The 1220 W. Le Moyne St. Chicago, IL River location is horribly polluted. There is nothing to look at except industrial buildings and debris floating in the toxic water. Loud clanging of metal is a bit disturbing as well. We were told at Wolf point there would be some great picture spots. Really? I think you may need to do the 3 hour trip if you are to see anything worth taking a picture of. This location should be shut down. No wake zone is not followed and boaters will cruise by you with no regard. Prepare to be bracing your rocking kayak. I suggest going to a preserve or trying a different location.
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It was super disorganized and social distancing was not enforced whatsoever. We arrived 15 minutes early and it took nearly an hour to actually get in a boat in the water. Would never recommend to anyone.
Okay for college students seasonal job, dont give your time card. They hide it pretty much. I enjoyed the kayaking at least I got that. Dont expect to get paid for training nope.
Had an amazing time Kayaking with my family down the Chicago river and taking in the incredible city lights. Special thanks to Bubba and Kyle for hanging with us near the back of the pack & towing my wife and daughter for the final 1/4 mile. Very well run event!
This was fantastic!! We took out 3 children, ages 12, 10 and 3- and had a blast! Patient and humorous tour guides- Sean, Bubba and Bryan- took great care of us and showed us the ropes. Only negative can't be helped: the river is disgustingly polluted.
This is my first kayak in Chicago area. I did the firework kayak during weekday. Absolutely worth the experience.
Staff are very friendly, helpful, and watchful for your safety. They teach how to kayak properly and then off to the Chicago River. Kayak through the city skyline until reach near end and stop to enjoy the fireworks while in the kayak.
I don't know how to swim and had no problems. Everyone wear lifejacket.
Wear comfortable clothes to get wet as you will definitely get wet and wear flipflop or old shoes. If you bring camera, phone, or snack bar, bring ziplock bag though they do provide this, too.
Location convenient, parking lot available free, and bathroom stalls.
Instruction was great, staff was very friendly. I cannot stress enough how great the kayaking lesson was, I drove 90 minutes to take this class and I will do it again! Dave is great! Highly adaptable instructor who can explain things in a way anybody can understand. Friendly, fun and very helpful! :D
Our guide Scott was super nice and knowledgeable. I had great time on the water and would highly recommend this to anyone who might be interested in architecture tours in Chicago. It was a relaxed and educational trip.
Wonderful experience. The wind made it a little tough, but you are provided a quick briefing, some waterproof box, a kayak, and a paddle and you are sent off to go explore Chicago by water. Everybody was nice and helpful to this newbie. Will go again.
Came here today for kayaking with friends and had a great time. We went down the Chicago river towards downtown before we turned around and back to the dock we started from. I did end up falling into the river because I wasn't paying attention and trying to go too fast. Thankfully, our guides were very helpful and had me back in my kayak within minutes.
As an older adult I was a little nervous to kayak for the first time. My daughters and I were given a 15-20 minute intro and in no time we were on our way. I especially like this location on the river as there is ample time to get comfortable with technique before meeting any river traffic. It was great fun and gave us a whole new perspective of the city. I can't wait to do it again!
I recently went on a kayak tour with this outfit to see the fireworks at Navy Pier. They're located in an odd area between North and Elston but the location offers free, easy parking and is somewhat close to public transportation (Red Line to North/Clybourn, then North Ave bus). As a kayaking novice, I'm not new to the fundamentals but I appreciated the staff's brief training instruction and their help with getting into the water. Once on the water, the trip was peaceful, the views of the city were gorgeous, and the experiencing the fireworks display from the water was unique. However, the trip back was long and I don't recommend doing it in a single kayak unless you have a lot of upper body strength.
Had a great experience at Kayak Chicago. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Relaxed digs. Free parking. Complimentary mineral water and Clif bars an unexpected bonus. Much more relaxing kayaking on the north branch of the river around Goose Island than downtown. Definitely recommend!
such a fun experience! I did the city lights trip and the views were insanely beautiful. the tour guides were all chill and it was overall an amazing night. perfect for a date!
