Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we have a small heated bathhouse on property that includes two showers, two restrooms and two changing rooms. We also have port-a-potties throughout the campground.

When booking online, in the final checkout screen you will enter your payment information & it will ask you for any additional notes or requests. This is where you will select your preferred site. Over the phone, you will also note your requested site to the representative you’re speaking with right before payment. We do our best to accommodate all requests, but if there is a conflict – you will receive an email back from us about your placement.

We use top of the line brands (Wenonah, Old Town, Jackson Kayak, Ocean Kayak & Mad River Canoe.) We have canoes and tandem kayaks that will accommodate two paddlers & single kayaks for individuals. All kayaks are popular sit-on-top models. Our canoes can accommodate a child as a middle rider, if the child is UNDER 70 lbs.

Vaccinated, socially friendly pets are welcome in our campground & must be kept on-leash. Pets are NOT ALLOWED in any of our boats or on any of our buses to/from river trips. If you arrive for a river trip with your pet, you will not be able to paddle with us.

We recommend a West Trip for families or first timers. This is a little wider section of the river which makes it easier to learn and requires less maneuvering. The first trip (Nasby Dam), which is only 4 miles, is great for families with little ones and there is not any portaging required. The 7 mile (Curtis Creek) trip is about an hour extension of the short trip and becomes a little more curvy and bendy and has beautiful rocks and hills with great scenery. It is important to know that Saturday is our busiest day of the week, so for the best family experience we always recommend visiting Sundays-Fridays.

Reservations are highly encouraged but not required. Saturdays & Sundays are our busiest days, time slots often fill up & we do run out of canoes & kayaks at times. Making a reservation secures your departure time & boats & also results in a much speedier check-in process to allow for more time out on the water!

Weight limit differs depending on if you are canoeing or kayaking.

For our single kayaks, the total weight capacity is 300 lbs.

For tandem kayaks, the total weight capacity is 450 lbs.

For canoes, the total weight capacity is 500 lbs.

These limits include the weight of the paddler(s) plus any gear in your boat with you. If you are nervous about reaching these capacities, please contact us prior to booking your trip.

If for any reason you need to cancel all or a portion of your reservation, the following guidelines will apply:

* 11 days or MORE prior to your arrival date – you can reschedule for another date within the same season or receive a credit for a future date.
* 10 days or LESS prior to your arrival date – No Refunds or Credits are issued, unless you purchased Trip Cancellation Protection.
* Failure to check-in or contact us on the date of your scheduled arrival may forfeit your site, boat reservation and seat on the bus.
* No refunds or credits are issued for dropping boats or changing trips less than 10 days prior to your trip date & time, unless you purchased Trip Cancellation Protection.
* No refunds or credits are issued for no call/no shows. You MUST contact us prior to your trip time to take advantage of the Trip Cancellation Protection.

Trip Cancellation Protection allows you to cancel your trip at any point before arrival and receive a full refund for your trip, minus that fee. This can include partial or full cancellation. Trip Cancellation Protection is 15% of your total trip cost. You MUST contact us before your scheduled trip time to take advantage of the Trip Cancellation Protection. No credits or refunds are issued to no call/no shows. No refunds or credits will be issued once parked at your site or on the river. Only choose one per reservation.

Our campsites vary in size & shape. A standard site fits one camper trailer & 2 vehicles, or 2 tents & 2 vehicles. You must fit all tents, gear & vehicles on your site. There is NO overflow parking, so please pack accordingly & carpool if possible. Our Group Site does accommodate more people & tents. Please see our camping page for more info.

PFDs (Personal Floatation Devices) or Life Jackets must be worn at all times for anyone age 12 & under. If you are 13 or older, a life jacket must be on your boat at all times, but you are not required to wear it. This is a state law & fines can be issued from the DNR for non-compliance.

Our single kayaks fit just 1 person & our double kayaks fit 2 people. Our kayaks do NOT accommodate any child middle riders or lap children.

Yes, we take full payment at the time of booking in order to hold your boats &/or campsites.

We have a variety of camping & paddling gear for your time here on the river, as well as custom apparel & souvenirs. If you’re looking for something specific before you arrive, don’t hesitate to give us a call ahead of time!

