Canoe, Kayak and Tube

Stillwater Paddles (no current)

2-Mile Argo Pond / 2.5 mile Gallup Pond

No reservations. Come paddle a boat where the river is calm and lake-like in 2.5-mile Gallup Pond or 2-mile Argo Pond. We have plenty of kayaks and canoes, SUPs at Argo, and pedal boats at Gallup. With over 500 boats between our two locations, we rarely run out of stillwater options even on the busiest of days. Leave and come back to the same dock (no van transportation needed). Perfect for novice paddlers! 2-Mile Argo Pond / 2.5 mile Gallup Pond. *Last boat rental is 2 hours prior to close. When we close at 7 p.m., the last rental is at 5 p.m. with all boats due back by 7 p.m.

Stillwater Boat Rental Fees

Boat	Available	Cost
1-Person Kayak	Argo and Gallup	$20/Kayak - 2 hours
2-Person Kayak	Argo and Gallup	$25/Kayak - 2 hours
2 to 3-Person Canoe	Argo and Gallup	$25/Canoe - 2 hours
3-Person Pedal Boat	Gallup	$15/Boat - 1 hour
4-Person Pedal Boat	Gallup	$25/Boat - 1 hour
Stand-Up Paddleboard	Argo	$25/Board - 2 hours

River Trips (current)

Argo to Gallup River Trip - 3.7 miles, 1.5 hours

Paddle down the Argo Cascades and on down the beautiful Huron River in Ann Arbor.

No reservations; we have 100's of kayaks and canoes!
Groups of +25 people, please contact Recreation Supervisor Joe Anderson at 734.794.6240 or janderson@a2gov.org

Barton to Gallup River Trip - 5.7-mile, 2.5-hour

Starts at Gallup with a van ride upriver to Barton. Paddle 2-mile Argo Pond, through the cascades, and on down the river ending back at Gallup.

Boat Reservations are required

River Trip Boat Rental Fees

Boat	Argo to Gallup Trip 3.7-Mile, 1.5-Hours	Barton to Gallup Trip 5.7-Mile, 2.5-Hours
1-Person Kayak	$28/Kayak	$38/Kayak
2-Person Kayak	$35/Kayak	$45/Kayak
5-Person Raft (6 Person if children)	$85/Raft	N/A

Tube the Rapids at Argo

Tube the River details, rentals, personal tubes, parking and river map.

Schedule

TBD

*Last rental is 2 hours prior to close. When we close at 7 p.m., the last rental is at 5 p.m. with boats due back by 7 p.m.

Tubes

Rental tubes at the Argo Livery
- Tube rentals are offered up to 2-hours prior to closing
- $14/person for a 2-hour rental
- No children under the age of 8 on rental tubes
- 1 person per tube
- Shoes are required (no flip flops please)
- Water shoes are for sale at the Argo Livery for $20
- Tube down the Argo Cascade rapids and walk back up to repeat 2 or 3 times in your 2-hour rental
- Rental tubes are required to stay in the Argo Cascades and tubes are returned to the Argo Livery

Argo Livery has tubes for purchase. Have your own tube? Tube the River

River Programs and Events

Our liveries offer programs and instruction for many ages and abilities, including: day camps, preschool programs, senior kayaking, adapted kayaking, Huron River Day and more.

See our Programs & Camps

Parking at Argo and Gallup Parks

Parking on weekends/holidays at Gallup Park - Overflow Parking is at Huron High School or Furstenburg.
Parking on weekends/holidays at Argo Park - Overflow Parking is at the Kellogg Eye Center 900 Wall Street (Lot M87).

Plan ahead before your visit

Parking at the Argo Livery is very limited, and we kindly ask that you plan before visiting us. Please consider parking in nearby parking lots on weekends and pay attention to all parking and traffic signs. Please do not park in areas that are designated as NO PARKING zones or block access for emergency vehicles. On weekends, park at the Kellogg Eye Center, Lot M87 (900 Wall Street). Consider alternative transportation methods, such as biking or carpooling, to reduce the number of vehicles in the area.