10/10 would recommend. Had an amazing tour with enthusiastic and well-trained employees. I made an error when booking my kayaking tour and Dave was extremely understanding and allowed me to re-book my reservation hassle-free. Staff was incredible and highly recommend!
If you have never Kayaked before, this is NOT for you. I only wish someone would have told me that before I went. As a first timer, it was one of the most difficult things I've done. It might not be all "Kayak Chicago's" fault, but they sure didn't make things any better/easier.
You are basically thrown in the Chicago River without much help or instructions and expected to Kayak 3-6 miles on your own! Our boat (if thats what its called!) was drifting all over the place. Got caught under the trees a few times as well and there was no help whatsoever to get us out from under the trees/big branches! There were a few "professionals" there, but no one really there to help you out of any sort of trouble you might be having. They are there just to make sure you are not going towards the middle of the river and ignore everything else going on.
If you know how to Kayak, it is a decent thing to check out as you are left on your own to do as you please since they expect you to know how to. But if you have never done any Kayaking before (like me), I would stay away from this! They will not teach you how to, will not help you out of jams, will not guide your boat in the right direction, and WILL completely ignore you and the troubles you are having.
Went here for the architectural tour. It's about 2.5 miles out (and 2.5 back, so 5 total). The guides are great, and even if you have zero experience, they'll teach you the basics so you don't have to worry about falling behind or capsizing.
Very friendly group of people there ...they make sure you feel comfortable with the kayak and give instructions on how to work the oars before heading out. they have single and tandem kayaks so you can even do it with a partner! Fantastic way to work your muscles! Wonderful Chicago views along the way such as the skyline and Navy Pier and you see the boats that are passing by as well. It was a great way to get exercise and not really feel like you're doing a boring work out. I defiintely recommend giving this a try!
This was an amazing way to experience downtown Chicago. Highly recommend the city lights tour ....guides were great and it felt safe the entire time. Would do it again in a minute!!
Did the night kayak tour tonight had an awesome time! The view of the city from the river was gorgeous! Our instructors hootie and Vicky were so cool and helpful.(even got to snack on some gummy worms together) Would highly recommend giving this tour a try!!!!
20/10 EXCELLENT, EFFICIENT AND FUN. Went in without any reservations on a super busy Sat noon (and evening, I came back cos I loved it) - right from the entrance the staff went above and beyond to get us prepped and into the water efficiently. I was on-call and needed to bring my laptop backpack on the boat (living dangerously I know but it pays the bills) and they ALL were aware of it and accommodated. They seem to remember faces and would go up to you to answer something specific *you asked. Victoria, Bubba, David, Kyle and a whole bunch of others - YOU ROCK. If a friend or family is hesitant to get on the water, this is the place to start them. And prepare to go into "The Canyon".
The tour was pretty good. The guides are knowledgeable and helpful. The river itself is pretty disgusting and polluted but there's not much they can do about that. It's a shame so many people treat that river as a dumpster. The fireworks show was pretty good and a break after paddling for an hour and half. We got a groupon and it was a pretty sweet deal. Lots of get views of the city from the water.
Fantastic outfit and excellent instruction and organization! Even with a large crowd... I plan on bringing my team back here the next time we re in Chicago! It s an amazing way to experience the night lights of Chicago! A MUST do!
Very nice staff, clear explanation of what you should and should not do while in the water, very fun place, had plenty of fun with friends, and reasonable prices.
We had a great time. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Everything was cleaned and sanitized while still maintaining their laid back vibe! Would recommend a longer tour or rental to have time to explore the river and city!
Just did the architectural tour, which was great. I think more information needs to be disclosed when you sign up though, such as the size of the group (there were too many of us) and what to expect out of the event. It was nice that they did take into consideration our time.
I went to Kayak Chicago for the Fireworks tour on Labor day weekend with another friend. We picked to kayak in a tandem and had a pretty good experience overall.
Pros: 1- Tour guides were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and take about 15 minutes to instruct you on what to do and what to avoid when in the waters. 2- The view from within the river after sunset was beautiful with the skyscrapers and their lights reflecting off the waters. 3- A very unique place and way to watch the fireworks from. 4-We had at least three instructors/guides in the water with us and they kept a tight vigil on all of the kayakers, right from the fastest ones to the slower ones. I really appreciated their help when we accidentally went and joined another group of kayakers (it was dark and we could not differentiate between the two groups of kayaks).
