Welcome to O’Kenny River Tubing
Pembroke, Ontario

We Specialize in Fun!
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O’Kenny Craft Spirits owns a beautiful 4-acre property on the banks of the Muskrat River. This is where we produce our famous O’Kenny Spirits like whisky, vodka, gin, rum and moonshine. This is our 4th year playing in and learning about the Muskrat River. The Muskrat River is a wild, natural, shallow river that offers the perfect mix of the calm river with some rapids that are very exciting with higher water flaows. It is great for kayaking, however, in some shallow spots, it is too challenging for inexperienced kayakers to get over the shallow rocks. These shallow rocks actually make this river perfect for river-tubing. The tubes just bump into the rocks and it makes for a fun ride instead of a dangerous ride. We knew we couldn’t keep this awesome tubing river a secret so we began renting special river tubes May 2022. O’Kenny River Tubing is keen to provide you with the gear, the services, and the information you need for an awesome and safe self-guided adventure.

CURRENT CONDITIONS:     September Tubing is amazing! The sun has warmed up the river nicely to over 27 degrees C. The warm water even makes tubing on a cool day enjoyable. We are running the upper run called Moonshiners run. It starts 3.8 km upstream and you end at our distillery property. Book the shuttle for your driver and your vehicle will be waiting for you at the end. The run time ranges from 1 1/2 hours to 3 1/2 hours. Swimming is great whether it is accidental or intentional. It is common for tubers to try some adverturous ways to jump into their tubes at the launch and many end up missing their tubes and falling into the river. Check out our Facebook or Instagram pages for the most recent runs. The current is very slow currently, so paddles are highly recommended.

The Gear

We purchased a fleet of deluxe river tubes designed for running shallow,  rocky rivers. This is the essential gear that we rent to each person in your group. If you have your own life jackets and kayak paddles, we recommend bringing them. We have a limited number of adult life jackets and paddles which we can rent for $3 each.

The Services

We can arrange a shuttle service so that your driver can leave your vehicle at the end of your run. This is a flat $7 per person fee. Parking is free. We suggest that only your driver needs the shuttle.

The Information

We take videos of tubers on the river under various river conditions. We want you and your group to see these videos on Facebook or Instagram @O’Kenny River Tubing. We want you to know what to expect before you book your tubes. Our monitoring station on the river gives us real time data on river flow, river level and water temperature and we watch the weather closely. We provide a briefing on river conditions and directions for a fun and safe SELF GUIDED run on the Muskrat River before you take your tubes.

Booking Options

Booking in advance helps us prepare for your visit, but we will try to accommodate last-minute planners too.

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 Advance Bookings

Reserve your tubes on the day you choose. For a discount book 30 days in advance.

 Same Day Booking

Booking at least 1 to 2 days in advance is highly recommended, but on many days we have tubes and equipment available so we can add your small group to the groups already booked. Book at www.okenny.ca before 11 am.

River Tubing Times: We offer a 1pm run everyday. Capacity up to 80 tubes. When our regular 1 pm run is fully booked, we open the 4 pm or 10 am option. For groups or 10 or more we can arrange a special start time if 1pm doesn’t suit you. Extra shuttle fee may apply.

Step 1 Arrival: Please arrive 30 minutes before briefing on weekdays and 1 hour before briefing on weekends. You will need time to register and get prepared; If you show up late you may delay the briefing and everyone’s start time. You may forfeit your deposit if you don’t arrive early enough to get registered. Arriving early also allows time to get food from Norki’s Snack Shack. They are open everyday except Mondays.

Step 2 Waiver:  Fill out your waivers inside the Tasting House. Every tuber requires a signed waiver completed. A parent or gaurdian must complete waivers for tubers under 18.

Step 3 Register & Payment: Payment for the remainder of your fees and additional items can be cash, credit or debit.

Step 4 Start with Briefing: Make sure the whole group is at the briefing just outside our Tasting House at Norki’s Snack Shack. We will show you how to use the equipment and give you safety instructions for the conditions.

Step 5 Shuttle: After the briefing, you will drive your vehicle to the start point up river to drop off all your passengers. Your driver will return their vehicle to our parking lot (free parking) and we will shuttle all the drivers back to the start point up river.  Make sure you book this $7 shuttle for just the driver(s) in your group. The group can relax at the river start point while we shuttle all the drivers back up to the start point.

Full Group Shuttle can be arranged but your group will be shuttled after the drivers. Book this $7 shuttle for every person.

Duration: (1 ½ – 3 1/2 hour float time) There are 2 factors. The river’s flow is dependent on the season and recent rainfall to decide how fast it will move you. You decide on how much paddling you want to do. You can relax and let the water take you slowly or paddle at any rate you wish.  On the same day we had a group take 1 1/2 hours and another group take 3 1/2 hours.

