Today we’d like to introduce you to Moneen McBride.
Hi Moneen , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
About Paddle The River
Our Story
Founded in 2015 by Moneen & Brad McBride, Paddle The River, LLC was born from a passion for the outdoors and a desire to share the beauty of Northeast Ohio’s local rivers and outdoors to people from all walks of life in a safe and family friendly environment! We believe that nature has a way of connecting us, rejuvenating our spirits, and instilling a sense of wonder. We strive to create unforgettable experiences that allow you to immerse yourself in the beauty and serenity of the natural world! What began as a single location has blossomed into a multi-site adventure company, offering paddling experiences across Northeast Ohio.
Our Locations
Burning River Adventures (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
Celebrating its 10th season in 2025, this flagship location offers self-guided trips on the Heritage section of the Cuyahoga River. This location offers 2-mile, 4.5-mile, or 6.5-mile paddling adventures with single kayaks, tandem kayaks, youth kayaks or 4-6 person rafts. All paddling adventures for this location meet at Water Works Park in Cuyahoga Falls, OH we then shuttle up river at the start of the adventure (unless noted otherwise)!
Mahoning River Adventures (Warren, OH)
Launched in 2018 in partnership with Trumbull County Metro Parks, this location offers 3.6-mile and 11-mile paddling adventures on the Mahoning River, with single and tandem kayaks. All paddling adventures for this location meet at Canoe City Metro Park in Levittsburg, OH we then shuttle up river at the start of the adventure!
Cuyahoga Valley Adventures (Akron, OH)
Opened in 2021, this location offers a scenic paddling experience on the Cuyahoga River, nestled in the Merriman Valley. This location started off offering a 7-mile journey through the Cuyahoga Valley section of the Cuyahoga River until put on hold by Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) as they did not want paddling rentals on the river within park boundaries.
New in 2024, we introduced a 2-mile paddling option starting from Summit Metro Parks’ Cascade Valley Metro Park – Valley View River Access and ending at our location. This shorter route provides a relaxing and accessible adventure for beginners and families alike. This location offers paddling adventures with single kayaks, tandem kayaks, youth kayaks or 4-6 person rafts. All paddling adventures for this location meet at Cuyahoga Valley Adventures in Akron, OH we then shuttle up river at the start of the adventure (unless noted otherwise)!
In 2025, we became the first paddling outfitter to obtain a commercial use authorization permit with Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) for paddling rentals within park boundaries. This opened up a 4-mile and 6-mile paddling option that end at the new North Hampton Point River Access on the South border of the CVNP.
Our Mission
At Paddle The River, our mission is to spread the joy of our local rivers and the outdoors to our communities in a safe and family-friendly environment. We are committed to promoting good stewardship of our waterways and surrounding natural spaces.
Environmental Stewardship
Since our inception, we’ve participated & organized multiple river cleanups, engaging volunteers and paddlers in preserving the health and beauty of our waterways. These efforts not only remove debris, but also foster a community of river stewards dedicated to environmental conservation of our local waterways. We hope you will join us for one of our upcoming river clean ups!
Our River Crew
Our River Crew take care of managing the kayaks, transportation, drop in’s, and basic instruction so all you have to worry about is having a great time on the river. Whether you’re a first time kayaker, or seasoned enthusiast, our knowledgeable and friendly team is dedicated to providing exceptional service ensuring your safety and enjoyment throughout the journey.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting a small business always has some struggles as you learn and navigate different things as they come up. When we started our business we didn’t necessarily think we would grow our family and business at the same time, but we did and that continues to be a learning experience as we juggle our business and family life as our boys get older.
Each year something is needing to be changed or done differently and we just figure it out and go with the flow!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our story answer tells you must of everything about us and our locations!
As we celebrated 10 years for our Burning River Adventures location in Cuyahoga Falls which is our flagship location we pride ourselves in being a low impact paddling outfitter on the Cuyahoga River. At all of our locations we run small groups up river on a set schedule to allow individuals to enjoy the peacefulness of mother nature!
We pride ourselves in providing our paddlers the best experience with us! We provide the best recreational kayaking gear for our paddlers! We use Jackson Kayaks for our single and tandem kayak fleet and Rocky Mountain Rafts for our 4-6 person raft fleet! Our paddlers love these kayaks and rafts! In addition to self guided trips we can offer guided experiences with advanced notice! We have all the essentials needed in case you forget something!
We have received the TripAdvisor’s’ Travelers Choice Award for 8 consecutive years!
In 2025, we became the first paddling outfitter to obtain a commercial use authorization permit with Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) for paddling rentals within park boundaries. This is a major milestone as you previously could only enjoy the Cuyahoga River within the park boundaries if you owned your own equipment! Now travelers to our area can enjoy a section within the park boundaries!
Not only are we a paddling outfitter, but we are river stewards as well! We routinely are monitoring the river conditions and cleaning up the river of debris/trash/tires and other items that have found their way into our waterway to help keep it clean! If you are interested in participating in one of our river clean ups please check out our website for additional details!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Live, learn and love all aspects of life as you only get one!
Pricing:
- Pricing depends on location, type of kayak/raft and length of trip. It is best to visit our website for detailed pricing information!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.PaddleTheRiver.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burningriveradventures/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cuyahogavalleyadventures/ https://www.instagram.com/mahoningriveradventures/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurningRiverAdventures/ https://www.facebook.com/CuyahogaValleyAdventures/ https://www.facebook.com/MahoningRiverAdventures/
