Hard Water Sports

Me and my wife went on a rafting tour yesterday, and the experience was great! Being a little later in the summer, I already knew the water wasn't going to be wild. But that did not make it less enjoyable! Tony and his team are great to talk with and know their stuff. We were on a tandem inflatable kayak and personally I thought it was much more fun than large rafts. We will be coming back next spring for the higher water!!

Thank you Tony and the Hard Water Sports team for a great adventure! Yes, there is whitewater rafting in Minnesota. It might not be as extreme as in some other places, but being only 1.5 hours from the Twin Cities makes it a perfect outdoor and fun activity for the whole family. Depending on the water level, you can choose a big, shared raft or try inflatable kayaks for one or two people, like we did, if you want something a bit more exciting. The Kettle River is really beautiful, the scenery looks just like the photos you see in travel magazines with rocky cliffs and waterfalls, it’s a very scenic and peaceful place to be. The area around Sandstone also offers many other options. You can hike and camp at Banning State Park or at Robinson Quarry Park in Sandstone. If you enjoy biking, bring your bike and ride the Willard Munger Trail. But the best part was definitely the rafting with Tony and his team. They also organize rock and ice climbing tours, which we added to our wish list for next winter! Highly recommended! Pro tip: make sure to read Tony’s confirmation and reminder emails carefully and follow the instructions to arrive 20 minutes before your tour time. Sorry Tony, we’ll be on time for our next visit!

I went to Hard Water Sports with a friend to celebrate her birthday, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! Because the water was lower, we got to take on the rapids in inflatable tandem kayaks instead of a big raft and it was an absolute blast! The guides were incredible!!! They were super knowledgeable and made us feel completely prepared. Before each rapid, they gave clear, helpful instructions on how to navigate as a team and what to expect. After each run, we’d regroup, and they’d talk us through the next section, pointing out where to avoid rocks and how to line up for a smooth ride. One of the biggest highlights was a surprise stop for cliff jumping, which is something that’s been on my bucket list for years! We also got to hop out for a short hike to a beautiful little waterfall, where you could swim up to it and even go under if you wanted. So fun! The guides were fun, encouraging, and supportive the entire trip. You could genuinely tell they love what they do and want everyone to have a great time. There were thoughtful touches throughout, like kicking off the day with a Beach Boys birthday song for my friend, taking photos of everyone along the way (which they Airdropped to us after the trip), and even bringing beverages for anyone who wanted one during the adventure. We’ll definitely be going back and bringing more friends and family with us. Thank you, Hard Water Sports, for helping create core memories we’ll never forget!

We had a great time on our first white water rafting trip! Our instructors were very knowledgeable and friendly. They told about the rich history of Minnesota during our downtime on the river, and it was really interesting. Highly recommend taking the family out and enjoying this beautiful river!

Tony was great tour lead and an awesome man. I had my first time kayaking the river and i am glad i did it with Tony.

Super impressed with the staff and guides at Hard Water Sports. We have rafted in Colorado and Montana, and didn’t know what to expect from a small town outfit. Boy, we were NOT disappointed. The guides were knowledgeable and funny, and took us on lots of secret hideaways. We faced some really challenging rapids, but also managed to fit in some cliff diving and swimming. Worth every penny and then some! We will be recommending them to anyone heading up north of the cities!

My husband and I recently went on a guided whitewater tour with Hard Water Sports, and I can't say enough great things about the experience! Our guide, Tony, was absolutely spectacular. From the moment we arrived, Tony made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable, which really set the tone for a fantastic adventure. Tony's knowledge and expertise were evident throughout the trip, and he went above and beyond to ensure that everyone was having a great time. Not only did he guide us through the rapids with skill and confidence, but he also took the time to capture photos of our group along the way, which he generously shared with us afterward. Beyond his technical abilities, Tony was an absolute pleasure to spend the afternoon with. His friendly and positive attitude made the experience even more enjoyable, and it was clear that he genuinely cared about making our day memorable. If you're considering a whitewater adventure, I highly recommend Hard Water Sports, and be sure to ask for Tony as your guide —you won't be disappointed!

