Sylvania Outfitters

Victoria Meagher

2023-10

Took a 5 days trip with some friends had a really great time, camp sites were super clean and we were able to set up hammocks at both; along with tents and still had plenty of space. Fire rings are very helpful and the maps are almost perfectly accurate. Portaging from Crooked to Clark was very easy, however Whitefish was a whole different monster. Highly recommend! We will be back

josh benton

2023-10

The staff was helpful, knowledgeable and the rental process was quick and easy. They delivered the equipment to the lake landing right on time and even refunded us a full day when we returned a few hours earlier than scheduled. 100% will reuse them on future trips.

Ricardo Martin

2022-06

Polite helpful staff and very reasonably priced. We rented 3 canoes and paid for the drop off and pick up. Vests were included and were in good condition all the gear was well maintained. Our guide was super nice and answered all of our questions thoroughly. Great experience all around.

Scott Cherek

2023-07

I've chosen Sylvania Outfitters for canoes, fishing gear and camping supplies for the past several years, and the owner, Bob Zelinski has been outstanding. Not only are the lightweight Kevlar canoes (only 43 lbs) awesome for portaging, but Bob Z. offers helpful advice for fishing for trophy smallmouths, walleyes and seeing native wildlife in the area. Whether you're new to remote camping or a longtime outdoorsman, taking a day trip or a weeklong adventure, I highly recommend Sylvania Outfitters as the #1 place to visit before you launch your canoe!Update: June 18, 2023. 5-star service once again from Bob Z and his son Eli. They provided 3 Kevlar canoes, paddles, center seats, PFDs and canoe delivery for our group of 8 at Whitefish Lake. Another great trip of camping, fishing and sunsets.

Adeline Menchaca

2023-06

easy canoe rental process, good prices, very knowledgeable, and LGBT customers are welcome too! a big thank you for helping our first trip into an old growth forest be successful and memorable!

Dave Brask

2024-01

The people to see if you're going to Sylvania Wilderness. They'll have the canoes waiting for you at the put in, just stop by at the shop for paddles and PFDs. Always took care of us, over a dozen trips. Nice people too.

David Riebe II

2023-09

Very helpful, and knowledgeable staff. Good place to start if you're a novice as they really set you up for success with good supplies and guidance of the region. Small quaint shop has a lot of things you may have forgot to pack and they're reasonable even when compared to Amazon.

Tom Crites

2021-06

Rented a canoe for a three day trip. The staff was very helpful from recommending some of the better campsites to what equipment I might need. They also told me since I returned the canoe before 10am on the last day, it would only be a two day rental, not three! Saved me some $. :-)

Dennis S

2019-06

Wonderful place to rent skis. Beautifully groomed trails. The owner is a treasure and full of knowledge about the area. Can't wait to visit here again.

Stephanie McCormick

2023-11

Go see Don Zelenski, he's your man for any and everything that you'd like to know about the area.. kayaks, canoes, all camping gear and a small gift shop that he just acquired from a local business that no longer exists. If you'd like the coolest, most original map of the Sylvania Wilderness area go see him, give him $30 get the map his sister Sara did by hand and frame it.. it's amazing!! Also Watersmeet shirts are only $20 and they are soft like butter.

Chris Langlois

2023-07

Bob at Sylvania Outfitters has all the knowledge to get you out and enjoying this wonderful slice of nature. Whether you are going to be spending multiple nights camping and canoeing around the wonderful fishing lakes or if you want to kayak down the river for an exciting day trip. Bob can handle it all. Best to call in advance as some of his gear can get booked up quickly and space is limited depending on what time of year your heading up.

Gabriel J. Vázquez-Badillo

2022-06

Bob is amazing and very informative. I had fun kayaking on Ontonagon River. Got to see some snapping and eastern painted turtles (July 18, 2021).

Nancy Ladd

2023-08

Such a great adventure on the Ontonagon River. Only thing that wasn't perfect was the mosquitoes at the drop-off location. Just plan ahead, bring bug repellent, and move onto the river quickly!!! To be fair, we were warned at the shop to get ready for them.

Kristin Heath

2023-08

We rented a canoe for a day and they helped us load it and gave us everything we needed. Nice people there and great prices too. I think they have kayaks as well and fishing gear.

