Front Royal Outdoors

Lovely weather and perfect timing for a seven-mile paddle down the Shenandoah River. We left promptly, and I was able to get out on the water quickly. The mile markers were easy to spot, and the kayak slid over and around rocks with ease. I was a little worried the heavy traffic headed to the park would complicate my pickup, but the driver knew the best back roads to take. I'll definitely return next season!

Absolutely perfect. Great customer service, friendly and welcoming. The river was amazing, I visited with my two daughters (12 and 14) and we all just loved it. Thanks also to Don who offered to post my hoody that I accidentally left behind!

Friendly staff, great prices. Went both tubing and kayaking in the same weekend. River is beautiful, and the company makes the whole process very easy. They have a little shop full of cute things, and cute dogs as well !!! You can’t tell by pictures, but the river is crystal clear. You can see right down to the rocky bed underneath of you. Very pretty riverbed with all colors of rocks and bolders ! Went swimming during some stops along the islands, the water and weather was perfect and it felt great !

We had an amazing time even with the water levels low and slow. The best part is you can rent a Doggy Tube for your best friend. We saw 5 other dogs tubing and they seemed comfortable on the tubes as well. The staff was cool during and after. Our battery fried in the parking lot and the Owner and one of the employees gave us a jump and got us back on the road. Thanks for the help it meant a lot. We will definitely go back and we highly recommend this place.

We did the tube rentals for a river float. This is a decent raft rental company with quality tubes and quick transportation to launch area. The best part of the float is with the first few minutes though through some mild rapids. After that, this is probably the slowest moving river we’ve ever tubed down. If you want to fall asleep, this is your ideal float. It also floats right next to the railway, so a train was loud passing by at one point. Otherwise, some Mountain Views in between were pretty. Sign for exit should also be made clearer after the final mile marker. Also not disclosed was that the float ends back at the shop, but you have to walk up several flights of stairs (or a steep pathway slope up) to get back up the cliff from the river.

This was our 3rd visit to Front Royal Outdoors. The first time we rented a canoe, the 2nd time we did kayaks and this visit we did tube's! It is ALWAYS such a fun experience. We love it here. Advice: Always bring the sunscreen WITH you! Lol. 10/10

Took my 9-year old son there for his first time kayaking. Rented two kayaks for the day. Just picked them up, hauled them away in my truck, and put in the river about a mile upstream. Great experience all around. And the gift shop was great as well.

Location was easy to find and convenient to the north end of Shenandoah National Park. Check in was quick and easy. I showed up an hour before my selected start time and was on the next bus up river in about 10 minutes from arrival (they had just left as I was arriving). Bus driver gave good tips for the river. Only down side of the trip was no fault of the company…the river isn’t flowing very fast and if at all in some areas of the 3 mile trek. The rapids were fun, but we ended up having to paddle a lot with our arms. Still in overall fun day. Bring plenty of water and subscreen.

One of our 3 tubing places on rotation every summer! The staff are all young enough to be my children, but they are also all very sweet, energetic and lovely (like, you know....if I had children). Everything is done online making check-in rapid. My favorite part of Front Royal Outdoor is that you end your journey where you parked your car, so no bussing back to the parking lot after a long day on the river! There is a snack shack and a store if you forgot some essentials, but I'm not novice here. The river never gets too rapid, and there is a major vertical at the end to get back to the parking lot (one of those amazing youths will carry your cooler back up on a golf cart, you just have to replace your life vest); but it's a beautiful stretch of Shenandoah and a perfect family/friend activity. On low water-flow days you will have to put in work to get to the finish line cause the river can get VERY lazy. A few solid rock formations to pull over at and chill! Embrace the summer!

We were arrived at Front Royal Outdoors about 15 minutes before the last bus. The staff was very helpful rushing as we filled out the release forms, went inside to pay and then back outside to grab life jackets. The bus driver was particularly friendly and helpful, and the drive to the launching place was pretty quick. The river is SUPER low right now (June 2024) and honestly we had to walk about 1/2 way because of that. The last half was deeper and much more fun.

