vermont canoe & kayak

We rented two tandem kayaks through the smugglers notch activities office. It was a 15 minute drive to where we picked up the kayaks. From there they had us on our way in about 10 minutes and were on the water another 10 minutes later. The quality of the kayaks were good and the staff friendly. The river was easy to navigate and include a pass under a nice covered bridge and some pretty mountain views. This was an unguided tour but easy to do on our own. No rapids although there was a small section near the end with mild turbulence. Overall worth the money and a pleasant excursion.

This company does it right. They offered several options for our party - 7 of us aged 6 to 65. They accommodated the kids and range of adults with equipment in great working order and ready to go. They had several options for trip duration - and the best thing is you weren't charged by the hour. Whether you select the four mile trip or longer - you can take as much time as you want exploring the sand bars, inlets, and bunches of other natural attractions. We even dug up old bits of pottery on one sand bar in the middle of the river.The short trip was perfect for my 6 and 9 year old. They had a blast. The staff was great - friendly and knowledgeable. The river is winding and slow enough for beginners, with a small rapid near the end that made our day.When we go back we will take the longer route next time! Awesome fun!

We hit the Lamoille with this outfit two days after a good rain, but we still hit a couple of 6 inch deep spots when we weren't paying attention, which is easy when you're lazing back in your canoe drinking in the fine VT air. No matter. The water was gorgeous, so I got out and gave us a little shove. Lots of islands and "beaches" to stop for lunch. 1, 2 and 3 hour options; they shuttle you, and you end up at your car. We got two adults and one teen in one canoe for $70. Bring a towel or pad to sit on and you're really floating in luxury.

My husband and I purchased kayaks this summer and have been using them on the Winooski river and at small local ponds. This time, we wanted to get a little farther away from home and decided to try the Lamoille. We have been bringing two cars and doing the "car switcheroo" after kayaking but with Jeffersonville being 45 minutes away form home, after calculating the gas for the second car and the time to make the switch, we opted for shuttle service for this adventure. I emailed Vermont Canoe & Kayak and received a quick and friendly response informing us of the $15 per-boat shuttle price and letting us know that the shuttle for the day we wanted to visit would be running continuously, so just show up, no need for a reservation. True to their word, when we arrived they were just loading up a shuttle. I paid the shuttle fee in the office while my husband accepted assistance from the shuttle driver who helped to untie the boats from our roof rack and got them situated on the trailer. Signage inside and outside the outpost office communicates that tipping is expected so if you typically lighten your wallet to avoid drowning the contents during your kayak trip, plan on this! If your driver is anything like ours, you can expect excellent service quite worthy of tipping. Our shuttle driver, Eric, was friendly and helpful, offering to assist us at every turn. We decided to launch from the farthest (3 hr) spot and had a lovely day. When we pulled up on the shore at VT Canoe & Kayak, Eric was there again, smiling and asking if we needed help to get the kayaks on to the roof of our car. Overall, I feel that VT Canoe & Kayak was a great value for the shuttle ride and we were impressed with the service oriented attitude and helpfulness of our driver. Three other notable things… (1) the outpost has 2 port-a-potties (2) the outpost is is located right behind a restaurant which would be great for a pre or post paddle meal and (3) the parking is visible from the main road and businesses so I felt very comfortable leaving my car there for several hours. The one minor negative I'd mention is that the river overall is very gentle but there were a couple of swift spots (certainly not rapids, just fast moving water) between the 108 bridge and the VTCAK outpost so do be careful toward the end of your journey.

We did the water & wine kayak tour! The ride down the river was great, our guide Jacob was awesome and ending our tour at the winery with a tour and tasting was perfect!

Having our own kayaks, we needed to find a shuttle. Vermont Canoe and Kayak were recommended by the Inn. Checking with them the evening before, we secured a shuttle for the next morning. They helped us unload and stack kayaks for transfer. When we arrived at the put-in, they assisted us in safely launching, as there was a hill to descend into the river. The Lemoille is a slow moving river with areas to stop and picnic, also some off shoots to explore. We had a wonderful trip. On our return they showed us the area to wash our kayaks and assisted us in returning them to our car racks. All this for $15 dollars a piece. They were very hospitable. Would definitely recommend. Remember to give the guys a nice tip, they deserve it.They also do a trip to Boyden Winery.

Kayak rentals on the Lamoille River are a bit of a commodity in the Stowe/Smugglers area and we rented from Umiak on previous visits. This time we found the prices there appalling for a family of 7 (including grandparents, grand kids, etc.). We wanted to rent three boats and have them haul one of ours. Vermont Canoe and Kayak had very reasonable rates, dropped us off at virtually the same spot, and were super friendly from answering questions on the phone to driving us up river in the shuttle. The prices were so much more reasonable that we were inclined to tip generously and it was well earned! For those unfamiliar with the kayak trip, it is an easy, gentle river with plenty of spots to stop by the side and snack or picnic. It is quiet and a great way to spend the day as a family. We brought along a couple of blow up tube floats and pulled the kids behind the kayaks for part of the trip. Highly recommend!