the gear resource outfitters

We signed up for the Moonlight Snowshoe Adventure. Everything that Gear ReSource Outfitters could do to make it pleasant they did. We were first time snowshoe people and the woman helped us get fitted into the shoes quickly and easily. We were sent off on our own right from the start, which is just how we like things. We could explore at our leisure and find warmth at the fire. When we were ready to be done, we could just unbuckle and leave without any waiting. All in all it was an easy, enjoyable adventure.Then to top it off the weather was crisp rather than bitter cold, the sky was clear, the stars amazing and the almost full moon made a fantasy world out of the quiet wooded area. I know Gear ReSource didn't arrange that but they picked the right Friday night to make it more likely. I recommend this store, as we have shopped there and the woman is incredibly gracious. And now I recommend their adventures based on this very positive experience.

A friend and I did the 1/2 day snowshoe/winery outing with Nicole and Grant. 35 people in the group, and it never felt crowded or rushed. They do an awesome job! I also bought Groupons for the moonlight snow shoe tour -- we are going this weekend and I can't wait!After a fantastic few hours in the park, the group met at Cannon River Winery. It was very well organized, with special seating for the group. A wine tasting flight is included in the tour. They have many gourmet cheeses, crackers and dips that you can buy at the winery if you like.Maybe it was the tomato soup, or the gorgeous day, or standing at the bottom of a frozen waterfall... whatever it was... I had an incredible day and went to bed feeling happy and appreciative of nature and life in general. Very uplifting!

I went with a group of 8 other girls for snowshoeing/winery experience. We went to the state park in Red Wing on a perfect 20 degree day. Nicole, Robert, and Phillip (and Dakota and Sampson- the adorable dogs!) did a fantastic job! Only one of us had been snowshoeing before, but I think all of us would go again! We saw at least 5 eagles and snowshoed over 2 miles. It was a fantastic experience; they truly made it fun for all of us. They are all very personable and just fun people to hang out with for the afternoon. The winery was also a lot of fun- we got to taste three different wines and then just hung out for a while to relax and warm up after being out in the cold. I would HIGHLY recommend them and these tours to everyone looking for something fun to do during the Minnesota winter!

I have gone twice now with them on a Snowshoeing/Winery Adventure. It is a workout, that is for sure! Amazing scenery, wonderful guides, and such a GREAT time! Next up - I will be signing up for a Moonlight Snowshoeing adventure.

We were so glad that you and your wife came out on an adventure with us and I'm glad I could answer all of your questions. It was a lovely day with great weather, good wine and great company! Hopefully we will see you out again soon! Cheers!

My husband has always wanted to kayak and for Father's Day I gave him a gift certificate from Gear ReSource to kayak down the Cannon River. We took the trip this last Saturday and it did not disappoint! The folks at Gear ReSource did a great job of setting everything up for us and getting us outfitted and trained. We had separate sit on top kayaks and enjoyed the 3+ hour trip down the river. The small rapids we encountered were just challenging enough to be exciting, but not too overwhelming for beginners. We will definitely be back!

We wanted a true Minnesota experience and opted for a snowshoe outing which exceeded all expectations. The staff was extremely nice and understanding with first timers. Their website does not do them justice. The infortmation/description was lacking. However, we called the store directly for further information and they were great at handling our questions and even directed us to YouTube clips to better prepare ourselves. The moonlit adventure was great. It included a short bus ride, a one mile luminary lit course, with encouraged wandering, a bonfire, and warm hot chocolate. We will certainly be back.....

My wife & I did the evening trip March 14, and what a great night. It is about a 15 minute bus ride from the headquarters to a county park in the "big woods". Nicole had a quick presentation on how to put on thw snow shoes, then the group (about 30) were taken on a loop that takes about 15-20 minutes or so. After that you can do your own thing- we took off into the woods- and with an almost full moon, we snow shoed until about 9PM. The staff had also placed luminaries around the loop, which looked very cool at night. Robert was tending the bon fire- and they had hot chocolate ready. These guys are a class act, and with Dakota and Sampson the tree climbing dog, we couldn't have asked for a better night. GO WITH THESE GUYS!

Awesome and challenging snowshoeing adventure. Went on a 4 hour snowshoeing adventure with our guides Robert and Nicole and their 2 dogs Sampson and Dakota. Had a blast. We took steep hills, up and down, crossed an icy stream and really had a chance to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Our guides were extremely energetic and a lot of fun. They were very experienced and really made this adventure awesome. We had a chance to get comfortable in our snowshoes on the easy path and then we were really challenged. I will be back again next year for sure.

These guys make the best tomato soup in the town - not too creamy, not too bland, awesome spices and hearty. Simply fell in love with that. Oh, by the way, they also make awesome guides. :-) I had the best snowshoeing trip to date with them. Hope to be back for a moonlight trek with my wife.

Six friends and I signed up for a Snowshoeing and Wine Tasting excursion that we all bought through a Groupon, not quite sure what we were all getting in to. WOW, what an amazing adventure we all had! Robert and Nikki, the husband and wife owners, of The Gear ReSource Outfitters along with their incredibly well trained dogs, Dakota and Sampson were outstanding tour guides! The weather was picture perfect, the state park where we hiked was of true beauty and the company was nothing less than exceptional! I would recommend this excursion and any other guided trips that Nikki and Robert offer! Well worth the time, money and bonding of friendships!

My wife and I rented a tandem kayak from Gear Resource and were absolutely delighted by the experience of floating down the Cannon River from Faribault to Northfield--five hours of lazy paddling, punctuated by just enough navigating of little rapids to keep it interesting (children would love them.) This meandering stretch of the river is superb, just wide enough to give you room to maneuver. Every corner brings a new wilderness vista; the many sandstone bluffs are particularly beautiful. What amazed us most was the almost continuous swooping past of great blue herons and eagles, along with quite a number of cormorants and the occasional family of ducks. We will definitely be back to do this stretch again and to do the section down to Cannon Falls. What an extraordinary day! (And many thanks to Nicole and Robert, who provide so many tips and insights to make the trip better.) Oh, one little tip: you may not realize it on the river but about half way down you pass Wilderness Park, where there are bathroom facilities on the left hand side, at least according to their website. See the map at http://www.co.rice.mn.us/sites/default/files/documents/crwa_map.pdf .

I took a two-hour kayak ride on the Cannon River, with gear and transportation provided by the Gear ReSource Outfitters. Nicole was great getting us set up, and all went smoothly at the scheduled time. The Cannon is a great river for an easy ride, beautiful and quiet. We saw two pairs of bald eagles; in fact, they seemed to follow us down the river. I think this is a great way for visitors to Northfield, perhaps families connected to one of the colleges, to get a feel for that part of Minnesota.

Fue una sorpresa, no había esperado sentirlo como una inmersión, por momentos en cualquier reserva amazónica, por momentos en zonas más boscosas o también, sólo en muy pocos momentos, recordar que la civilización estaba muy cerca.