I was hugely dissatisfied with my experience with Front Royal Outdoors. I booked a trip for 15 people for a tubing river-float and after driving 3 hours across the state, we were informed that the owner or manager had decided that due to low river levels, they were moving up their last available shuttle to go tubing to a time before the previously agreed upon, booked, departure-time. This change was not communicated to me in any way beforehand, other than a single email that was delivered to my spam folder. In reviewing the email, they did not even include their business name 'Front Royal Outdoors' so even if I had been searching for an update from them, I would not have found it. The person who informed me of this change told me that they have the ability to confirm their emails have been opened / read, meaning that they do have line of sight as to whether or not their customers are aware of the changes they are making on a whim, and could have followed up with people they were changing plans on last minute, but chose not to. They did not try to call me. At this point we agreed to take rafts out because again, 15 people just drove all the way out there, but our experience was greatly diminished and the plans we had for what we were going to do on the river couldn't be accomplished due to only have 3 rafts as opposed to the 15 tubes we planned for and paid for. The only accommodation we were offered was to switch to an alternate float (kayak / raft / etc) or to re-schedule for tubing on another day, as if we could rely on re-booking with such a company. They made us put our two large coolers in the rafts with us instead of allowing us to take the cooler rafts that we paid for. They did refund us 13 dollars (the difference between the cost of the tubes vs the rafts, please don't think they were being courteous), but having to put the coolers in the raft made it so there was less space for people in the rafts. They own the tubes, there was absolutely no reason they could not permit us to take cooler tubes on the water with us. For that matter, there was a group of tubers not 300 feet ahead of us on the water so I genuinely believe there was no reason for this change. There was a sense that the staff could not be bothered to try to help in any way. When the day was over and we returned to the parking lot to change back into dry clothes for the ride home, we were informed we could not use the changing rooms or bathrooms because they were closed for cleaning. We were offered to use the porta-potty's instead. In other words, they could not be bothered to stay open long enough for the last groups of people they allow out onto the river to all get back to dry land and changed before they can get started cleaning. The whole thing reeks of the staff not wanting to be there any longer than they have to, so the customer's experience is diminished so they can get home an hour earlier. I don't believe in a philosophy that a customer is always right, but I do believe it is the merchant's responsibility to make the customer's experience whole, and that was not even attempted. We will be looking elsewhere for the next time this group wants to go out on the water, and I recommend for others do the same.

We solo kayaked with dogs and had a blast. Got stuck a few times due to the low water level (0.99) but we knew going in that we would have to adjust and take our time. We hadn't left the parking lot and we were already discussing coming again.

We recently took a second kayaking trip with Front Royal Outdoors. The first time, several years ago, was a positive experience which is why we went back. The glow of the prior experience has worn off. While there were some positive aspects, I must highlight several issues that need improvement. - Bait-and-Switch Booking: When I booked the trip, I paid attention to the time and distance, knowing that slightly longer trips require more time. I also paid on the company's website in advance. However, upon arrival, I was informed that the tour I had booked wouldn't work due to time, even though I pointed out that I was early and had already paid for it. Instead, I was offered a shorter route. It turns out that it was a busy weekend and the company was funneling most visitors into their inflatable tubes and didn't want to drive a few extra miles for a farther drop. Annoyingly, the staff became huffy, and when I asked why they didn't honor the product I paid for mostly offered lame excuses, such as "it's too late," "the water level is too low" (which was nonsense since their own website showed water levels at more than enough depth). While flexibility is essential, it's crucial to manage expectations during the booking process. Don't sell a product that you don't want to honor. - Weekend Traffic Preparedness: On a busy weekend, the company was clearly out of their depth from the influx of visitors. The lack of preparedness was evident in delays, disorganization, and a rushed checkout. As a customer, I expected a smoother experience, especially during peak hours. The company should invest in better staffing to handle high traffic. - Undisclosed Transportation Fee: If you want to bring your own kayak, the company charges a fee, which makes sense. However, the fee was not disclosed anywhere in print, leaving me to wonder how often they make up the amount. Transparency is vital, and customers should be informed of all costs upfront. Hidden fees can lead to frustration and erode trust. - Shuttle Wait Time: Despite arriving early, I waited over 40 minutes for the shuttle to take us to the starting point. Efficient transportation logistics are essential for a positive customer experience. Waiting excessively can dampen the excitement and affect overall satisfaction. The company should streamline their shuttle service to minimize delays. In summary, if you're looking for a casual float down an inflatable tube with your cooler of drinks, this is a great place to go. Do watch out for water levels, or you'll be walking a lot through the river, especially in the summer. If you can afford to take your own boats, you're better off saving the money and the aggravation. The company clearly needs some improvements. Clear communication, better preparedness for busy days, transparent pricing, and efficient logistics will enhance the overall customer experience. I hope they take these points into consideration to provide a more enjoyable kayaking/canoeing adventure for future visitors.

I booked the most popular trip #2 for kayaking on a short day trip. It was 7 miles and it took me about 2 hours to complete it. Thee were two spots with level 1 rapids and one spot with level 2 (I think).The guy that drove the bus to the drop off point was reassuring and helped me get started off. The staff inside and outside were friendly. All staff wore masks during what I saw. They were on time for pickup and the ending point at Front Royal Landing. While I did a kayaking trip, they offer canoes, SUPs, tubing, and rafting as well. The online booking aspect was convenient and seamless when doing the waiver online first. The prices are pretty reasonable too. I'm definitely interested in returning here later in the Spring!

