Crystal River Outfitters 6249 River Road, Glen Arbor, MI 49636

"All of the staff was friendly and helpful. Extra shout-out to Montana who drove us to the launch point. He was fun to chat with and gave us several good recommendations for the rest of our trip in Michigan. Paddling the river was wonderful. It lives up to its name with crystal-clear water and we saw plenty of wildlife as we relaxed and enjoyed our afternoon on the water. This is the kind of paddling excursion that you can take kids and beginners on. The current is gentle, but quick enough that you don't actually have to paddle much if you don't want to. The water was only a few feet deep throughout the entire run. The beginning section (out of three sections) does have a lot of overhanging trees that are easy to get snagged on, but there is nothing dangerous about it and you can easily push your way out or get out of the boat and walk if you misjudge your turn and find yourself stuck."

"Crystal River Outfitters gets 5+ stars from us! They were easy to work with, explained the process and were friendly the entire time. Great help by the young man who drove us to drop point. What a kid, told us the story how he came to Michigan and never left. Beautiful river, “crystal” clear. Just an awesome time and we will be back. Happy we got one last shooting the tube run."

"One of the most professional rafting companies I have ever used across 5 states. They are very organized and clean and have extremely helpful staff. The river itself is a great trip and the water is so clear. The river is quite shallow and this is a light no rapids trip. You do have to portage the kayak over a couple of feet twice but it was pretty simple. Just pick your course thoughtfully and you will not bottom out. Those are just the realities of the river, but it makes for a great ~ 3 hour leisurely rafting experience. Also there is one large culvert that you can toe through they call “shooting the tube” and it was fun addition to the trek."

"Another incredible time on the Crystal River with Crystal River Outfitters! We got a double kayak and it was just right for us and our sweet pup, Rosie, who made friends with everyone on the river. All of the employees were so respectful toward us and really good with our dog, too. Our driver, Gus, was a very helpful and kind young man. The water and weather were perfect on the 4th of July. This was our third time kayaking with them and would highly recommend."

"One of the best parts of the Sleeping Bear Dunes experience is kayaking on the Crystal River. This was our family's fourth trip to Glen Arbor and we could not wait to get back on the Crystal River. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. The river is beautiful, meandering, and has plenty of pockets of shade. It is still a smart idea to apply some sunscreen and bug spray. However, this will be one of the most enjoyable rides of your life...especially if you get to "shoot the tube"!"