Cons: 1-The tour itself is pretty long and can be moderately straining on your body. One has to be alert all the time to avoid being pushed towards the walls or on to the path of other boats by the current. 2- There were only two stops before the final destination (docks) allowing for only about two good pictures. This I felt was a little disappointing. I was looking to get some good pictures since I the trip was going to be 4-5 hours long. 3- The group moves pretty fast and if you are a beginner, you'll have to play catch-up for most of the trip. I would expect the staff to slow the faster kayakers down so everyone can be at an even speed. 4- I felt the group was a little too big. As a result, we kept bumping into each others kayaks.
Bonus tips: -Tandem kayaks are harder to navigate and tougher on the body (physical strain) but I'd recommend these if you are with a first timer. -DO take a water of bottle for each person on the kayak. The tour is pretty long and straining and you WILL get thirsty. Keeping yourself hydrated is key to having a good trip.
I've paddle Kayaked with Kayak Chicago all the way down to see the fireworks at Navy Pier. It was fun, but physically more demanding than I expected. A few years later and most recently I rented the two seater electric paddle boats with my six year old son. That was more enjoyable for me personally.
The guide was great - very informative, but not so chatty we couldn't just enjoy views. Good quality equipment. Easy, close, and free parking. Bathroom stalls and sanitizer. Overall, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful view of the city and a good workout!
I had a wonderful experience here, my party and I were helped by Devin and it was clear he truly cared about everything. He was very thorough, patient, and knowledgeable.
Prior to docking upon for our return of a 4 hour paddle, I asked a member of my party to hop up onto the dock and take some pictures of me in the kayak out in the water, Devin promptly suggested that I get out of the double and take a single out for my photos. This definitely was very kind.
In addition to that, when Devin realized that we had gone out for 4 hours, he was excited that we had gone for a long paddle, he said it was his favorite when people did this! Will definitely be back!!
Great Experience. Very friendly and easy going. Had previously used a competitor with the green kayaks downtown but much prefer this company after today's experience.
Did the fireworks paddle-- 3.5 hours, 6 miles and tons of fun. The perspective as you pass through the river and past the Trump, Wrigley, etc. is amazing. Presents the city in a way I had never experienced before. The guides were excellent-- fun, informed and concerned about everyone's safety as we passed through some heavy boat traffic. Don't worry if you've never kayaked before, or if 6 miles seems daunting-- this is fun for everyone regardless of experience.
We just got done with the 3 hour architecture river tour and had a blast! The guides are very thorough with teaching basic strokes and safety measures. I felt totally comfortable with the pace of the tour. Zorro our tour guide was very knowledgeable and hilarious. These tours are for any skill level and you will see so many beautiful buildings (and boats) and you will learn so much about the city. Highly recommend.
awesome experience. First time kayaking and the instructors were super helpful. The kayaking trip itself was a little long so just make sure you're prepared for about a 4 hr trip. The fireworks at Navy Pier were awesome!!
The sunset kayak tour was the biggest disappointment. For starters, the sun had completely set by the time we got in the water, over an hour after the time we were told to arrive. If we wanted to do a nighttime tour, we would have booked that. The only time we saw the sunset was in the parking lot waiting around for them to start the instructions, which didn t happen until almost 40 minutes later than was specified in the email. The groups were way too large, even by pre-Covid standards, causing all the kayaks to get bunched up in the water multiple times. Additionally, the life vests we were given were soaking wet. Do yourself a favor and skip the tour, and just rent a kayak somewhere else.
Booked a kayak rental for 4 pm based on price and positive reviews. Arrived a few minutes early and then stated we would have to fill out waiver and then come back in 30 minutes and we would be able to get on the water. We complied and came back at 4:30. They got us vests and oars but stated we needed to take a lesson and then wait in another line where people had been waiting for > 30 minutes. We requested a refund which they agreed to because they were not able to honour our reservation after > 1 hour of waiting. Will not be coming back. Gave 2 stars rather than 1 because they refunded us. We will try another company next time
Friendly and helpful service. Convenient location to downtown Chicago. Easy on-street parking. Modest fee to use the launch for your own boat ($11 per canoe/kayak).