We were a big group of people (around 20) here to celebrate the bday of my friend. We made a reservation like a week in advance. They send us the online waivers and we finished that in advance. A couple of people didn't do that and they gave us the paper copies. Once we arrived, it was pretty smooth. The facilities were clean. There were changing rooms (more like cabin style). Wish they kept a drinking water station(or a fountain) in the outside area. When I asked, I was referred to the one inside the bathroom. So that could be improved. One of the tubes they gave was leaking. (Note: we couldn't locate the leak but it kept deflating). However we had 2 cooler tubes, so my friend used one as a replacement for his deflated tube. Other than that, everything went almost smooth so I won't reduce stars for that minor mishap(because we all had life vests anyways). It was a fun, relaxing and good team building activity. Corporates could definitely use it for their day out. It was relatively inexpensive ($25pp). We chose the regular tubes. But for a small additional charge, you can rent upgraded tubes (which are bigger and with head rest). I would recommend the ones with head rest because when you are in the water for 3 hours straight, your next hurts without the support. I have done tubing many many times Harper's Ferry but the water here is much smoother and wayyy safer. I recommend this place for beginners or who want more socializing than adventure. The staff was attentive. Facilities were clean. Didn't have too much wait time for buses. Clear Instructions and guidance were given at every stage. This is as good as it gets. It also helped that were blessed with an amazing weather on that day.

Great staff, easy website for reservations, and easy relaxing activity for the whole family. They did a great job setting us up, and had excellent COVID19 protocols in place. I highly recommend this activity for families and groups alike.

Great customer service ! Great place to spend time with your family! Definitely I'll recommend this place!

This place was nice. We did tubing, the river just wasn't flowing much, very shallow in some spots so had to get out the tube and walk over slippery rocks. Took us a long time to get down the river. The staff were organized and very courteous, would definitely go again just not tubing, would probably do kayaking.

Went here for the first time yesterday- totally worth the hour+ drive! Didn't make/have a reservation, but walked in with a group of 6 and they got us down to the water in about 15-20 mins. The 55" (I think, the larger of the options) cooler tube was actually pretty spacious, we fit two medium size personal coolers in it with extra room for 2 string bags of clothes and snacks. The ride was about 4 hours. I was surprised at how warm the water was (and relieved since it was a cooler 70 degree) day. String/twine was provided to tie the tubes together and everyone was super friendly. The parking situation was a bit tough/tight, I can only imagine much more so on a busy day, so be prepared for that. Otherwise, we're all looking forward to returning later in the summer!

Took the family on a nice tube trip, everyone we came in contact with from Front Royal was very helpful and a pleasure to talk to. Andre was our bus driver and a great guy, thanks for telling us about spelunkers, the burgers were great!! We will definitely use Front Royal Outdoors again when we are back in town !!

We have been coming here for many years. Staff is always super friendly. Plus they have a furry friend that hangs around with them. You can keep keys at the front office. Also great place for kayaking, canoe, raft and tubing!

Rented kayak and tubes a couple times. Usually pleasant and well organized. Prices are reasonable.

Really great way to get away from the city and get outdoors in the Shenandoah area. I went tubing for about 4 and a half hours on the 3 mile trek down the river and it was well worth the $25. Definitely splurge for the tube for your cooler since it's such a long trip down the river, you're going to want to have cold snacks and drinks to tide you over. There are also islands and shores where you can make a pit stop and take a break for lunch or food. It wasn't too crowded and the river was so wide you wouldn't bump into other people who were canoeing or kayaking on the river. If you're near the Front Royal area and have time for a nice outdoor water activity, check it out!

I was pretty impressed with the store overall. They had good quality name brand Kayaks... they are the local Jackson Kayak dealer! I was greeted outside by a nice young Asian lady (I only mention that because I didn't get her name and I'd like to give her the compliment) that was super helpful and she made me feel right at home before I ever entered the front door of the business. She should be the manager because he was there and he was rude. He was pretty rude to be quite honest but the young lady was awesome that helped me. Promote her to his spot and your business will flourish even more. She was 100% professional and she truly cares about helping customers. I came in 5 minutes before closing and she never rushed me but the male manager, older guy, he was rude and told me he'd lock the door behind me when I asked if he minded if I stepped out on the porch to look at the shirts on the sale rack. If I owned the joint, she'd be taking his place and he'd be looking for a new place to discourage customers from spending money. I'm sure you are asking, how did they still get 5 stars? Well, she was that good at customer service and she satisfied the crap out of my desire to just walk around and look at kayaks while inquiring about the fishing trips. She basically ran circles around his lack of customer service... thankfully. I'll be back for a fishing trip when that dude is hiding in a back office or something.

