled into the ramp, handed over our life jackets and we were done, super easy for our first time on a kayak. Would highly encourage others to try it!!
Really enjoyed kayaking on the Paw Paw River. It not only offered beautiful views of the surrounding area, but also a lot of wildlife. The river was calm so paddling effort was minimal. Very peaceful hour. We had a gorgeous day with blue skies and light wind. So happy we did NOT go out later as the sun would be scorching. Happy that I wore sunscreen and had a hat on!. The online reservation system was easy, intuitive, and fast. The staff was welcoming, friendly, and professional. I would highly recommend this activity and this company. Wish I could share a photo, but failed to take my phone with me since I was afraid that Id drop it in the river.
Staff is always on point. Great vibe.
Very easy experience using their kayak on the Paw Paw River!
Amazing experience! Easy to reserve and the guys at the launch station were super friendly and helpful! Definitely will come back!Update 7/27/20: We have now use their services 3 different times and we will continue to bring people here for a fun outdoor activity! Their staff continue to provide excellent services and equipment!
I went kayaking with my teenage daughter and it was delightful. The weather was perfect. The Paw Paw river was beautiful and a serene place to kayak. The young man that helped us was very courteous and did an excellent job getting us set up for our 2 hour trip! Will def use them again.
Conveniently located on a delightful stretch of the Paw Paw river.
Booked a day before and signed the waiver and off we were for the first time. The paw paw river was fun to kayak and it’s our one hour flew by really fast. We will bill again if in the area! If you’re in the area and want kayak I recommend these guys.
We had such a GREAT time with Third Coast Paddling. We got there a little early and they accommodated us and let us leave as soon as they were finished with the others. The Paw Paw river was calm...the scenery was great...we just had a great time relaxing and enjoying the day on the water. I highly recommend this company!
Drew runs a great organization. We had some bad weather and he was extremely flexible on rescheduling with us to avoid the rain and wind. The check in and check out was easy. Definitely recommend this as a fun excursion.
Good things: It was easy book, $20 for single Kayak and $25 for 2 person kayak, service was good, they gave clear instruction, scenic, quiet and relaxing, spotted few swans too. Roughly 20-30 spots for the car parking, river was calm and easy to row with my kids.Not so good thing: River was little dirty.Will I go back: Yes
The reservation and pick-up process was quick and simple. Fun area to kayak, especially if you dont want to get tossed around in lake michigan. Id recommend doing at least 2 hours, since it takes about half an hour to get out of the more populated and developed golf course area.
Nice stretch of river to paddle on. Easy in and out without even getting your feet wet! Much easier than messing around with hauling your own kayak.
Paying with a credit card online made booking easy. Kayak was ready to go when we arrived, 15 minutes before reservation. Attendant was excellent. Paw Paw River was gorgeous, as it always is. Saw lots of wildlife. Perfect two-hour trip in all respects.
We had a great time and the Paw Paw river was beautiful. The only gripe that I have is that I could not book online because every date I chose was not available. We later found out that we could not book because our request for 2 single kayaks wasnt possible for there is only one kayak at the beach at all times and days.We showed up anyway and were redirected to the river where there were plenty of single kayaks. All is well that ends well so I highly recommend this company.
The life jackets STUNK. Also we got kayaks for 2 hours and by the time we finally paddled past a huge golf course and houses into the more forest-y part of the river we had to turn around. We asked the guy what would happen if we returned late and he said because of their new system they would have to charge us a late fee which would have been double what we paid at the start. We were not informed about this before we paddled out and it seemed like maybe he would have waived the fee but the fact that that’s even the policy is ridiculous. They used to let you go out and pay upon return which makes way more sense considering we weren’t told that the more forest scenic part of the river was an hour out. I would have given one star but the guy working seemed like a decent person and kinda nice so I feel like that warrants an extra star. All in all I was pretty disappointed with the experience.
We rented kayaks at the Paw Paw River launch in Benton Harbor on 7/18. The guys working that morning kept the the flow of customers moving. We kayaked for about 90 minutes and it was easy to do so in both directions. Between users they sanitized the equipment. I hope to go back soon.
This was our first kayaking experience. It was a very easy paddle and the slow moving current offered the perfect learning opportunity. Very pleased with the trip and would recommend it to anyone interested in kayaking.
I rented a 2 person kayak and 2 stand up paddle boards for an hour with some friends, going out of the downtown location (near the beach). We had a great time. The river looks kind of icky because its marshy but we saw some cool waterfowl (herons/cranes) and it was pretty and relaxing. The staff were really friendly and organized.However, the main reason Im writing this review and the reason Ive only given 3 stars is to warn people that you have to park in the area right by Third Coast Paddling and pay at the kiosk immediately. Because there was no signage either from Third Coast or from the city, we parked in the overflow lot while we went to check that they had kayaks/SUPs available and to find out where to leave our cars. In the 7 minutes that it took for the staffperson to finish with the people they were working with and answer our questions about where to go, we were ticketed by the city - $53 ($78 if you dont pay/appeal within 24 hours). That left me with a really bad impression of New Buffalo. Third Coast could definitely have better signage about where to park for their services, but the city really needs to put up clear posts about needing to pay the parking fee immediately. So, while I have only good things to say about the job that the Third Coast staff did and the quality of their service, I will not be back.
Super easy process to rent, great location with a very peaceful upriver trip. Took our infant for her first kayaking trip and there were infant life jackets available to use. Everything was disinfected for COVID and the check in was at a distance. We will be back the next time we are in town!
Great people, great trip.
Great experience. Employee was awesome and friendly. We were in the water and on our way in no time.Actually going to bring friends during Labor Day to do it again.
Perfect weather and a very easy transaction. We were in the water within minutes of arriving and had a great time! Thanks.
The guides were super helpful! They eased our minds as first time paddlers. Thanks so much for helping us enjoy our day on the Paw Paw river:)
The guys working were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. They made an amazing trip even better! Thank you!
Wonderful Experience.
Great experience.
We rented two kayaks for family members. Your team was very friendly and helpful. One suggestion, since they were beginners, ask about back support. He did not ask and he has back problems.
This was my first time kayaking this year. It was another great day. Very friendly and helpful staff. Will be back!
This was a perfect activity! Equipment was in great shape, the gentleman running the rental station was kind and helpful. Thank you so much.
Kayaked the pawpaw river over the weekend, and had a blast. We will definitely go again and want to check out the other two locations. Highly recommended!!!
Great customer service. Kayaking was so much fun! My kids even had a blast.
We had a great time taking the kids out. Friendly service and the equipment was clean and in good condition. We will definitely be back.
- Address:601 Graham Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022, United States
- Site:http://thirdcoastpaddling.com/
- Phone:+1 269-468-9399
- Canoe & kayak rental service
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