My girlfriend and I had a blast. We did solo kayaks with a small group. Tony was friendly, knowledgeable, and encouraged us to step out of our comfort zones. Great tour if you want to get your feet wet with some whitewater!

I have been coming here for the last six years. Relatively safe river level two or three. You will get your address any rush I forget about your life problems because you have to be focused on the river. They will send you a little bit before you hit the river. I'm always scared of the river. I respect the river. Tony and his team are very professional. Spray every inch of your skin with mosquito repellent. Last weekend it was raining but no thunder I was so afraid of getting cold or getting sick but they gave us long rain shirts that kept all of us warm and relatively protected from the rain. It was my first time ever kayaking under the rain. I was ready for that and I wore my contact lenses and not my regular glasses.

We did a white water rafting tour on 8/24! It was an absolutely beautiful day and the water was very manageable. My partner and I had limited rafting experience, but we felt extremely safe and comfortable throughout the entire ride. Jeff gave a great safety demo prior to the experience. Anytime our group or any other group experienced any minor issues (ie. stuck on a rock), Jeff and Tony were not far behind to assist. They also gave great instruction on how to approach each rapid. To commemorate this phenomenal experience Tony was taking pictures throughout the entire tour that he will airdrop to you at the conclusion. We had a great afternoon on the lake with Tony and Jeff and could not recommend this experience enough!

Did an ice climb with them in winter. It's a hoot! Totally different than natural or gym rock climbing. The gear is solid and the prime guide Tony is a little gruff, but knows his stuff and will keep belaying until you run out of steam. He made a fun experience for a group of very differing experience levels, and brought along hot chocolate to keep us fueled. I would do it again and this is definitely one to check off the bucket list.

Fun experience. The guide was great and very knowledgeable about the area. The guide also took some photos for us as we went down the rapids.

It was great fun. Tony was an awesome, patient guide especially with me and three kids that were marginal/terrible kayakers. He took the time to show us the sites and appreciate the river and beauty of the place. It was a great escape from all that weighs on you with life's daily grind.

What a great experience!! The Kettle River is beautiful and the rapids are definitely manageable even for someone that's never done something like this before. Especially with the help of our guides, Jeff and Glen who spent time with our group practicing paddling and explaining what to expect and how to navigate each rapid. I give the experience 10 stars!!

We went rafting with Hard Water Sports on Monday afternoon. To say we are kayak/canoe novices would be an understatement. However, the guides at Hard Water Sports coached and guided us the whole way. You go through several sets of rapids and each one is packed with excitement. We stopped along the way to take photos of a waterfall and to do some cliff jumping. The highlight was when a fawn jumped into the water in front of one of the guides raft and tried to swim across the river. This trip was truly remarkable and we can't wait to go again. Thanks to Tony, his crew and his trusty sea dog, Scout!

Yes, I was as surprised as you are that there is whitewater rafting in MN. Now that we have that out of the way, I would recommend giving it a whirl. I myself attended on the word of another, as an attempt to round out my experiences of visiting all of Minnesota's State Parks this year. I wanted something different, unique, and fun. This ticked all those boxes. Granted going on Labor Day 2020 was a bit chilly, you warm up fast and forget you're even getting wet. I was the only one that tipped over and that was because I was bound and determined to try and surf the bottom of a rapid. I'm glad Tony took the time to show me and gave me a chance to experience a little more than just going down the rapids. I hear they run other experiences through the company and will look forward to ice climbing next time perhaps!