What a great tubing location. The bus trip was short and safe. Nice tubes! I suggest the ones with a bottom. Everyone was nice and made sure you understand the rules of the river

Directions on their website on how to make group reservations: How to make a group reservation: 1. Select a group representative to coordinate the group. Discounts are only applicable when paid as a single payment. 2. Determine how many people will be in your party. (Make a note that there are restrictions based on the type of trip selected) 3. Decide how much time you would like to spend on the river and pick out a trip from the Trips and Rates page. 4. Make an online reservation from our website by clicking the link below or by calling us at 866-867-3016 to speak to someone about your reservation. Waivers can be completed in our Front Royal office. Opted to make an online reservation since that IS an option vs calling. Unfortunately the group rate wasn't applied. When I called to inquire the gentleman that answered the phone was BEYOND rude. Stating that you must call to book group reservations. I tried to explain to him what I was reading on his website and he proceed to cut me off and get irate unnecessarily. I went on to say I didn't understand where his hostility was coming from as I was trying to read to him the verbiage from their website thinking he would understand how it may be confusing. After a moment of silence he said "I'm back" without ever having ask me to hold on. I truly hope our tubing experience exceeds the customer service I've received so far. If it weren't for the fact that I'd already collected money and booked hotel rooms for 34 people I would most certainly cancel. Trying to stay optimistic and pray we have an amazing time despite this God awful first impression.

We've been coming here for years and the river never gets old! Beautiful scenery with some fun rapids at the start of the trip and plenty of islands to pull off to if you want to extend your stay. The front office lets you stow your car keys with them so you don't have to take them out on the river. There was a food truck next door if you need any last minute snacks.

Most of my reviews start out this way, but I'm not from this area. I'm from Tennessee so I'm used to all the rock like there is in this river. You're supposed to have shoes with a strap over your foot or heel. They have signs up all over saying no flip flops, but if you bring some other shoes they won't say anything to you if you wear your flip flops around. I actually haven't worn my tennis shoes once while being there. The shortest trip (maybe 2-4 hours depending on how high the water is) is the only trip they will let you take the tubes on. They have several different trips to choose from for rafts/kayaks/canoes lasting anywhere from a few hours and some are day trips. You can bring your dogs. And also for the rowdy bunches (like ours) yes, you can bring alcohol. We have had tons of fun coming here on the weekends. I recommend 100%.

We rented a 4-person raft for our family (2 adults, 2 teenagers). Finding and reserving a raft online was easy. When we arrived at FRO, the staff was friendly, helpful, and organized. The driver who took us to our launch point was also great, with good advice on how to launch and drive the raft and where/how to turn it in. Thanks FRO for a fun, idiot proof trip (the idiot being me).

My wife and I are incredibly loyal to this place for a good reason: they are the best. In fact, they are SO good that it was a major factor in our move to the area to be nearby. Every experience here has been amazing, from start to finish. The staff know what they're doing, Don could not be a nicer human being, and their equipment is in great shape. We have probably paddled their "trip 2" about 30 times by now, and it's just perfection. Only twice have we had issues with the equipment, but not only were they rectified immediately, they were handled with what I can only describe as "white glove" service. If you have given less than 5 stars, I promise you one thing: you're doing something wrong. For anyone else, this is where you need to be for a fun and relaxing day on the Shenandoah. P.S. Check out the store while waiting for your shuttle--really great selection of things you never thought you would need.

My family and I had the best time tubing down the Shenandoah river. The staff here were all very helpful. Lots of options to choose from including rafts and kayaks. Good prices for the rentals.

I have been here so many times and loved it but today, I had a different experience. They discriminated against me based on my medical conditions. I have a doctors note saying that masks pose a threat to my health and safety due to my medical status. They wouldn't let us go on our canoe trip and said they are following the mask ordinance but the ordinance specifically states mask exemptions like mine here: "Persons with health conditions that prohibit wearing a face covering. Nothing in this Order shall require the use of a face covering by any person for whom doing so would be contrary to his or her health or safety because of a medical condition. Any person who declines to wear a face covering because of a medical condition shall not be required to produce or carry medical documentation verifying the stated condition nor shall the person be required to identify the precise underlying medical condition." https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-63-and-Order-Of-Public-Health-Emergency-Five---Requirement-To-Wear-Face-Covering-While-Inside-Buildings.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2adajvOpRoqDPZXe0xgLNg7r28oTAPNuEbuklEetW1B9uztwg84yGn6DE Never going back again to this place. I will also be contacting an attorney about filing a lawsuit for medical discrimination.

I came on a Saturday at noon, so I understand that it's going to be busy. However, I was not anticipating hoards of drunk tubers in larger groups, the staff inside the shop to be rude when I was simply trying to understand the chaos, or to have little to no advice on the river prior to departing. The water level was low which I knew because I did read the river condition, but what I didn't know, because literally no one talked to me, was that at that level, all of the "ripples" were really class one rapids, at least. I would have thought twice about going down river with my dog had this been made clear. Additionally at the drop off point, the driver unloaded everyone's boats, gave the brief, which was very brief indeed, and then set my kayak down the river bank without telling me, so I watched him drive off thinking I didn't have a kayak. Luckily another customer helped me scout through the large river groups to identify an unclaimed kayak. I will most likely not use front royal outdoors in the future.

