Raccoon River Park Boathouse
Raccoon River Rentals
Click through the pictures to travel down the Raccoon River from our location to the 63rd St. Boat Ramp.
Begin your river paddle by renting equipment at the Raccoon River Park Boathouse.
The boat ramp will be on the left BEFORE the bridge. Please stop at the boat ramp and the shuttle will be along shortly!
Click through the pictures to travel down the Raccoon River from our location to the 63rd St. Boat Ramp.
Rental Options and Rates
(all prices include local and state sales tax where applicable)
Reservation for River Rentals
To make a reservation call Raccoon River Park at (515) 440-4787. If the line is busy, or you get no answer, the line is in use. Try us again later. If you get voice mail leave a message and you will get a call back. We don’t take reservations for the same day. All rental and shuttle fees for all boats reserved must be paid in full at the time the reservation is made. No refund will be given if the trip is cancelled 7 days or less from the reserved trip date. Cancellation prior to 7 days will result in a 50% refund of all fees paid. If a trip is cancelled by us for any reason a full refund or a reschedule will be allowed.
Your rental starts at the agreed upon reservation time. If you are late, you DO NOT get to keep your rentals beyond your reserved time. If you stay out beyond your reserved time, late fees will apply to all boats that are returned late. If you are late for your reservation by 30 minutes, your boats will become available to others. At that point your reservation is considered cancelled. When you show up you will have to rent on a first-come, first-serve basis and the cancellation fee will be added to the cost of your rental. There are no refunds or credits if you don’t show up at all.
Portage
"the carrying of boats and goods overland from one navigable body of water to another."
The portage trail is located at the southwest corner of the lake. Canoes and kayaks must be carried up the bank and across the walking/bike trail. Another path goes down the riverbank and onto a large sand bar along the river where the boats can be relaunched. In normal conditions, carrying equipment over the short portage trail and paddling the distance between the beach and the portage will take novice paddlers about 30 minutes. The trail is dirt packed and at times rocky, caution and shoes are advised.
CanoeSport Outfitters at the Raccoon River Park Boathouse, now offers a canoe and kayak rental trip on the Raccoon River. Our trip starts at the boathouse beach and ends at the boat ramp at SW 63 rd Street. The river is accessed by using a short portage trail from the lake to the river.
The distance from our beach to the boat ramp can be covered in less than an hour by most paddlers under normal paddling conditions. However, if you float the river rather than paddle, make a stop or two on some of the large sandbars along the way you can spend several hours on the river. In addition, if water levels are low your float time will likely increase as well.
Our hourly rates for boat rentals on the river is the same as on the lake. An additional $12 is added for each boat rented to shuttle it and all passengers of that boat back to Raccoon River Park.
River rentals are available:
**ALL RIVER RENTALS MUST BE OFF THE WATER BY 6pm**
Saturday beginning at 8am
Sunday beginning at 10am
Weekdays: As availability allows, please call ahead with reservation.
Shuttle Service Only
If you have your own canoe, kayak, or SUP you are welcome and encouraged to use our shuttle service to get back to Raccoon River Park from the boat ramp at SW 63rd Street. We charge $10 for each personal boat (any boat not rented by CanoeSport Outfitters) and $12 for each non-rental passenger.
To schedule the shuttle of yourself and/or a personal boat you will need to visit the boathouse in Raccoon River Park. You will be asked to fill out a Transportation Waiver and Agreement. In
addition, you will need to choose an expected pick-up time at the boat ramp at SW 63 rd Street.
There are only so many seats on our van and spots on our trailer. If you miss your pick-up time additional shuttle fees for yourself and your boat may apply.
** Drivers are not responsible for loading, unloading or tying your personal boat to the trailer. We are not responsible for any damage that results from your canoe, kayak, or SUP being improperly secured.
**(As of now we are unable to transport kayaks under 10’ in length.)**
Rules for river rentals:
* We require all passengers and paddlers of any rented watercraft to wear a properly fastened lifejacket any time they are on the water.
* No one under 18 is allowed to rent a boat or use our shuttle service without the physical presence of a guardian throughout the rental.
* No one under the age of 14 is allowed to operate equipment by themselves
* Swimming from our boats is not permitted. You may beach your boat on a sandbar and then swim or wade in the river, but it is unacceptable to float down the river out of your boat and allow it to float along with you or to be towed.
* Dogs are allowed but renter assumes all damage and must clean up all messes.
* You are allowed to take food and drink in 1 small cooler (No Alcohol allowed). Additional coolers and equipment must be approved by rental staff and as space allows within the shuttle van.
* You are responsible for knowing where the takeout is located and making sure you get off the river at the proper location. Continuing beyond your designated boat ramp will require additional time and effort for the pick-up. We will charge late fees and penalties of no less
than $100.
* Being on the river past 6:00pm will result in a $100 charge
* If we become aware of individuals violating any of our rules and policies, we reserve the right to terminate the rental of those doing so, ban violators from future rentals, and collect any fees which may be applicable according to the signed Rental Agreement and Acknowledgement of Risk & Waiver of Liability.
Weather Statement:
Staff reserves the right to delay opening and/close when threatening weather is in the area. When winds exceed 20 mph, and at staff discretion, rentals will be limited and/or close for a period of time.
Please check Facebook for updates and/or call
CanoeSport Cell: 515-339-5582
Directions:
Enter Raccoon River Park using the main (West) entrance off of Grand Ave. Continue straight into the large parking lot. The boat rental is the brown building to the left (East).
Contact Us
Phone: 515-440-4787
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Boathouse Hours
Saturday and Holidays 8am-sunset
Sunday-Friday 10am-sunset
** All lake and bike rentals must be returned by sunset
** All river rentals must be off river by 6pm