eNRG Kayaking — Attraction in Oregon City

My lady and I attended the music on the water event that was held on July 17th(been meaning to leave a review). Overall the experience was amazing! We've only been kayaking one other time, not at this location, so we're still newbies.

When we arrived, there was a table setup outside on the docks where we could sign our guest waivers. This wasn't working properly online for a tandem kayak for some reason. We were then directed to "follow the arrows". We did so and arrived at the main building.

Once we got inside there was no guidance at all. We wandered around looking for some help but with so many other guests inside it was difficult to find any employees. After several minutes we were able to spot someone walking around offering help. Their attire did not stand out and from what I recall, didn't indicate they actually worked there. We finally got set up with paddles and life jackets and where taken to our kayak. We loaded up and were told we could paddle out and wait in the open water.

After about 10 to 15 minutes, a large canoe came out of the harbor with two people paddling and a third in the middle, whom we assumed was the entertainment of the evening. NOBODY said ANYTHING! They just paddled right through the group and up stream. We weren't sure what we were supposed to do at that point. That feeling seemed to be the overwhelming consensus amongst the other guests as well.

Slowly, everyone started following the mystery boat. After traveling a ways up stream, the canoe pulled into a cove and the paddleless man in the middle picked up a guitar and began singing, confirming we had in fact made the correct choice in following. After a few songs, the playing stopped and the canoe again plowed through the audience and began traveling upstream. And again, NOTHING was said. We pursued with more certainty this time.

Once we reached the falls, we were treated to another concert. This time, as the canoe departed, the tandem kayak that myself and my lady were in was rammed and pushed into the rushing water coming from the falls. The people paddling the behemoth were without a care, silent, as us amateurs drifted into the rapids. Fortunately, we stayed afloat, but just barely.

The trip ended with a float back to base all the while listening to guitar accompanied singing coming from the battering ram of a canoe.

Had there been better communication amongst the staff, it would've been a 5 star experience. Having the knowledge we have now would make it...

Poor service, policies, and safety mindset. Booked the city lights night paddle for 3 people including myself. Crazy rain storm moved in and a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Clackamas County during the time we were supposed to be on the river. When I called five hours before we were supposed to launch to ask what their plan was, they said they'd let us know only 15 minutes before we were supposed to arrive. My friends and I all live a decent drive away and felt that notice was insufficient. And in general, we felt that approach was unsafe since the storm was expected to last right up to our departure time.

National Weather Service showed the warning would expire only 20 minutes before our set departure time. The woman on the phone told me she heard the storm was going to be over four hours before that. When I asked where she heard that, she literally said her phone's weather app and her mom. (I should have asked who her mom was!) eye roll

Idk, this wasn't like, "it's raining a little and I don't want to paddle" kind of last-minute cancellation. This was a potentially very dangerous situation and this company chose profits people.

They wouldn't even issue me a credit when I explained we felt unsafe paddling under those conditions, and that we wanted to know about the plan in a more reasonable timeframe. It's really a shame because I was excited to go out with them. They lost my...

What a wonderful experience! We were helped by Mark and Mia (I hope I got the names right!) and they were quit helpful and so nice to deal with. We were taken up the river a mile or so and we put in just near a bridge. The water was refreshing and current was mild. We were give high quality heavy duty tubes to float down the river on. They are not bottomless, but have a mesh screen to rest your bum on and perhaps a water bottle. The entire trip was maybe an hour or so. We wanted to go back up and do it all over again! There are kayak excursions and other rental options around Oregon. Family night kayaking will be next for us. Again, a wondeful...