Float This Boat!

Canoe Big River in Mendocino

06.15.2022
English bulldog and person in a redwood canoe on the Big River in Mendocino

What makes paddling Mendocino’s beautiful Big River even more enjoyable? Exploring it on an artisan canoe! This isn’t your big green plastic summer camp canoe. These handcrafted outriggers are fashioned from reclaimed virgin redwood and offer a ride that’s smooth, steady, swift, and fun! (Bonus: even the dog can come along; ask for the “canine cruiser.”)

Woman and her dog on a canoe on the Big River in Mendocino

Rent your outrigger from Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too!, where the good folks will let you know the best tide-tuned times to paddle out and back. The 8-mile Big River estuary invites the quiet exploration of a wide tree-lined oasis with resident river otters. However near or far you choose to go, the canoe’s outrigger and push-pedal rudder will make steering a breeze. Bring a picnic to enjoy and stay awhile—you’ll definitely want to savor this boat float.

TIP: Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too! also rents two-wheelers. Combine your canoe trip with a beginner-friendly bike ride on the Big River Trail, or ask about Mendocino’s advanced mountain biking trails.

Catch a Canoe & Bicycles, Too!, Hwy. 1 and Comptche Ukiah Rd., Mendocino; (707) 937-0273. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    {NOTE: Due to atmospheric rivers that can come this time of year, always be sure to check ahead for trail closures and hazards. And of course, wait for better weather and drier con

    View

  2. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Redding Lights and Silent Nights

    Give your holiday events calendar a major glow up this winter in California’s sunniest city. Redding is a revelation: Surrounded by iconic scenery like Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.

    View
  4. Hike at Olompali State Historic Park in Marin

    Historically Serene

    Olompali State Historic Park is a small park that packs big California history. Go on a mostly easy 3-mile loop hike where oak trees, big-leaf maples, and madrones are stunning in autumn.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    Hot Springs, Naturally

    Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.

    View

  2. Dune It Right

    Want a beach that will really get you away from it all? Monterey's Fort Ord Dunes State Park is just the ticket. And it often glows golden toward sunset.

    View
  3. A woman walks the path next to the beach at sunset at Palisades Park in Los Angeles County

    Santa Monica’s Most Beautiful Walk

    With its sweeping views of Santa Monica Bay and the Santa Monica Pier, the 26-acre Palisades Park, perched along the beach bluffs, may be a tourist’s delight for its quintessential California vibes–but it’s just as beloved by locals. Follow this 2.5-mile loop to experience it like one.

    View

  4. The Undead Ghost Town

    Every Halloween, the worlds of the living and the dead blur together. In the “living ghost town” of Randsburg that condition is permanent. This strange gold-rush town near the El P

    View