Had a great 3-mile raft down the Shenandoah River. The gentleman that drove us to the launch made sure we got safely out onto the river, and he explained areas we should watch out for and spots we could stop and swim. It was a wonderful way to spend a few hours on a gorgeous Sunday.

I'm giving Front Royal Outdoors one star specifically for the pompous jerk/customer service doing the check out this past weekend (June 5) -- I was so incredibly mortified by the way he spoke to my group, other groups and other employees that I felt OBLIGATED to write this review (I don't typically write them) - Every year I organize a camping trip with 20 or so individuals and I like to incorporate tubing. I have used this company before with my husband and also read reviews and thought this would be a great option for tubing during our camping trip. I knew that we had at least one dog coming with us so instead of booking online, I called to book and during that phone call I double checked that dogs were allowed. The woman I spoke to on the phone was very friendly, handled my reservation professionally and let me know that dogs were ok, just not on their floats so something else would have to be brought for the dog... no problem, makes perfect sense. A couple weeks later a second member of our group told me she was bringing her dog and wanted more info on what she could bring for the dog to float on, so I recommended she just call Front Royal Outdoors to get their insight. She did so.. spoke to a woman, who was also very friendly and told her most people order a float for dogs with a mesh bottom and even gave her a couple examples on where to get one and so my friend took her suggestion and purchased one on Amazon. Fast forward to this weekend, the place was packed, as I would expect for an initial summer weekend at a tubing spot. We all went inside to make our payments, the young lady handling us was VERY sweet and patient with our large group. That's when the man beside her checking others out BARKED AT MY FRIEND WITH A DOG "What are you going to do with that!? You can't take that on a float, no dogs allowed" I overheard and I piped in "Oh I'm sorry I called and made sure first..." he cut me off "No dogs allowed, and no you can't bring your own floats.. we won't be shuttling whatever you brought on our shuttles" That's when my other friend who had also called said "I actually called too and was even given information on where to buy the floats for the dogs"... His response: "WELL WHEN YOU CALLED YOU DIDN'T TALK TO ME, NO DOGS ALLOWED" -what?! who says that? Who were we supposed to ask for when calling a business with a question - I was so embarrassed and blown away by how rude he was being.. I had planned this whole thing for these people and they had spent money on floats to bring for their dogs.. he ultimately forced them to rent PADDLE BOARDS.. which were significantly more expensive and our friends with dogs had to take a separate shuttle now since they had to get paddle boards and sit and wait for us at the launch spot while we waited for a tubing shuttle... AND they had to ditch the floats they bought for the dogs per the company's suggestion. This was all flooring and embarrassing enough for me but the poor girl checking us out had already started giving us wrist bands and he yelled at her in front of every person in that shop that she was doing it all wrong and "what was she thinking?!" because she had to do all different wrist bands now for the separate shuttles and equipment rentals that HE was forcing us to do.. I felt so bad for her because she was patient and kind with all of the chaos and he was extremely demeaning towards her. Beyond that, another large group came in as we were finishing up and one person handed them the groups money and he accused them of shorting him!!! There was no polite "I'm sorry I think we might be missing X $.. or it looks like we need a little more" but he blatantly told them he thought they were maliciously shorting the pot. That's when one of them stood up to him, rightfully so and said they they had double counted the money and it was all there and he was WRONG and he recounted.. and sure enough they had given him the correct amount. I cannot imagine how that group, or the person handling the money of that group must have felt being accused of shorting the company.... I was absolutely blown away by the way this man was acting. As we were finishing up getting our wrist bands I saw others paying for their rentals and saying they were with the group that just walked out (with the shorting incident) and he was blatantly rolling his eyes in front of them and everyone else.. as in they should have all been together.. It was just incredible how awful he was and he SHOULD NOT be working in customer service. I know for me, that based off of that experience I will NEVER recommend this place to people asking me for tubing recommendations.. and I will certainly never go back. There are a handful of outfitters on the Shenandoah that do the exact same thing and I suggest to anyone reading this to GO WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. I am truly hoping that ownership or management finds this and can have a serious talk with this guy about professionalism, work ethic and attitude.

Overall a very enjoyable experience. You leave your car at the top of the hill, and they take you down by a bus to the send off area. The staff was friendly and walked us through the process as this was our first time trying tubing. The equipment was in good shape. I like that the tubes had a little area for drinks. Very useful! They don't let you go in flip flops so make sure you wear closed shoes. They have some available for purchase if you forget!

