chicago kayak tours

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Kayak Tours

Riverwalk Kayak Tours

Lakefront Kayak Tours

Kayak rentals.

Riverwalk Kayak Rental

Lakefront Kayak Rental

• Membership Passes
• Kayak Safety
• Incident Report
• Join the team

Lake Michigan Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding

Why choose urban kayaks, explore with the experts.

Fall in love with Chicago when you view the city from a new perspective — on the water! Our seasoned kayak tour guides will lead you on excursions past Chicago’s waterfront and provide interesting stories and tidbits that only a local would know.

Select From 2 Locations

Urban Kayaks has a base on both Chicago’s Riverwalk and Lakefront. Depending on your prior kayaking experience and interest, you can explore these areas and discover the beauty of the city’s waterways in the process.

Relax After Your Tour

After paddling for an hour or 2, you’re likely to be thirsty! Unwind with your group or other guests at TacoRio, our on-shore restaurant that offers freshly made tacos and celebratory cocktails to boot.

Explore Lakefront Chicago With Lake Michigan Kayaking and SUP

Sunset rental.

Take a serene paddle along the lakefront, capturing the stunning silhouette of the iconic Chicago skyline against the backdrop of a breathtaking sunset. Don’t forget to bring your camera to seize the moment!

Chicago Paddle Boarding — Introductory Course

Join one of the world’s fastest-growing recreational activities when you sign up for an introductory paddle board course at Urban Kayaks’ scene Lakefront location!

Explore the Chicago River with Urban Kayaks

Energize Your Kayak Adventure! Get a 10-Pack at a Special Rate! Act Now!

SEASON PASS

Wateriders new season pass offers unlimited kayaking at all three Chicago locations. Act Now!

KAYAK RENTALS ON THE CHICAGO RIVER

Paddle the Chicago River at your own pace and choose your path through the steel and concrete canyons of this beautiful city!

Launching from our dock under the Kinzie St. bridge, Wateriders is wonderfully close to the heart of downtown Chicago and just a few minutes paddling from the main attractions. We are proud to offer the best urban kayaking experience in the city, at the best rates. Single and double (tandem) kayaks are available.

Don’t waste time and energy paddling from far away to where the highlights are! We are right in the middle of the action. Close to the most scenic areas. Close to the El. Close to the Metra. Renting a kayak with us is the easiest way to experience the beautiful Chicago River.

We provide everyone a lesson before you get in the boat on how to correctly paddle, as well as a quick tutorial on how to stay safe on the Chicago River. Then we set you up comfortably in your boat for your ride! All the hard work is taken care of for you by our guides.

Reserve a time or feel free to drop in (call ahead for availability). However, we strongly suggest reservations – especially on weekends – to ensure you will get out on the water at the time you want.

• Price (first hour) Weekdays - $60/two hours per person Weekends - $70/two hours per person
• Duration Minimum 2 hour rental. All rentals are pro-rated $7.50 per 15 minutes per person after the scheduled time on weekdays and $8.75 for weekends.
• Reservations Timeslots available every half hour Reservations take priority over walk-ups Note: Reservations are for seats, not for a single or double kayak. We do our best to allow you a choice of single(s) vs. double(s), but there are times this is not possible.
• Walk-Ups It is a good idea to call ahead for availability! Due to COVID-19, pre-booking is the preferred way to reserve a spot. Walk-ups are subject to availability with social distancing measures of a restricted number of people per half hour (10 or less).
• Group Size There is a maximum of 6 total boats per group without a guide. If you have a larger group, check out our Group Paddles page!
• Kayaks Single and double kayaks available
• Weight Limits Single kayak - 275 lbs (approx.); Double kayak - 450 lbs (approx.)
• WayneHFranklin: We are definitely going to be doing this again, especially when we have people visiting Chicago. Great job guys... Read full Testimonial
• Gina M.: This was a great trip. The staff was super friendly. The location was great, it was close to all the sights downtown. A 2 hour trip from their location allowed us to spend time seeing all the right sights on the river. Thank you guys! Read full Testimonial
• Andrea B.: Location: Easy to find, clean and a variety of kayaks to choose from. Staff: SUPER nice, friendly and very knowledgeable. Price: Prices are the same or very similar all around. Puppies allowed - The staff greeted my pup w love and treats! Pup and I had a blast. Thank you guys! We will be back. (My pup loved it) Read full Testimonial

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+1 (312) 852-9258

1220 W Lemoyne Ave., Chicago, IL

Monday – Sunday, 10am – 7pm

Chicago River

Kayak through the city on the chicago river  paddle the wild mile with ducks, turtles, beaver and birds before heading into downtown through the canyons of glass and steel. our location is conveniently located just off north avenue..

We are open on the River!

Spring 2024: 

May hours: Friday through Sunday, 10am – 7pm (night tours run past rental hours)

At this location (Chicago River):   Kayak rentals and Kayak tours

Address:   1220 W. Le Moyne St. Chicago, IL

Getting here: Our Chicago river location is just three blocks east of 90/94, and one block south of North Avenue. Magnolia Avenue is the first street west of the North Avenue Bridge across from the Home Depot.

Kayak Chicago is located at the south end of the brick building just next to the Chicago River, at the intersection of Le Moyne and Magnolia.

What to Bring: Bring fluids and snacks if you plan on being out for an extended period of time. A camera is great to bring when you are out on the water, we recommend having it in a waterproof bag. We highly recommend staying hydrated, bring plenty of water. Water and power bars are available at this location.

Storage: We have storage cubbies at each of our locations in case you want to leave something behind or don’t want it to get wet. Anything you bring on the water has the potential to get wet, so please use caution. Waterproof phone cases are available for purchase on-site.

Parking: There is plenty of free parking on Le Moyne and Magnolia ave. right in front of our facility.  Remember you are parking in the city of Chicago, so do not leave valuables in your car.  You can leave anything you don’t want to bring on the kayak in our storage cubbies inside the office for free, or lockers are available for $1.00 (4 quarters)