Oleta River Outdoor Center — Attraction in North Miami

Staff good! Equipment good! Park good (watch out for the skeeters). Very good customer service. Good facilities. Ample parking. We went during the week so not too crowded. They let us change our date because of a thunderstorm so they were very accommodating. Beautiful park with nature so close to Miami and urban areas so very nice to see maybe what it used to look like here 150 years ago (kind of like a mini Everglades). Would give 5 stars but they don’t provide bug spray or sunblock. They do sell it in their store but it’s very expensive (we were looking at $35 for a regular size sunblock). Ended up spending $15 on a one ounce jar, I guess just enough for a full body application for one person. Luckily a kind woman who was finished with her kayak trip gave us bug spray because ours was the natural kind and minimally effective, reccomend something with 30% DEET or comparable, even wear long clothes treated with premetherin. These days most kayak rental places provide free sunblock and bug spray for people to use, would expect that from something in a state park, but don’t count on it being available unless you want to pay $$$$. Bring your own and should be fine. Mosquitos are wild, even covered head to toe with bug spray you get swarmed, but if you stay in the sunshine not a big issue. Definitely reccomended kayaking here (we had the canoe, which was a bit more challenging especially if you don’t have two strong paddlers) just bring your own bug spray...

One day I hope owner will read my review. I didn’t like a lot of things:

1. why Public restroom is far from the main office? when you build this complex, is not logical to think how customers walk???parking—— rental office——- use restroom ———then go to the water. Why restroom located next to parking? Why clients have to do circles?
2. The main office doesn’t have place for changing clothes, why??? Is it super expensive to put three plastic walls and count as fitting rooms???
3. I repeated three times I’ve never paddle board before, none of stuff give instructions how to turn right/left paddle boards. I thought I’m the only one who is first time here. You didn’t see how many your clients were confused at the “water traffic” at the canal because you cannot give simple first timers instructions.
4. I ask about locker safe… AGAIN nobody said we can keep our belongings tied with paddle board. AGAIN none of stuff told me locker safe is the extra charge.
5. As business owner you should understand right now 2024 and every modern safe vest has inner pocket for the KEY of locker safe and cellphone.
6. You offer to client the locker… And Paramount of stupidity it’s key without wristband😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ Where I supposed to put key?????? Inside of the bag, which is inside of the locker????? Or at the pocket of pocketless safe vest???

Where is logic???

Where is...

I have never seen such a disorganized operation in my life. I pre-paid for a mountain bike rental and show up here on time. I waited approximately 30 minutes in line to access the park because they don’t tell you that you have to pay for parking and that’s how long the line was to pay to park. After parking I walk into the rental center waiting in line for 15 minutes and they tell me I need a physical ID or credit card that they keep on file while I have the bike since I left those in my car I had to go back to the car and then waiting in line again.

After checking in, they sent me downstairs to pick up my bike rental. It’s a mob scene of people everywhere and I go to the bike rental counter, which is empty. I was purposely and completely ignored by several staff members for 15 minutes before I yelled at one of them to come help me. Just as I’m about to get my bike they make an announcement that there’s lightning in the area , and the park is closed until the lightning stops even though there was no lightning anywhere. It was sunny skies. They told me that they would send me a receipt for a refund of my $75 and of course I never got an email or a refund so I have to fight with my bank to get my money back.

The public restrooms they have are absolutely filthy and disgusting.

Absolutely...