We think it goes without saying that these group of people work hard, fast and still provide excellent customer service. This was our 2nd time and it wasn't as amazing as the first time, however, there were still some high points. High points: Noah was awesome! He is a friendly, professional & informative guy! He sets the mood for the rest of our trip! Definitely someone you want to keep around for a long time! We forgot to tip this time unfortunately because we had no cash and couldn't find him after our trip ended. We got the 6-man raft with 3 people in our party, so there was plenty of room for us and our cooler. Arrived early, as previously recommended. Our reservation was at 9:30am. Arrived at 9am. On the bus by 10am. Low points: Our 8-miles trip was supposed to take 3-4 hours. Unfortunately, it took 7 hours. Why? The river was below 2ft. This was made aware to me personally, by the owner Don, when I checked in. He briefly mentioned that our group was going to be the only raft group going up that way. I said, "okay:)", didn't think much of it and he let me know that our raft would be ready soon. I won't blame the river conditions on anyone as Mother Nature can be unpredictable. However, the reason why our trip took 7hrs is because of the countless amounts of times we had to exit our raft to pull it over rocks. It repeatedly got stuck and it was not easy having to walk on some areas, especially the "rapids". We paddled hard and fast whenever we got the opportunity, while still trying to enjoy the overall experience. Noah was kind enough to let us know of how to navigate the raft through some areas and he was the first to tell us that we would most likely have to exit the raft a few times. This was never mentioned at the time of check in. The most frustrating part was that, yes we were 1hr 45mins late, which we were aware and completely understood, however, at the last river bend we had a male employee yelling at us from the train tracks above, to paddle faster. We were exhausted, we were late and yelling at us was not going to fix anything nor fix the situation. This is what completely ruined the experience. When we landed, the team, including Don was helpful and I did apologize for being late. We returned our gear and made our way back home. The most important lesson is this: yes, booked the raft and yes we were early, but I would highly encourage to enforce a no raft policy when the water is less than 2ft. I understand the customer service aspect and not over promising/under delivering, however, if you make exceptions, you must be aware of all possible scenarios and outcomes. We take ownership of being late and we also acknowledge that it was not an easy task to accomplish for 2 small girls and 1 big guy. Above all, I'm giving this a 3-star experience. The company, the customer service, Noah and the actual experience of the trip was satisfying. The 8-miles struggle & the lack of people skills from the guy yelling at us from the train tracks was poor. Yes, we will be back. Yes, we highly recommend this place to everyone!

The staff at FRO were friendly and helpful, but the operations need work. We arrived at 10:25a for our 10:30a canoe trip. They didn't call our names for our shuttle until 11:15. I get that it's a busy time, but if you're on a 45-minute delay, you're overbooking. We were ultimately nearly an hour late getting home to our babysitter. The delay was a downer on an otherwise lovely day.

We booked 2 canoes for a 7 mile trip this morning not could not have gone smoother. The online booking system was easy and efficient. On-site the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. We were promptly checked in an taken to the drop off point. We were given accurate information regarding safest routes and pick-up instructions. Our canoes and gear were great. We arrived at our pickup point 90 minutes early. We called the office requesting a pickup in 30 minutes and they arrived like clockwork. Overall we highly recommend this company if you're looking at enjoying the Shenandoah River.

This was a great experience. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. They were organized and helpful. Will definitely plan to book canoe trips through them again.

Been around the water my entire life, but never kayaked before. Wife and daughter in law have been to Front Royal Canoe Company a couple of times and twisted my arm into going. It was July 3rd so I knew the place was going to be packed with out-of-towners, and it was. Check in was straight forward and surprisingly not much of a wait. Our names were called and of we went for the van ride. Our 'spirit guide' (Van Driver) was Aaron. I can't say enough great things about him, very funny and explained everything needed to know in great detail. The only disappointing thing was we went on the 3 mile river ride (kayak) and should have done the 7!!! But it was my first time and the 3 mile gives you a taste whether it's for you or not. These guys have me hooked. I told the wife to sell the horses and let's buy kayaks (kidding)! We compromised to ride horses on Saturday and kayak on Sunday. Highly recommend and if you get Aaron as your driver he'll have you laughing. Will definitely be back!

Had a group of family in to visit and we needed something affordable, outdoors, and fun to do. After the shock and awe of what vendors charge near Harper's Ferry for rafting and tubing, I took a chance to call FRC in Front Royal. Was very happy that we could entertain everyone with a raft for $80 (4-people) and tubes for $20 each. So we went down the river with a raft and three tubes and that was excellent because kids could jump in and out from raft-tube and not worry about kids getting tired. Beautiful summer weather due to Polar Vortex! Love that they set you up and you go down the river at your own pace and they tell you where you can stop for lunch, etc. Can't wait to come back here in the Fall to go down the river and see the foliage.

Great place! We rented a canoe for an afternoon and had a great time. The staff were nice and more than helpful. They provided clear directions on where to go on the river and what time they will pick us up. In fact we arrived fifteen minutes early at our destination and they were there waiting to pick us up. Also the canoe we rented was very sturdy and held up to the few rocks we hit while going through some of the rapids. Highly recommend and will definitely have to go back for a multi-day trip!