Great kayak spot-- the launch slip is set back a bit from the river, so you have a little space to get your bearings before being out in the flow of boat traffic, and it's a great starting location for kayak trips on the north branches of the river.
They also lead Wednesday night tours down to Navy Pier to watch the fireworks; also super fun.
I couldn't have been more excited to do the July 4th fireworks tour, and am shocked be saying that it was a spectacularly horrendous experience. Do not use this company - they are the furthest from the destination, and that added distance is through the ugliest polluted area of the river, it extend the time with no bathroom possibility, no water possibility, and total 4 hours of struggling through merky nasty sewage stench water with floating bottles and scuzzy bubbles that won't pop. There are other much closer tour companies we saw, others with tour guides with bull horns you can hear (unlike ours who you could not hear), others with nicer newer kayaks, and others that don't take on 80 or more kayaks and badger them the whole time. We were clustered so closely together that we were constantly being rammed into by others in our group or splashing that nasty water onto each other with our oars. My boat and others had no safety light packets placed on them. Then the best part - one kayaker rammed into my boat right near Michigan avenue as we all were ordered to be packed in like sardines and a huge bunch of waves came from a speeding boat and that sent my boat all the way over and me swimming in the river. In emergency panic mode, I wound up having to right my boat myself, got in it, it was full and fell over again, managed to get back in, I fell out again, then I had to get my boat to a dock, lift it onto the dock myself to try and get all the water I could out of it, and then paddle it back about 1/4 full of water after all that struggling with zero other options to get back to the starting point. I was drenched head to toe in algae stinking sewage, exhausted, alone from my group. My group, who was ordered to move on while I was still in the water, and prevented from helping me. A totally completely horrible experience and I absolutely attribute that to this company.
Terrible experience. No one showed up at the specified location. No responses to phone calls and emails. In the process of disputing the charges to my card.
Kayak Chicago offers a one of a kind experience in one of the coolest ways to see the city. Their friendly and experienced tour guides provided a fun and safe passage on the river through downtown and to the lake. I especially liked the starting location. Free parking and a nice distance to paddle. The other companies seemed like a shorter tour for the price. It was a unique way to see the fireworks at Navy Pier from the water and super fun. I highly recommend this tour company!
Had an amazing time today, the staff is one of a kind! Just far enough from the loop to make for a perfect hour and a half paddle. My 3yo son loved the dog there. They seemed to have all the time in the world, and didn't rush a thing. It was my first time being on the river in a two person kayak. We made it down to around the lake Street bridge and back would highly recommend starting here if you're looking for a place to start!
Did the night kayak tour and it was AMAZING! It was perfect date night or fun activity to do with family and friends:) staff was so kind m, helpful and up beat! Be prepared for a small work out. Views at night are unbeatable
Overall, It was a pretty fun and exciting experience. The staff was very friendly but once we got in the water, we began going the wrong direction and no one bothered to tell us the right way to go. The staff watched us go the wrong way and didn t say a word. We were going down the river (still the wrong way) for a long time until we finally checked the map on our phones. We had to paddle back and wasted 2 hours. I m quite bummed we missed the actual route :(
Super like ~ superb kayaking experience! For a full three hours, the sun is a nigger~ the arm is abolished~ the abdominal muscles are quickly practiced! It seems that tomorrow is going to "crawl" to school.
The best thing to do in Chicago. The river is such a hidden gem. Well maybe not these days but it's completely different to actually be on the water and paddling on your own. I've been to all 3 locations and they all have their own vibes. Montrose beach for sup, parking and chill beach day. North Ave beach if you want the selfie with the skyline and the river if you want the architecture and different perspective of the city. The guides are all really passionate and seem to love what they're doing! Spend your summer outside you fools!
