Canoe and kayaking appeal to all ages

There are several area canoe and kayak outfitters that can launch you in the waters this summer in safety and style. Here are some of the places you might want to check out:

Barefoot Canoe Rental, 210 Parkwood Drive, Tipp City 45371; (937) 698-4351; www.barefootcanoe.com; waterway is the Stillwater and Great Miami rivers; $30 per canoe, group rates may apply for four or more canoes. The other location is 235 E. Tipp Pike, West Milton 45383; (937) 698-4351; www.barefootcanoe.com; waterway is the Stillwater River; open daily during the canoeing season, weather permitting; cost is $28 to $38 per canoe.

Bellbrook Canoe Rental, 3234 Washington Mill Road, Bellbrook 45305; (937) 848-4812; www.bellbrookcanoerental.com; waterway is the Little Miami River; hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $36 for canoes, $26 for kayaks and $10 for tubes. Group discounts available. Birchbark Canoe Livery, 1455 River Road, Urbana 43078; (937) 652-2663; www.birchbarkcanoelivery.com; waterway is the Mad River; hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 on weekends. Cost is $26 to $31 per canoe, $18 to $23 per kayak, all depending on trip length.

Great Miami Adventures, 1995 Ross Road, Tipp City 45371; (937) 266-6252; www.greatmiami.net; waterway is the Great Miami River; prices range from $30 to $45 for canoes, $20 for kayak, depending on trip. A recreational float is held every Thursday at 6 p.m. on the Great Miami to Taylorsville Dam. Cost is $15 per person. Open daily, call for hours.

Great Miami Outfitters, 80 S. Main St., Miamisburg 45342; (937) 847-8787 or (877) 947-8787; www.greatmiamioutfitters.com; waterway is the Great Miami River; hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Rental rates start at $26 for kayaks and canoes; rates range from $20 to $45 for backpacks, sleeping pads and backpacking stoves.

Little Miami Canoe Rental, 219 Mill St. (State Route 123) Morrow 45152; (513) 899-3616; www.littlemiamicanoe.com; open weekends during April and October, weather permitting, and daily May through September, weather permitting. The cost per paddler ranges from $15 to $18.

Loveland Canoe and Kayak, 200 Crutchfield Place, Loveland 45140; (513) 683-4611; www.lovelandcanoe.com; waterway is the Little Miami River; hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Cost for the the 5-mile Castle Adventure, which takes paddlers past the Historic Loveland Castle, is $37 for a canoe, $25 for a kayak and $37 for a tandem kayak. Cost for the 10-mile Kings Mills Excursion is $48 for canoe, $28 for a kayak, and $48 for a tandem kayak. Group discounts are available.

Morgan’s Fort Ancient Canoe Livery, 5701 State Route 350, Oregonia 45054; 513-932-7658 or (800) WECANOE (932-2663); www.morganscanoe.com; waterway is the Little Miami River; hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily during the season; cost is around $30 per day for a canoe, $25 for a kayak.

RiversEdge Outfitters, 9964 State Route 42, Waynesville 45068; (800) 628-2319; riversedgeoutfitters.com; waterway is the Little Miami River; hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Rates ranges from $36 to $52 per canoe, depending on the length of the trail.

Whitewater Warehouse, 104 Valley St., Dayton 45404; (937) 222-7020; www.kayakdayton.com. Cost for the Saturday Fountain Floats is $15 from the store in June and July; Fountain Floats also are offered from RiverScape MetroPark for $6 per person for a half-hour, $10 per person for one hour, and $15 per person for two hours.