We were out this past weekend and overall really enjoyed the rafting experience. Our family is not new to rafting (Two Teenage Boys, Wife, & Me). We have rafted the Gartner in Montana / Shoshone and Snake in Wyoming / & St. Louis out of Cloquet MN. The Kettle would be tied second with the Gartner in Montana in our opinion Three great runs of Class III and a longer Class II for our outing. About half this trip has you enjoying the rapids and the other half is a great float with a few really nice scenic stops. Guide was very friendly did a nice job covering safety with reference to both gear and river rafting safety tips. My review is a four with actual Rapids scoring (3) Scenic Aspect scoring (4.5) Guide scoring (5) and Family Adventure scoring (5)

My girlfriend and I went ice climbing with Tony right after Christmas and couldn't be happier. We were out of state and Tony was very kind to reschedule us one day earlier due to weather conditions. Overall, everything went smoothly and the ice climbing park is only two minutes away from the Hard Water Sports office. Tony is a very experienced climber (over 25 years) and you can totally trust him and the experience is 100% safe. Make sure to have some warm but non-restrictive clothes suitable for active sports. Boots, crampons, axes, helmets, harnesses, and even gloves will be provided. Tony did a great job explaining the basics of ice climbing and both my girlfriend and went up two different ice routes a few times. It was a lot of fun and totally different from indoor climbing we both did. Forget everything you knew before about climbing (except how to tie knots - that still applies here). In the end, we both had a great time and learned something new. If you're in Minnesota and looking for a memorable adventure - ice climbing with Tony is the way to go. We'd love to come back for some rafting in the summer!

Had a great time with Adam as our guide! Would love to do it again! It was a great intro to whitewater kayaking. Felt like we were getting a personal lesson in the sport!

My best friend and I spent the afternoon with Tony from Hard Water Sports rafting the Kettle River in beautiful Banning State Park. I must say that we had an absolutely amazing time. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and gave is a wonder tour of the area. We left in the afternoon and departed from the state park. Almost immediately, you hit your first class 3 rapids. It is very fast paced, but we felt completely safe with our guide throughout the trip. We next banked on the side to regroup and then we were off again! Tony told us the names of all the rapids (Mothers delight, Dragon Tooth, and Hells Gate just to name a few) We stopped a few times throughout the trip to get up close and personal with the beautiful landscape. Tony pointed out several of the geological features in the area. Later in the trip, after Hells Gate, we paddled back to the bank and climbed up on some cliffs. There, we enjoyed a nice break and some sparkling water. Tony took our pictures from the cliff (and many more throughout the trip)! We then paddled through more rapids and hiked up to see a gorgeous waterfall that's hidden in the forest! Then, we paddled home and experienced one last rapid before landing back at Robinson Park in Sandstone. It was just the three of us on the river and we didn't see another soul on the entire trip. The peaceful serenity of the river mixed with the adrenalin pumped rapids made for one of the best river experiences I have had yet. If I make it back up to the area, I would not hesitate to book the trip again. I only wish there were even more rapids to experience of the river! It was a perfect day!

Amazing!! So much fun and the guides (Tony, Jeff, Adam) were the responsible and capable. I look forward to another river run in the future. The kettle river is magical.

Please - for your own good! - read this review. This company does not provide instruction on how to safely use its equipment, and it claims damage that was not caused after return. There is no process that they have for inspecting the equipment before rented to someone, and upon return they claim normal wear and tear as damage and charge a card even without consent. When I called to talk with them about this, they hung up on me. Hardware sports is likely to inevitably post a response to this, but -- and you will come to know this if you talk with him for any length of time -- they literally just hurled swear words and insults that are not based in reality when I tried to address the situation. I seriously would choose any number of other rental companies or places. Do not expose yourself to Tony charging your card for amounts that you should not be charged. I now am dealing with this through my credit card company that is appalled by the circumstances. Save yourself the poor treatment. And yes, I get it, I read reviews and think that maybe the person is just off base . . . I seriously caution you to not ignore this review. Terrible small business, do what you can to find rentals and tours elsewhere.

