Register for a group EcoTour on 5/22 HERE
About
Ghost River Rentals was founded in the spring of 2004 by long-time friends, Mark Babb and Don Hailey. For years Mark and Don worked together for a local Fire Department, taking advantage of every day off by exploring the Ghost River section the Wolf River. So…in borrowed and beat-up canoes and kayaks they eventually ventured off on journeys down the entire length of the Wolf River, to the Mississippi and beyond. The Ghost River remained to be their favorite section.
It wasn’t long before their friends and family were joining them to see what all the Ghost River hype was about. It didn’t disappoint. Everyone was out on the river in Mark and Don’s canoes with every chance they got. They started building trailers, buying extra canoes and kayaks, and set up what would become Ghost River Rentals. With occasional help from Mark’s son, Harry, and his daughter, Maleah, Ghost River Rentals began supplying canoes and kayaks to eager paddlers from all over the Memphis area.
In 2009 Don began spending his summers sailing on the Gulf Coast and turned the business over to Mark and his family. Since then, Mark and his amazing staff have spent their weekends out at the river outfitting people with canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. We encourage everyone we meet to paddle the Ghost River and get involved with some of Ghost River’s amazing partners: Wolf River Canoe Trips, Wolf River Conservancy, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Bluff City Canoe Club.
Co-founder, Don Hailey, kayaking the Ghost Section. 
Harry Babb, part-owner and son of Mark Babb, paddling a SUP in Mineral Slough 
The original wildman, Mike Babb, canoeing with his granddaughter, Maleah.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the Ghost River?
The Ghost River is a section of the Upper Wolf River in Fayette County, TN - the same Wolf River that runs through Memphis, TN. Join one of our guided trips or a Wolf River Conservancy guided trip to find out why this section has been named the “Ghost River”.
The Wolf River Conservancy is the organization responsible for acquiring the land around the Ghost River Section and turning it over to the state of Tennessee. It is now a State Natural Area, and the Wolf River Conservancy is the reason we are now able to use the river for recreational purposes.
We encourage all our clients to consider joining the Wolf River Conservancy. Find out more at www.wolfriver.org
What do you mean by experienced paddler?
Many customers have paddled rivers in our region such as the Spring River and Buffalo River. The Ghost River section is much more technically challenging than these rivers. This is definitely not a “float” trip. This 8.5 mile section requires the ability to maneuver a kayak or canoe through tight spaces (often with just barely enough room for one boat to get through at a time) and potential portages over fallen trees throughout the entire way. The experienced paddler can calmly and efficiently maneuver around the many obstacles on this trip and will use a fraction of the energy that someone having difficulty steering their boat will. The Ghost River section is encompassed by a State Natural Area that is intentionally kept “unaltered” by man. Part of the draw to the Ghost is that it’s challenging and more harm than good would be done to the natural environment if the channel was constantly cleared. Because this section of river falls within a State Natural Area, there is absolutely no way to forfeit the trip and walk out once you start down river - there are no roads are access between the launch and takeout; therefore, you have to complete the entire trip once your more than ¼ mile from the launch. If you’ve misled us regarding your experience level, and call to ask us to get you off the river or retrieve your boat, we will charge you $100 per person and $100 per boat retrieval to do so. If we notice you’ve misled us regarding your experience level by improperly launching your boat or having trouble just beyond the launch, we have the right to refuse to allow you to go down the entire length with no refund.
To relieve any apprehension from these statements, over 300 people a month (including our renters, other groups, guided tours, and people with their own canoes and kayaks) complete and repeatedly enjoy paddling the Ghost River Section. For those unsure about their experience level, invite an experienced friend that’s done the Ghost River and is willing to act as a guide for your group or use our guide service for your first time.
How long is the Ghost River Section?
This section is around 8.5 miles long. Completing the Ghost River Section can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. Our fastest, competitive paddlers have completed the Ghost Section in under 3 hours. Those that finish in 6 hours or more, are either stopping to photograph and explore with plenty of breaks or are having a difficult time getting through. All of our customers must complete their trip by 5:00 pm per an agreement we have with the state agency that manages the land. If you anticipate completion beyond 5:00 pm, we need to know ahead of time
Is there a weight limit for canoe and kayak rentals?
If you + your gear exceeds 230 lbs., our equipment is overloaded and at high risk for capsizing. With that being said, there have been athletic, experienced paddlers at or above 230 lbs. that have used our equipment successfully without capsizing. Canoes are able to hold more weight but require more experience maneuvering through the Ghost Section and are MUCH more difficult to recover in the event of a capsize. Please call us before booking to discuss weight capacity if you’re unsure. Here is a useful article that features our rental kayaks (Jackson Riviera + Jackson Riviera T) - https://calvinas.com/kayak-weight-limit/
Can I bring my dog?
You can bring your dog only if you have paddled down rivers with your dog before and you’re fully confident your dog won’t cause any issues getting down the river. We’ll also need a heads up via phone or message if you intend on bringing your dog - your dog must be people-friendly and able to sit in your lap on the van shuttle to the put-in.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. 12 - 16 can paddle in a tandem kayak or canoe accompanied with an adult. If you’re confident your 12 - 16-year-old can handle a kayak on their own, they can solo kayak if there is a tandem kayak or canoe in the group that would allow an adult to switch into the solo boat if the minor needs to switch to riding with an adult. In some cases, very experienced paddlers can take their 5 - 12-year-old child in a canoe or tandem kayak. Please discuss your experience level with us before bringing you 5 - 12-year-old out on this trip.
Also, if you have minors or inexperienced people in your group, consider hiring one of our guides to safely paddle the child or inexperienced paddler in their canoe or tandem kayak.
Can you swim? Is the water clean?
In the summer, it’s common for people to swim or take a quick dip into the river. Obviously, this should not be done in colder months. There could also be potentially harmful objects under the water that can’t be seen from above. The water is incredibly clean with a sand/mud mix throughout. This section is in the recharge zone of the Memphis Sands Aquifer.
Where do we meet the morning of the trip?
We’ll meet at the Wolf River Access on Bateman Road in Fayette Co TN. This is the take-out of the Ghost River Section. Search Ghost River Canoe Run (Outlet) on Google Maps. DO NOT park in the residential driveway this method will take you to, instead keep driving about 100 yards and park in the gravel lot right next to the river. From there, we will shuttle you upriver to the access to begin your trip and paddle back to your car at the take-out.
For information regarding ecology, history, and water quality, please consider joining one of our guided trips or a Wolf River Conservancy guided trip. We encourage everyone that enjoys the Ghost River to become a member of the Wolf River Conservancy.