We very much enjoyed our canoe trip on the Upper Cumberland. It was beautiful, calm and peaceful and the only problem was that we had to do the 3 mile trip because of the weather - and that was just too short! We also did the zip-line which was a lot of fun. Everyone was very nice and helpful, especially Bobbie! Thanks for a great experience - we'll be back!
This outfit is very well set-up. The staff is very friendly and has all of the knowledge to make your experience worth it! It is also a very close drive to Cumberland Falls. They have camping, a few camp lodge rooms....close enough to town, 15 minutes or less, to go out to eat if you want.
I wanted a non-standard shuttle and the owner, manager, and staff worked with me to make it happen. The folks at Sheltowee Trace Outfitters really do want you to have a great time.
Sheltowee made our girls weekend rafting trip on Russell Fork a success! Most of us were first time rafters and now we are hooked. The reservation and payment process was easy; the staff was helpful and friendly. Our guide James was awesome and guided us expertly out of REAL trouble. We even saved fellow rafters a time or two! We will be using Sheltowee again. Thank you so much!
We had a wonderful experience on our first ever rafting trip! All of the staff was so helpful and the entire reservation and payment process was as easy as could be. All of our guides (and guides in training) made us feel like long lost friends within minutes of the trip. Their love and knowledge for what they do is evident and infectious! Wonderful, wonderful trip!
The staff were extremely friendly and fun. They made sure everyone was enjoying the trip. We took the Cumberland Under the Falls rafting trip with them and tried out the Zip-line. The rafting was superb for beginners (which my wife was) with class II and III rapids sprinkled throughout. Our guide (Derrick) had extensive knowledge of the area and a good grasp on coordinating the passengers and the other rafts around us (he was the leader of the group as well). It was a lot less exciting than the Colorado River, but I didn't want to scar my wife forever by starting her there. This was supposed to be a relaxing anniversary after all. The safety rules were very clear and reiterated by the grouchy, old owner named "Papa Smurf." That man was great. He was all about safety and took his business very seriously. For sensitive souls, I would suggest avoiding contact with him because he speaks from the heart and it is not always what you want to hear. Remember to dress appropriately. Even if it is supposed to be warm enough for a T-shirt, I would advise a water-resistant jacket, swimwear, and water shoes. I went in May in 40 degree weather and it was great. If you are expecting a grand meal at the end of a long day of rafting, think again. This is the great outdoors and will be treated as such with sandwiches and chips. That is how they do it and that is how I like it.
This is the perfect trip for 1st timers or people that aren't looking for intense rapids. We had Cleda as our guide and we couldn't have asked for more in a guide. She really knows the river and surrounding area and loved her stories and jokes. We flipped our boat a couple of times (something that I personally didn't really want to do but was out voted) and I have to say I'm so glad we did - it was a blast!!! I loved swimming in the river and jumping off the rock. I could've stayed in the river all day. I also really enjoyed the Cumberland Star - very nice way to enjoy the river some more.
We stayed at the Sheltowee campgrounds which were wonderful! It was surprising to even have wifi while camping. The rafting trip itself was also incredible. The guide we had was very knowledgable and fun and I highly recommend this for ANYONE.
The rafting itself was terrific - the guides worked hard to make the experience fun and unique. Loved that we paddled so close to the falls, stopped to jump off a tall rock into the water and stopped again to swim/slide through a shoot in the river. But, we were not allowed to bring water with us and lunch is not served until well after 2:30. Plus, the quality of the food was poor. I suggest each guide pack a bottle of water and a granola bar for each guest in their dry bag and serve higher quality cold cuts and cheese along with a wheat bread option. There should also be more options for vegetarians - hummus, maybe? My group would have happily paid $5.00 more per person for a snack and better food. I agree with a previous review: Although I appreciate the focus on safety, Papa Smurf need not be so rude.
We had a blast and the guide was great. I would definitely come back again and stay at the campground and do the trip. We all tried to flip the boat but it just didn't happen. Water was not where it needed to be. Lunch was nice at the end of the trip and your staff is so nice and helpful.