Thank you Hard Water Sports and guide Adam for a fantastic afternoon rafting down the Kettle River! Adam did a great job of coaching us down the river, pointing out sights, and telling jokes to entertain our group. It wa a fun, thrilling but safe excursion. Thank you!

We are very impressed with Tony. This past wknd, we used Hard Water twice. We enjoyed kayaking that much and it was so easy to work with Tony. Hard Water Sports &a Kettle River are hidden gems. Thanks again Tony!! Bridget & Jeff

Great trip on beautiful river. Had a blast...learned a lot. Will be doing this again.

Completely disappointed in this business and lack of business etiquette. Back in December we decided to purchase 2 groupons and before I bought them, since it is unclear on his website or groupon terms, call to make sure about ages of participants. He said no problem with I told him the kids ages. When I called to confirm a reservation and told him the ages he said he is not able to honor this per his insurance he cannot take children under 11. As the conversation went on and I told him I guess I would have to contact groupon for a refund and his next comment was "As far as I'm concerned this conversation is over" then he hung up on me. I have 2 nine year olds and they are very disappointed. I know many people who have rafted in Colorado with kids our ages and never been turned away. I hope he learns from this and treats people better with truth and sincerity

Awesome day and experience!! Guys.... the owners dog tagged along - that was added bonus to the whole experience. Scout you rock! Definitely recommend, Tony is great! This adrenaline and peacefulness combined is worth every penny You won't regret it! I only wished there were more rapids but a blast regardless

My wife, son, and I had a great time. Tony is the owner and was our guide. He has a very pleasant personality and was very knowledgeable about the river and the surrounding area. His dog accompanied us on the trip and was a welcome distraction. The Kettle River is beautiful and full of small rapids suitable for any age. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone. Thanks Tony. Pam, Deron, and Paul from Menomonee Falls, WI

Great trip, I highly recommend it! Tony is a super mellow nice guy, and kept everyone safe at the same time.

Went ice climbing with Tony today. Overall a good experience. He braved a very cold day, -15 F, to belay for me as an out of towner that could not reschedule. He knew the locals and the right routes for me, too bad it was too cold for a longer day on the ice. Top rope setups were safe. I'd recommend Tony for anyone looking to climb at sandstone.

These folks did a great job accommodating my brother's bachelor party. They were flexible with last minute changes and unforeseen delays. Just a wonderful experience we'll remember for a lifetime. I highly recommend Hard Water Sports!

Awesome day on the river with Tony! Can't say enough about how great of a deal it was to have a 3.5 guided tour on the river with Tony who knows this area like the back of his hand. Very fairly priced at $65. Very impressed with his knowledge of the river and surrounding areas. Felt like we had a personal tour guide as my girlfriend and I had never done something like this before, but got to navigate the rapids in our own boat, with Tony, his dog Scout, and another couple in a raft right in front of us. Tony was right there though to help us navigate the river and even drag us out the one time we got stuck on the rapids! Can't explain how beautiful this area was and how much fun we had on the river from the personal tour guide, to clip jumping, to just enjoying a day on the river. Highly, highly recommend the Kettle River Rafting Tour!

Had a great afternoon on the Kettle River with Tony (guide) and his dog, Scout. We were a party of 2 and there was another party of 8. We were paired in small 2-person inflatable canoe-like rafts with Tony and Scout in the lead. After a quick check-in/gear fitting it was a short 10 min drive to the launch site. We had a safety overview and quick paddling lesson, then we were off. Tony discussed the best way to manage each set of rapids as we approached, demonstrated it, then faced upstream to coach each raft through as we through. We stopped to "surf" rapids a few times, stretch our legs with short hikes to rocky outcrops for drinks, scenic views, and jumping into the river, and visited Wolf Creek Falls. River was lower so rapids were mild making for a very safe first whitewater rafting experience and learning to paddle with my 11 year old son. Low water also meant a long steady paddle against the wind at the end. The Kettle River is gorgeous and we had a wonderful 3.5 hours on this guided adventure. Thanks Tony!