Rafting is fun no matter what. The equipment here is good- just like other places. The manager/owner here was at the front desk- he was not welcoming, polite and to put it mildly it was utter chaos. What almost ruined the trip was that I three times saw the manager/owner yelling at employees. They were clearly new& high school kids. It was extremely off putting. The bus ride was fine. The wait from starting at the line to getting on the bus was about an hour an a half.

We took a couple of great rafting and tubing trips last summer and were thrilled for our first river trip this summer. My son and our new puppy came along for their first river trip. Had the same amazing service, but really got to see amazing customer service when our canoe capsized leaving us scared, upset, and without our bag that had our truck keys in it. The team was so efficient and kind. They rescued us, found the canoe, and even got our bag back. We are repeat customers for sure!

Three times in the last year I've taken 3-day kayak-camping trips with Front Royal Canoe - great experience every time. Considering how much hassle it is to store/haul kayaks and coordinate drop-offs and pick-ups by yourself, the convenience of renting from FRC is well worth the price for me. They are fantastic about picking me up on the third day when I'm ready to get off the river. Concerning crowds: this place is popular so try to avoid peak hours if possible - even on holiday weekends I can arrive before 9am and waltz through with no wait at all. Pro Tip: River navigation is simple but important for a smooth trip. By using my phone's GPS (remember this works even without cell service) alongside the map Front Royal Canoe provides, taking responsibility for my own navigation on the river is easy and everything goes smoothly! (Waterproof cell phone cases are easily available.) For single-day trips, keep in mind: you can take as much time as you like on the river as long as you're back by closing, so keep an eye on your progress and paddle as quickly or slowly as you like. Overall I'd recommend Front Royal Canoe!

Came this past Saturday with a few girlfriends and we LOVED IT!!! The staff were very welcoming once we arrived and not to mention the guy outside directing our parking (kudos for him) We did tubing on the 3mile, and our bus driver was super sweet and awesome! Kudos to her again. Until she mentioned snakes in the river, I almost rode back to the camp ground with her. In all we had a great time, no issues with the tubes and I am planning another trip before the end of the summer. Oh and the river was perfect, a few rocks....well alot of rocks but hey its tubing what do you expect. Btw the drive from DC was gorgeous, so many mountains and nature all around! Overall great team and company, will continue supporting. Thanks Guys :)

Wonderful afternoon in tubes down South Fork. Guide was prompt and explained route perfectly.

My experience here was so amazing. A group of friends and I decided to venture out for a day of tubing (spent about 4 hours on the water). The lake was beautiful, the tubes were in great shape, and they also offered tubes for our coolers. I had brought a styrofoam cooler and did not realize that it wasn't allowed on the lake; however, they gladly offered me one of their coolers at no extra cost. It was great! Everyone was so hospitable from the driver of the bus to the girls checking us in. They even hold your car keys for you which I highly recommend, so you don't lose it out in the water! There were only 2 bathrooms for the entire facility (not counting the port-a-potty) which I can see may become a problem if a lot of people came at once but our group didn't have an issue. (We had about 12 people). One of my friends, who have done this before, did mention that she felt there weren't a lot of people this time around. I will most definitely be back!

Front Royal Canoe rents canoes, kayaks, rafts, and tubes and then carts all that equipment (and its riders) around the Shenandoah River area. I decided last Friday morning that I wanted to go tubing that weekend. After checking the http://www.frontroyalcanoe.com/ site, I found that Saturday was sold out but Sunday was still available. My friend and I arrived by Zipcar and we had a blast on the river. The nearly 2-mile trip took 5 hours on the lazy Shenandoah, with many parts deep enough to swim in while others were shallow enough to require us to lift our fannies to get by. Highly recommended! Pros: A fully informative web site about what to take and expect Cons: Be careful, their reservation form asks for CC# and it is not secure -- and you must reserve in advance -- so call in your CC#.

Precious and I used to go rafting down this section of the river all the time. It's beautiful. The fishing is decent. It's quiet. It's peaceful. You can fish. You can swim. You can sun bathe. The water in this section is very calm. There are no real rapids. Parents can feel comfortable with young children. Front Royal Canoe Co is located on a hill overlooking the south fork of the beautiful Shenandoah River. They can set you up with a raft, a canoe or a kayak or you can just get a tube and float. They are also fully stocked with anything you'll need on the river from fishing gear to sunglasses. In late summer the river is shallow and the flow is slow, and some of the sections of the river are very shallow to the point that you have to get out of your canoe/kayak/raft and walk it over some rocks. It's not a big deal though. Precious and I used to go with another company. One day when Precious was away visiting her mom, I decided to check out Front Royal Canoe. The only problem I had with Front Royal Canoe Co is that the trip I took did not end at the headquarters. It ended in Front Royal, and I had to depend on someone to pick me up. I stayed there for hours waiting and worrying whether anyone would ever show up. Finally late afternoon someone showed up. I never booked with them again.