Last Step Check In: Return to the Tasting House with your tubes and equipment to check in with us when your entire group has returned. Report any missing or damaged equipment. If you have interesting pictures or feedback you can enter to win a prize. Cheers,

Stuff To Know

Location

O’Kenny River Tubing operates at the 4-acre O’Kenny Craft Spirits property at 2 International Drive, Pembroke, ON. We are approximately 90 minutes from Ottawa. We are 200 meters off the Trans-Canada Highway on the beautiful Muskrat River.

Accommodations

Relax and extend your stay: You can book one of our new rough tent campsites along the river or a parking lot site for your RV.  We also have a hotel beside us and a hotel across the road.

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Food (3 Terrific Options)

On-site, Norki’s Snack Shack is cooking amazing food truck fair every day from 11 to 7 except Mondays. Their amazing food has developed a loyal following for their smash burger, fish ‘n chips, and specialty poutines. See their full menu on Facebook.

More amazing meals are available a short walk across the road at Westwinds Restaurant or The Big Stop Restaurant.

Additional Details

Ensure that all Tubers over the age of 10 read this important section before arriving .

Floating down a natural wild river is an adventure with many possible hazards. Being prepared is the best way to keep safe and have fun. We provide ample resources and information in advance of booking so you can make the best decisions. We monitor our river station upstream closely for real-time data on water flow, water level, water temperature, and air temperature. Watch the videos on Facebook or Instagram of tubers going down the river. You can gauge the intensity of the tube run by others who have gone down under similar river conditions. You can see the reactions of people of differing ages, sizes and comfort levels and decide if it is right for your people. Capsizing a tube is rare, however, this is a possibility that you should be aware of. If you tip out of your tube, maneuver with your tube to a suitable shallow spot and put your but back in the tube.

Alcohol and drugs: We will not rent tubes to anyone that is inebriated by alcohol or drugs.

Waiver: There is a short waiver to sign so that you acknowledge the risks of activities on the river.

PFD’s: We don’t require you to rent a PFD. We encourage you to bring your own PFD because a properly fitted lifejacket is usually better than a rental. We can’t keep a supply of every size for every person available. If you think you need or want a PFD for yourself or a child, you should always use one that is the correct size and bring it with you. We have a small supply of adult universal-sized PFDs to rent for $3. Your river tubes are designed with a backup safety air chamber. If the main chamber gets punctured and deflates, the safety chamber will keep you afloat to get to shore or in some cases you can complete the run with just the back up chamber inflated.

Health: Your health and fitness needs to be adequate to deal with walking on rugged trails or getting stuck in river mud. You should have the ability to deal with any possible unexpected outcomes such as falling out of your tube in fast moving water.

Age Limits: We cannot regulate how or who uses our equipment because you are not using our equipment on our property and we are not sending a guide to supervise you. You will set all your own limits on age or size and you are responsible for your own safety. So far, we have seen people from 5 to 91 enjoy the river safely.

For our part, we make sure we only rent equipment to adults that are demonstrating responsibility and are able to make safe decisions for themselves and the people in their care. Each small child should have 1 capable adult with them at all times. Ropes are available to keep children close.

Size Limits: We do not set a lower or upper size limit for our tubes.  We recommend small children should use a tube with a bottom so they don’t slide through. Our tubes don’t have an upper size limit however tubers over 250 lb can expect less stability and under low water conditions will get stuck on more shallow rocks. Remember good footware.

Weather Safety: A beautiful day can quickly turn into a downpour. If this happens, we suggest looking for a suitable shore to maneuver under trees for protection. If you hear thunder or see lightning get out onto the shore and put your paddles down. Use your tube as shelter until the rain stops. Enjoy your adventure!

Tubes: These are special river tubes designed for rivers. This is the equipment we provide for your rental fee. Do not bring your own tubes.

Paddles: Some times people don’t find paddles are a necessity, because they can maneuver their tube sufficiently with hands or feet but most people enjoy having more control with a kayak paddle. If you have your own kayak paddle bring it or if you don’t have a paddle rent one for $3. Losing a paddle is expensive, so hold on tight. $25 replacement fee.

Life Jackets: We highly recommend properly fitted PFD’s because they help you stay upright and afloat if you fall out of your tube. Bring your own if you have them. If the conditions don’t warrant a PFD, you can always sit on it. We have a limited selection of universal adult sized life jackets for rent for $3. We have very few child sized pfds.

Ropes: We have some short ropes available to make it easier to stay together as a group. Tie one end to the tube’s handle and hold the other end. Highly recommended for parents who need to keep young children close. No charge.

Cameras/cell phones: Your tubing run will give you tonnes of opportunities for great photos and video. We take our cell phones on every trip and we take many photos and videos. We use a waterproof sleeve that we attach to ourselves. We sell these waterproof sleeves for $7-$16. There is still a risk of losing or damaging your phone. We want you to be aware of that risk. At the end of the season there will be a contest for the best video and photo.

Footwear: You will need footwear for getting to the river, for getting out of the river and you may need it if you get or fall out of your tube along the way. We recommend water shoes or sandals that are fully secured to your feet. Old running shoes work great too.  Anything less than this will likely get lost in the river. Bare feet are not a good idea because there could be sharp objects anywhere along the way.