The Mongo General Store, located just up the road from us 1/8 of a mile has gas, snacks, drinks & serves made-to-order pizzas, burgers, subs, and more! Check out the menu here or their Facebook page for more info.

Check-in time is at 2pm on the day of your arrival. If you would like to request an early check-in, this request must be placed with our office PRIOR to your arrival. We attempt to fill all reasonable requests, but early check-in times cannot always be granted.

The trip time that you book is your time of DEPARTURE. In order to depart & get on the water on time, you will need to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to that trip time. We recommend 45 minutes on a Saturday or holiday. Arriving later than this can result in a change in trip time/availability.

The minimum age & weight for any paddler or middle rider is 3 years old & 30 lbs. The maximum age & weight for child middle riders in a canoe is 10 years old & 70 pounds.

Yes, you can bring your own canoe or kayak! You will also need to bring your own paddle & life vest. We provide transportation service for personal boats Sunday – Friday, which includes launch/takeout, transportation, parking & use of our facilities. We highly recommend making a reservation to ensure we have a seat for you on one of our buses. We do not allow launching or parking only at our business if you don’t need transportation from us. Please see the Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area Map for details of where to launch/park for free in public DNR lots. If you are a registered camper with us, you may launch or take out your own personal boats on our property without using shuttle service.

We offer 4 different river trips ranging from 4 miles to 13 miles.

Our East trips are 10 and 13 miles. On these trips, you will paddle through winding, bending, beautiful wooded sections of the river. They can be a little more technical, so these trips are usually most fun for the go-getters or return visitors.

Our West trips are 4 and 7 miles. These trips take you through wider & scenic sections of the river. Our West trips are fit for almost anyone who wants to get out on the river!

Styrofoam of any kind, glass bottles, and illegal drugs are not allowed on the river. Please leave no trace & carry out anything you take on your trip. Using prohibited items or leaving trash of any kind on the river can result in fines.

Pets are NOT permitted in any of our boats or on our buses to/from river trips. If you arrive for your river trip with your furry friend, you will not be able to paddle with us.

* FULL payment is required at the time of reservation.
* Trip changes and cancellations may be made up until 10 days prior to your reservation start date.
* Cancellations made more than 10 days prior to arrival will qualify for a credit for a future date.
* NO REFUNDS unless you have purchased Trip Cancellation Protection.
* If Trading Post cancels the trip due to river or weather conditions, you will be offered a credit for a future date.
* Once you are on the river or parked at your campsite, there are no refunds or credits.
Please keep in mind that heat, wind, cold, rain, insects, and ever-changing river conditions are part of the activity!
* NO pets allowed on the boats or buses.
* NO Styrofoam coolers or glass bottles on the river.

We’re not afraid of a little rain here at TPO, so we will run trips in the rain. However, if river levels aren’t fit for paddlers or if there is a chance of high winds, thunder/lightning that we see as unsafe for our customers, we may postpone your trip to a later date or time. If you’re thinking the weather looks questionable, please always check our social media pages & website for news & updates, or give us a call at the office.

We always place safety as a priority. There are times where weather is a challenge, but usually this is only temporary and doesn’t last long. TPO reserves the right to delay the start of your trip due to weather. We try to keep delays to a minimum, but safety is our first concern.

If inclement weather or river conditions show significant risk, we reserve the right to issue a credit for a future trip, offer a similar trip instead, or issue a refund. Refunds are issued ONLY if Trip Cancellation Protection has been purchased.

To keep the peace in our campground, generators are NOT permitted on any of our sites.

Yes. Our primitive sites are best for hammocking, because they have more trees than most of our electric sites, however there are a few electric sites that can accommodate hammocks as well. Be sure to put a note in your reservation if booking online, or tell one of our team members over the phone so that we can try to get you on a site best fit for hammocking (based on availability.)

Our canoes are made for 2 adult-sized paddlers. Each canoe can accommodate 1 child middle rider, as long as that child is between 30 & 70 lbs.

Yes, as long as the cooler is not styrofoam & there is no glass in it, coolers are allowed. Our canoes fit most coolers best, but kayaks will fit a small soft-sided cooler.

When you rent a boat from us, it includes life jackets & paddles for each person in the boat. If you bring your own boats, we do have a few LIMITED rental life jackets & paddles. We strongly recommend that you bring your own or call ahead to make sure we still have those rentals available for your trip.