If you have teen boys then you know the appeal to kayaking! Ours LOVE it and kayaking with Bent River Outfitters was no exception! When I mentioned to them that we were headed to Mankato, MN for a weekend and were going to go kayaking, they were completely ok with spending a weekend with the ‘rents!
Bent River Outfitters
The day we visited Mankato and Bent River Outfitters, it rained on us during the entire drive! We were skeptical that were were going to even get our float in, but upon finding Dan (the manager) at Bent River Outfitters, he assured us the rain was over and we were going to have a great time!
Bent River was started by owners Dane, Adam, & Jason as they all grew up on the Blue Earth River and had kayaked it their entire life! It is nestled in the back (and basement) of a mainstreet building in downtown Mankato! Thankfully, it is well signed, so we didn’t lose our way! Head down the ramp and you’re invited into a fun, industrial, and useful space! Dan, the manager, was very welcoming and helpful! They even have access to very modern and clean restrooms to use before you float or change your clothes (which we needed to do after being on the road)!
Dan is the Man!
Let’s talk about Dan for a minute! This guy is a wealth of knowledge! He has a college degree as well as many life experiences! A year or so ago, he traversed the Mississippi River from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico on a stand up paddle board!! He shared all about his experiences with us! He was super helpful and never made us a newbies (T & me) seem ridiculous! Dan was always answering questions as well as offering us lots of information about the area throughout the float!
We were quickly fitted with lifejackets and the kayaks were loaded! We then took off to get in the water on the Blue Earth River! Once there, Dan went through training about paddling and safety topics before we got in the water! Then, off we went!
Kayaking the Blue Earth River
This specific portion of the float has kayaks entering the river right below the Rapidan Dam and floating to Hwy 90! It is 10 river miles, has 17 waterfalls along the route, 11 set of rapids, 300 natural springs, and much more (think Bald Eagle sightings and nests). Dan gave us time to shore our kayaks and explore several of these wonders! Below is called Triple Falls and it was even more gorgeous in person!
I was nervous about maneuvering our way through the rapids, but Dan was super helpful giving us each tips about which side of the river to traverse, what to look for (hazards like rocks), etc. And, by the end of the 3 hours, it was actually kind of fun going over the rapids and even getting wet! We also enjoyed the scenery along the route!
Our Recommendation
Whether you’ve got teenagers who like being outdoors or enjoy the outdoors yourself, we recommend Bent River Outfitters! Not only did we feel completely safe, we had a great time! You can select to rent the kayaks yourself or have a tour guide. We highly recommend the tour as Dan is a wealth of knowledge, laid back, fun, & super helpful! If you’re a first-time kayaker, don’t worry, he’s got your back!
We loved kayaking with Bent River Outfitters and we know you will to! Head to Mankato and give them a try!
Thank you to Visit Mankato & Bent River Outfitters for hosting us on our trip down the Blue Earth River! All thoughts & opinions are authentic and 100% my own! Please see Disclosure Tab for more details!
Sounds like a lot of fun! I want to go just to talk to Dan and here about his trip down the Mississippi River!!!
It was quite interesting!! And yes, we did have a lot of fun!
Sounds like something we would love to do! How fun!
You would love it! We had a blast!! It’s relaxing and exhilarating all in one trip!