River Town Adventures

Take a walk down the River Trail near the Lansing Center and you'll see a little shack near a large collection of paddleboats -- that's home to River Town Adventures, a popular kayak and canoe livery.

Don't let the size of the rental stand fool you. The service, opened in 2014, offers plenty of organized trips around the region in addition to their boat rentals. Dubbed "adventure packages," River Town's daily drop-in trips start at either Moore's Park or near the Potter Park Zoo and end up at the River Trail rental stand.

"Getting down in the water really gives you a different perspective and a better appreciation for the natural resources that we really do have here in this area," said co-owner Paul Brogan. 

Longer trips for more experienced paddlers include a 10-mile Dimondale-to-downtown Lansing trek and an 7-mile adventure from the Brenke Fish Ladder in Old Town to Delta Mills Park just northwest of Lansing. Those require reservations ahead of time.

If you just want to paddle around and take in the natural and urban beauty of Lansing, it will set you back $10 for every hour.

All of these trips are along the Grand River -- unfortunately, all of the livery's Red Cedar adventures are shut down due to "log jam hazards," according to the River Town website. Brogan said he hopes to get the waterway cleared out and safe for boating within the next couple weeks.

Kruger Landing, the Administration Building, Riverfront Park... well, any access point

If you don't need to rent a boat, there are plenty of access points available to drop in and start paddling both on and off campus.

The spot right below the waterfall between Wells Hall and the Administration Building is popular for boaters looking to paddle through campus. Make sure to start at the waterfall or further downstream though, or expect an unwelcome tumble down the falls.

Kruger Landing, a little down the River Trail from MSU's campus, provides parking so you can tie a boat up to your car and easily get paddling. Its location just upstream from the Potter Park Zoo means you could potentially see exotic animals in addition to the greenery surrounding the river.

If you want to explore the region beyond the Red Cedar, the Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds keeps a nice list handy of other places to get on and off the Grand River.

If the unpredictability of a river is too much for you, Crego Park off Mt. Hope Road -- just minutes from Kruger Landing -- has a calm lake and canoe lift for easy access.