We were camping at Shenandoah river state park and decided to raft the river. They were very accommodating, giving us a cooler for our beers. For $25 each we rafted the river and had a great time.

Used their shuttle service for mysely and a friend. we both have 14 foot Tarpon kayaks and did the #3 11.5 mile trip. $35 for both of us with great service and friendliness. will be back this week for the northern branch with the class 2 / 3 rapid. highly recommend.

My then 7 yo son and myself took a tubing trip one day down the river and we had a blast. The price wasn't outrageous, reasonable for what we were doing. I liked that I was able to keep my keys at the office on a hook with my own personal number so I didn't lose them tubing down the river. The FRC co. drove us to where we were going to get off and we took our tubes and waded in the water until we got deep enough that we could start floating. I had a blast my first time floating and their time frame of 4 hours was right on spot. I am glad we got a tube with extra rope on it so I was able to tie my son to my tube and we were never lost. We wore our life vests the whole time even though we saw other people take theirs off I was instilling in him safety. Would definitely do it again!!! Next time we are going to bring a cooler with drinks!

This is my second consecutive summer coming to Front Royal Canoe Company. I was introduced to the area by a friend and have continued to come ever since for the views, route and friendly staff. We also like that this place is right off of I-66. My only experience with the company is tubing. We pay $25 to go tubing down the river and the tube is provided (and they take your debit/credit cards!!!). I love that we park and pay at the site and then are bused to the port. I like getting out of the tube at the place that we parked, rather than sitting around and waiting for a bus after sitting in the hot sun all day. The views are amazing. It's so nice to see the mountains in the background and to be surrounded by such pretty trees all the time. The route is one of my favorites. It's shallow at first and then is deep enough to swim in at the end of the tubing trip. The rapids are Class 2 rapids, nothing to be scared of but fun to go through! An example of the friendly staff- Today we brought a styrofoam cooler not knowing that it was against the rules and Front Royal Canoe Co let us borrow one of their large coolers for the day! Amazing customer service and so very much appreciated. Don't forget to bring shoes with a heel strap (sandals, flip flops or water shoes)! They conveniently sell water shoes at the little shop there, though, in case you forget! They also sell croakies, snacks, shirts, souvenirs, water bottles, fishing supplies and much, much more!

My husband and I have been coming here for many years. The staff and owner are extremely friendly and professional and do their best for you to enjoy your time. Their website shows the river conditions so you can plan your trip accordingly. They have all the equipment for any experience you wish to have on the river. They are quick to drop you off in the water and someone is either always there to pick you up or someone is on the way before you can even get out of the water so there is a very short wait.

Great kayaking trip. BF and I were kicking around the idea of kayaking but were not 100% committed to going. I called Front Royal Canoe early on Saturday morning to see if I needed to make a reservation or I could just turn up and get a boat. The lady who answered the phone was friendly and helpful. She said that she expected a slow day, so I could get by with no reservation but sometimes they sell out, so making a reservation is generally a better bet. We showed up around noon. There a bunch of people/groups in the parking lot so it was a little confusing about where to go, what to do but they had maybe 8 or 10 staff people around to put me in the right direction. The staff was helpful with providing advice to first time kayakers about getting 1 or 2 kayaks (2 = less fighting), if we should use sit-on-top or sit-inside kayaks (one of each), and which trip to take. FYI - the sit on top kayak was a lot easier to paddle and maneuver but the sit inside kayak was a lot more stable and less likely to tip over. The weather was perfect, beautiful, warm, sunny day. There was a fair amount of traffic from the drop off point to the front royal canoe (FRC) landing with canoes, tubes, and kayaks. A bus full of tubers showed up at the drop-off just behind us so there was a bit of a traffic jam getting on the river. it seems like most people hop out at FRC, so the second half of our trip was quiet and private. I saw deer, heron, geese, and a large snake eating a fish, so that was pretty gross (but also pretty cool). They warn people to stay off the private property on the sides of the river but the snake was warning enough for me! We had requested a pick up for a 4-hour trip, and when we came around the bend in the river, we could see that the bus was already there doing a pick up so it was nice that we didn't have to wait. We took pretty much the entire max recommended time. If you are going to paddle quickly the whole time, you;d need less. We did a fair amount of floating and observing the scenery. I'm so happy that we picked the 4 hour trip instead of the 6 hour trip because it was a lot more exhausting than I had expected. The price was reasonable. The changing rooms weren't great but at least they had them. The "rapids" were pretty tame and sometimes we got hung up on the rocks, but it wasn't too bad. They sell ice and have a little shop with stuff like water shoes and sodas. All and all it was a great time and I highly recommend it for beginner kayakers. Experienced kayakers looking for a white water adventure would be bored. --I forgot to mention that they allow you to bring your dog -- I didn't, but next time I will.