A little pricey, especially compared to some other options with Groupons floating around, but a really good time nonetheless. The guides are fun and the trip is a great workout -- 3 miles each way to Navy Pier and back if you do the Fireworks Paddle! Highly recommend a Weds or Sat fireworks trip in the summer. It's the best view of Chicago!
The city is incredibly beautiful during the sunset paddle. You spend the first part in a calm part of the river and get to just enjoy the water; once you make it into downtown you get fantastic scenery with the sunset/city lights.
Our guide, David, was extremely fun to hang out with! He was very professional and gave us some Chicago history lessons along the way. We will definitely be back!
Did the learn to kayak class today and they did a great job! Instructor was super friendly and informative, showed us everything we needed to know to feel comfortable getting in the river. Spent about an hour on land then an hour kayaking. All the gear was in great shape. Highly recommend for a first timer looking to learn. I ll be back for the sunset tour.
Recommend you wear water friendly clothes and bring a towel because you will get wet. It's unlikely you will flip or anything but you will surely get wet from paddle splash or other people's paddles.
We had such a great time with Kayak Chicago! We hopped on the sunset tour and were able to see how beautiful the city was from the water. We stayed together as a group, and even though we were a super large group, we didn't feel crowded or herded together and we had a lot of time to paddle at whatever pace we liked, relaxing and enjoying the views. Every employee was super kind and helpful and the rates were much cheaper than I expected. We had an amazing experience and will definitely be back!!
The staff was friendly and the rate was good, but my car got broken into. It was locked and I left my keys at the office. Nothing important was stolen, but they did take backpacks full of clothes. Really sucks, but the kayaks themselves were good quality and overall our trip was great. But wish there were cameras or more security in the area.
They offer great tours, very professional and safety conscious. They always give orientation and instructions. There are lots of good deals on groupon, etc for tours and if you are just renting they have lots of boats at all times. I highly recommend going with them and checking out the Chicago river.
What an incredible experience! We kayaked at night through the city of Chicago to watch the fireworks. By the end I was too pooped to row anymore and falling behind the rest of the group, so lovely Griffin helped me out and gave me a tow! What a charming man. Thanks Griffin and everyone at Kayak Chicago! You gave me some incredible memories.
Sorry about the poor rating, it's not for Kayak Chicago, but it's for their route to the downtown, it's far from the downtown, the route is through City river where it is heavily polluted with sewage water, it's filthy and stinky. Chicago City needs to take care of these kinds of small businesses, or the city's cleanliness in general.
I've visited twice. This location is farther from downtown where all the activity is, so it's a good location to visit if you've never kayak (as in my case). The water is calmer and less traffic. The employees here are great too. They'll give you instructions on how to navigate the kayak beforehand. On the second visit, I did feel like it was a little too far from downtown. It takes about an hour to get there, and an hour back. I think 1-1.5 hours in is where I start getting uncomfortable. So i do suggest a closer location once you are more experienced.
Took the architecture tour today and it was awesome! Great way to see the city from a different perspective. Not to mention, Bubba was a great guide! It was about a 6 mile long journey and took a little over 3hrs.
These guys do it right! I've paddled for over 20 years on my own and I've never come across a more professional outfit than Kayak Chicago. Their guides are ACA certified. Their equipment is in great shape. Their tours are incredibly insightful and entertaining. AND THEY TEACH YOU HOW TO KAYAK PROPERLY. So many other outfitters just give you the gear and set you out on your own. KC cares about your experience. They care about your safety and they care about the quality of service they deliver. With so much traffic on the river and the lake, it's really important to know what the heck you're doing. After a tour with Kayak Chicago, you'll feel confident, capable and ready for more.
I had a great outing here back in the summer. The guides and staff are nice and knowledgeable. The equipment all seemed new and up to date. At no time did i ever feel unsafe. We had a great trip and made some great memories. Certainly not for the out of shape individual.
I took Architectural History Tour on cold and rainy Saturday. My tour guide David was very knowledgeable on the local buildings and stories behind them. I recommend this kayaking tour to anyone who is little adventurous and wants to enjoy the different perspective of Chicago.
kayakchicago.com