Our goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors, and we believe that by working together, we can achieve this. Click here to view/print a the map below.

Barton Dam Construction

Public Access Restrictions due to Construction

Please note: Barton Dam embankment construction work will begin in early March 2025. The dam is adjacent to Barton Pond, Barton Nature Area, Bird Hills Nature Area and trails to and along the Huron River and, due to construction, public access within certain areas will be restricted. This includes no public on-site access to Barton Pond. The anticipated completion date for this construction project is June 2027. Please see the Jan. 22, 2025, news release and the map of restricted areas (PDF) for details. Thank you for your patience during this required work.

FAQs

Argo Cascades

Argo Cascades are 1,500 feet of nine man-made drops and pools that bypass Argo Dam
Kayakers get waist down wet in the cascades, as water splashes over your boat
Boats sometimes flip over, so be prepared to get wet!
Requirements to kayak down the Argo Cascades:

Paddler in the stern of kayak must have experience paddling a boat (5 or more times) and be able to steer to stay in the middle of river and avoid hitting rocks
Everyone in the boat must be a capable swimmer and be able to right a capsized boat

What to Wear/What to Bring

Dress for the weather (layers recommended)
Dress for getting wet (bathing suit or quick-drying clothes)
Wear shoes that can get wet and will stay on to protect your feet
DO NOT take valuables or personal belongings on the river unless secure in a dry bag/container (we sell dry bags/boxes and have lockers that take quarters at both liveries); boats flip over and phones fall in the river
Towels not recommended in boats (they just get wet)
Maximum size coolers 12'x12'x12' allowed (one per boat, no Styrofoam)
No alcohol; no glass bottles
Argo Livery sells cold drinks, chips, candy, granola bars, sunscreen, eyeglass cords, dry bags, and water shoes
Gallup Livery sells cold drinks, coffee, chips, candy, granola bars, ice cream, sunscreen, eyeglass cords, dry bags, t-shirts, and hats

Boat Rental Policies

Lifejackets are required and provided with all boat rentals
Children must be age 1 years old or older to be in our boats.
Dogs are welcome in kayaks and canoes
Boats available for the river trip depend on the water level

No canoes or rafts in low water conditions

Gallup Livery offers van transportation for non-renters for $10/person (no boats or inflated tubes)
We accept cash, all major credit cards, and checks for payment
One person in your group is required to fill-out a rental agreement and leave a deposit of car keys or State issued I.D.
All boaters are required to sign a Risk Waiver (PDF); a parent or guardian must sign for children younger than 16 years old
Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied on the water by an adult (age 18 or older)
Paddles are only available for those renting canoes and/or kayaks
Late fees: The City will charge double the rental rate per watercraft for equipment that is not returned to the livery by closing time

Universal Accessible Boat Launches

Located at both the Argo and Gallup Liveries
Accessible Kayaking (PDF)

Group Boat Rentals

Outdoor teamwork and fun on the beautiful Huron River! Boat rentals for all skill levels and group sizes. We do not offer discounted fees for groups. Please contact Joe Anderson janderson@a2gov.org for more information and to make a group reservation.

Groups <25 people
- No reservations needed for the 1.5-hour river trip or stillwater paddling
Groups >25 people - please contact Joe Anderson at janderson@a2gov.org
- Weekdays are less crowded so best for large groups
- Weekends before noon are also less crowded
- Stillwater paddles or the 1.5-hour river trip are available for large groups

Calendar

School Groups

We can work with you to provide a river experience that best fits your class for an unforgettable outdoor exploration by boating on the Huron River. Please contact Recreation Supervisor Joe Anderson at 734.794.6240 or janderson@a2gov.org.

Discounted boat rentals for school groups on spring/fall weekdays
Have adults print and sign Risk Waiver (PDF) prior to trip date
Discounted boat rentals for school groups on spring/fall weekdays
Have adults print and sign Risk Waiver (PDF) prior to youth group trips

Stillwater Paddles (no​ current)

2-Mile Argo Pond / 2.5 mile ​Gallup Pond​