Heat/sun and bug protection: There are some trees for shade along each run but we recommend a hat to keep the sun off you and adequate sunscreen. We very rarely here complaints of bugs but you can consider bug repellant.

Drinks on the water: Keep hydrated. We recommend bringing a drink container that can be closed and attached to yourself or the handle of the tube. We have affordable containers available for purchase for $8. We also have 3 styles of special hand-painted O’Kenny insulated tumblers. $31 – $42. We have plenty of water and cold drinks in our fridge.

Bookings for tube rental, campsites and RV sites are taken on our Booking App with a credit card deposit.  All other payments can be made on-site by cash, debit or credit. Your deposit reserves the essential tubing gear (the tube), campsite or RV site. Your booking will be confirmed by email and a reminder email will be sent prior to you trip. Please plan to arrive 1 hour before this start time on weekends; 30 minutes on weekdays.

The Muskrat River is a natural wild river. We don’t want our river tubing activities to harm or change the river. Do not bring anything with you that could be left behind as litter. Leave any cans or disposable bottles behind at your vehicle. We have affordable reusable water bottles available at our shop. The river cannot be altered from it’s natural state to make walking or tubing easier. If you are not prepared to walk up or down rugged trails or step in mud on the river bank, we suggest that a man made lazy river is what you are looking for. The river flow changes by season and with rainfall. If the river drops to it’s lowest level, there could be several shallow spots that require getting out of your tube and move to a deeper spot. We have access to real time water level data from our monitoring station, so we can advise you if the water is low.

Once you leave our property, we don’t have the ability to police your behavior, so you are responsible for your own conduct. Rivers are Public Property so all the same laws apply as if you were walking down a public sidewalk or boating in a river. Cameras are everywhere nowadays, so we recommend that you conduct yourselves accordingly. Any outrageous behavior could be caught on video and make it onto social media before you make it home from your day. A small portion of your trip could be floating by someone’s backyard. We would ask that you respect their property. Do not get out on their private property or make excessive noise. There are plenty of other places along the river where laughing and shouting won’t bother anyone. If you see any dogs, don’t encourage them to leave their property.

This is the most awkward question we need to answer. You may be floating in your tube on the river for as little as 1 ½ hours or as long as 3 hours. Everyone’s preference is that you don’t pee in the river, but it is a wild river, so it isn’t a sin. Please go before you float to avoid this.  There are bathrooms available at the distillery, Pansy Patch Park and the Waterfront Park.

Fun Additions

Spirit Tastings

We offer tastings for groups at $9 per person. It is the best way to try all the O’Kenny Craft Spirits and learn all about distilling spirits. You can book this once you get you tubing time 1 week prior to your trip.

Amazing Food

Norki’s Snack Shack has developed a loyal fan base that loves the attention they put into their food such as fish ‘n chips, smoked meat, specialty poutine and smash burgers and more.

RV Camping

2 unserviced RV sites, 1 serviced RV site on the pavement with 20 amp electrical and municipal water.

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Hot Tub, Swimming Pool, Sauna and Showers

Drop In for a visit to the Pembroke Fitness Centre across the road. $8.85 gets your access to the Fitness Centre and all the perks.

Tent Camping

Extend your experience by booking a campsite along the river. 6 sites available @ $39/night; Coming July ‘22

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Yoga Tube

Resuming June 2023. Special Yoga designed for relaxation before your tubing run.

Axe Throwing

Coming Fall 2024: Pembroke is known as a lumber town. The Pembroke Lumber Kings represent us in valley hockey rinks. It makes sense to offer the best axe throwing experience in the Ottawa Valley.

If you have more questions, please contact me.

Andrew Kenny
O’Kenny River Tubing

2 International Drive, Pembroke, ON K8A 6W5

613 281-1825 or email andrew@okenny.ca

River Tube Rental Prices

Let us know you are coming and your tubes will be reserved for the day you choose.

May Tube Rental

$1995Base Price
  • $14.95 Early Booking

June Tube Rental

$2500Base Price
  • $19.95 Early Booking

July/August Tube Rental

2900Base Price
  • $23.95 Early Booking

September Tube Rental

2500Base Price
  • $19.95 Early Booking

October Tube Rental

2200Base Price
  • $16.95 Early Booking

*book 30 days in advance to get early booking price.

Same Day Show Up & Go

Base price unless we have a promotion, depending on the availability of gear.

 Booking 24 hours in Advance

Make sure your tubes are reserved and you have a shuttle for your driver. Base Price

 Booking 30 Days in Advance

Make sure your tubes and shuttle are reserved.  Early Booking Price

Shuttle Service for Drivers

$7 flat fee per driver. We shuttle your drivers 5km so your vehicle is waiting at the end of your tubing run. Free Parking

Group Shuttle Service

$7 flat fee per person: You must book at least 1 week in advance. Free Parking

 **Rental equipment is not used on O’KENNY property, so we can’t supervise how it is used. It is your responsibility to use the equipment safely and legally. We will provide information that will help you make wise choices.