Abraham Romney

2022-06

The rates are reasonable here, and they have some good set routes they will drop you off and pick you up on for kayaking. We did the one that is labeled #3 on their website at the time of this writing. The rapids were quite easy but still fun. We fished and caught small mouth bass. Anyway, staff were friendly and helpful an patient with our questions. The kayaks worked great.

eric lopez

2022-06

Have made a point of stopping in whenever we're near. Bob is a great person and very knowledgeable about the vast area

Michael Bast

2023-06

The owner is well versed in the Rivers and Lakes in the area relating to canoeing and kayaking those bodies of water. The kayaks and paddles we rented were of good quality. Our group will be back again to have Sylvania Outfitters help execute our next white water adventure.

Josh Zilm

2023-06

We’ve use Sylvania Wilderness Outfitters 3 years in a row for canoe rental. Friendly staff, reasonable price, high end equipment, super convenient. Returned a day early and owner was kind enough to refund my last day without me even asking. See you next year! Thank you.

Kara Korenic

2022-06

This place is so great. My husband and I rented a canoe for the day. They were able to drop off the canoe at the lake we wanted to paddle and pick it up at the end of the day. So kind to work with and very reasonably priced. Will absolutely be back. Beautiful lakes and forest to explore

Richard Zilm

2022-06

Just don't like the charging policy. Picked up 12:00 on Thursday and dropped off 12:00 Monday, charged for 5 days. Asked why and was told it was that way on case we were late but we were not . No discount for renting for the second year either. Equipment was nice all Kevlar canoes.

Tom Stephens

2018-06

These folks are a great resource. Friendly, affordable and very knowledgeable of the area.They have a huge amount of rental gear available, along with just about everything need to go enjoy the wilderness. You can even get meals form them. They also do drop offs and pickups, shuttling, 4 wheel bikes, river trips. Just ask, you may be surprised at what they offer.

Ashley Neitzel

2020-06

My boyfriend and I recently took a road trip up to Sylvania Wilderness and did some camping at Clark Lake. We had such a great experience renting a pair of kayaks through Sylvania Outfitters for a very affordable price. They were able to actually deliver and pick up the kayaks for us so we didn't have to worry about transporting them ourselves. They provided us with paddles and life vests as well. The kayaks were in really great shape as well.

Jason Muskovitz

2021-06

My girlfriend and I rented kayaks. They had us booked for a type of kayak I didn’t want, this was 100% my fault and they were more than willing and helpful in switching for us. Great price and location.

Roy Hinkley

2020-06

Sylvania Outfitters provided service which was reasonably priced and made our six night canoe camping/fishing trip possible. "Yooper Bob" is a true character and a source for plenty of UP history. He and his staff were extremely helpful. My advice is to spend a little extra and go with a kevlar canoe. They're much lighter, move better and are easier to portage. Given my prior paddling experience was with kayaks, I initially chose a kayak but quickly switched to a single person kevlar canoe. It made a world of difference in the water and carried a lot more gear.

DAVE BRASK

2015-06

We've worked with Bob and Eli at Sylvania Outfitters several times for scout trips. We've found they're reasonable, knowledgeable, efficient, and nice folks. We are working with them again for our next trip.

Nathan Drummond

2016-06

I rented the three gallon water jugs, planned my trip in the Ottawa National Forest thinking the water jugs were three gallons. Turns out the water jugs we're actually 2 gallons. When I first got the jugs, they looked slimmer than three gallons, the girl at the counter insisted they were three gallons. Also, they provided propane for the stove I rented, half full propane canisters... But whatever, I lived and the girl behind the counter was nice.

Idowu Micah

2023-06

The owners are nice and friendly, Uncle Bob has a deep knowledge about the area. I had a wonderful experience.

Matthew Trefilek

2019-06

Great service. The owners are extremely friendly and are happy to share their wealth of experience with anyone who is visiting Sylvania. We have never had issues with any of their equipment.

Ry P

2015-06

More rustic trails than ABR in Ironwood and Sylvania caters more towards classic skiing but if you are looking for some nice hills, great scenery and peace and quiet this is the place to go! I plan on coming back

Andy Hacker

2019-06

A wonderful time and very helpful. They worked efficiently to meet all our camping and canoeing needs. We will definitely come again.