While we always try our best to accommodate walk-ins, reservations are highly recommended! Weekends during the summer and fall seasons book up very quickly. Reserving online ensures your equipment is prepped and waiting for you when you arrive.

We are a small shop with a limited inventory, so we have a strict cancellation policy. We will only issue a refund if you cancel more than 30 days before your reservation, or if you cancel more than 15 days before your reservation AND within 24 hours of originally booking.

We do not cancel for light rain. We will only cancel reservations if there are dangerous weather conditions (lightning, high winds, tornadoes). In the event you cannot make your reservation, please contact us and, at our discretion, we may be able to issue a credit to move your reservation to another time.

For more details, please review our full cancellation policy here.

We recommend dressing comfortably in layers and checking the local weather forecast. For e-biking, closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended. For kayaking, wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little splashed, and consider bringing a hat, sunglasses with a strap, and sunscreen.

We love dogs! Well-behaved dogs are generally welcome to join you on our kayak and paddleboard rentals. For e-bikes, dogs are welcome to run alongside the bikes at your discretion. We also offer a pull-behind cart option that is perfect for bringing smaller dogs along for the ride!

You can park in the parking spots right across the street from us. Otherwise, you can park on one of the side streets between our shop and the Highway 20 bridge. There is plenty of parking on the side streets and you’ll just be a short block away from Nuts Outdoors!

We do not offer group discounts for our standard services. However, we do have specialized corporate packages available for corporate events and team building outings. Please reach out to us directly through our Contact page to discuss these options.

We won’t send you out in a solid downpour, but we also don’t cancel reservations because of a light summer shower on a hot summer day. Unless there is dangerous weather (like lightning or high winds), your rental will proceed. We highly recommend bringing a light rain jacket if the forecast looks unpredictable.

We offer four distinct e-bike models to suit your ride:

• Beach Cruiser (500w): Easy step-through frame, great for paved trails and comfortable cruising up to 20mph.
• Fat Tire (750w): Extra traction for varied terrain with plenty of power.
• Small Fat Tire (500w): Perfect for riders 5’0″ – 5’7″, offering great stability and power.
• Specter-S (1000w mid-drive): Our premium downhill fat tire bike with full suspension. “Legally Bombed – More POWER!” Hits cruising speeds up to 28mph.

Absolutely! The vineyard trip is one of our most popular self-guided tours. The Driftless Region’s rolling hills make for a scenic ride, and our e-bikes provide the power you need to conquer the inclines with ease.

For safety reasons and to ensure optimal performance of the electric motors, our e-bikes have a strict weight limit of 300 lbs. Riders must be at least 16 years old to operate an e-bike independently, and must be tall enough to safely flat-foot the bike (generally 5’1″ and up, depending on the model).

Our 20+ mile range estimate is on the conservative side to be safe—lighter riders who pedal often get over 30 or 40 miles! True battery range depends entirely on rider weight and pedaling effort. We strongly recommend keeping an eye on your battery level and planning your route so it doesn’t die. While it is possible to pedal an e-bike without battery power, the bikes are quite heavy and pedaling them up the Driftless Region’s hills without electric assist is very challenging.

We actually offer pull-behind carts that you can rent to attach to our e-bikes! These are perfect for bringing small children (or small dogs) along for the ride. However, for safety and equipment reasons, we cannot allow customers to attach their own personal aftermarket child seats or trailers to our rental fleet.

Yes, we do! We want all our guests to be as safe as possible, so we provide high-quality helmets with every e-bike rental. For your safety, we strictly require all riders to wear a helmet while operating our electric bikes.

Our e-bikes feature pedal-assist and throttle capabilities that comfortably reach cruising speeds of up to 20 mph. Our premium Specter-S model features a powerful mid-drive motor capable of hitting speeds up to 28 mph.

It’s entirely up to you! Our e-bikes come equipped with both pedal-assist (which amplifies your pedaling effort) and a full throttle. You can pedal as much or as little as you want, though pedaling will significantly extend your battery range.

While our bikes do not come standard with large front baskets, we do have a small rack on the back for a few items like water bottles. Many riders also choose to bring a small, comfortable backpack to carry additional personal items.

We highly recommend the Galena River for kayaking and paddleboarding. It’s the only river we offer service on, ensuring you have the best possible experience exploring the historic waterways of the Driftless Region.

There are several great spots to access the Galena River! For our rental customers, we offer exclusive access to private launches along the river. If you are looking for public access, there is a launch right in downtown Galena, as well as down at Fairy’s Landing where the Galena River dumps into the Mississippi River.

Yes! We provide Coast Guard-approved life vests (PFDs) and high-quality paddles with every single rental. Safety gear is fully included in your rental price.

Our kayaks are incredibly stable, recreational-style boats designed for flatwater paddling. The Galena River is extremely calm with a very slow current. While tipping is always a possibility in paddlesports, it is very rare on the Galena River, making it perfect for beginners and families.

Not at all! For our Galena River trips, we handle all the logistics. We launch you from our private access points or shuttle you to the launch site, so you never have to worry about transporting the kayaks yourself.

No prior experience is necessary. The Galena River is incredibly calm and slow-moving, making it the perfect environment for first-time kayakers and paddleboarders to learn the ropes safely.

We typically target smallmouth bass in the Galena River using ultralight tackle and flies. However, the Galena is a rich river ecosystem filled with many of the same fish found just a few miles downstream in the Mississippi River. Commonly caught fish include catfish, walleye, carp, bullheads, rock bass, bluegill, suckers, and chubs.

No! We provide all the necessary rods, reels, tackle, and bait for your guided fishing trip. However, you are always welcome to bring your own favorite rod if you prefer.

Yes. All anglers must possess a valid Illinois fishing license, which can easily be purchased online before your trip.

To preserve the incredible local fishery in the Driftless Region, our guided fishing trips are strictly catch-and-release. Our guides will gladly help you safely handle the fish and snap some great photos before releasing them back into the water!

Our guided fishing trips generally run for a half-day (approximately 4 hours), which provides plenty of time to get on the water, learn the techniques, and hit several prime fishing spots along the river.

We do not fish from boats on our guided trips—we wade! However, we do not recommend wearing waders. We recommend wearing shorts and water shoes with good traction. Dress comfortably for the weather, prepare to get wet, and let our guides handle the rest!