Had a great time kayaking with my Dad! We did the Friday fireworks tour, which ends with watching the fireworks from the Bisons game. You start from the kayak launch across from silo city, paddle down to Canalside and then come back. There are two guides, one talking about the history of the area and another just to make sure the group is safe and accounted for. There are also sunset/twilight tours without fireworks which would be just as fun...I think I would have enjoyed spending more time paddling around Canalside and catching some of the music from the concert that was going on instead of the fireworks, but the tour was as advertised, so I am not going to fault them for that. Things to know before you go: -plenty of parking in this area as long as some huge event isn't going on -there is a small door along the road with a sign but the main entrance is actually inside the main Barrel Factory. -there is a bathroom to change, but there are no lockers for your things (at least I think), so you have to leave items in your car, so don't leave anything too valuable. -The kayak launch is dry, but I still got a bit wet from the water dripping off the paddle. The water made my clothes and drawstring bag I brought smell a bit funky so definitely only wear/bring items you can wash. My recommendations: -I really think the guided tours are best for people new to the area or new to kayaking. There really isn't anything TOO interesting history wise along the waterfront since a lot of it is new development (or abandoned) and most people in town have been to Riverworks and Canalside before. That said, it's still a great place to go kayaking and you can rent kayaks here without the guided tour if you are comfortable. They have good quality rentals with nice comfy seats. -Gene MaCarthys is practically right next door. What better way to reward all that paddling than with a nice cold beer? read more

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Chose elevator alley for the great rental prices when comparing to other nearby spots. Went with a friend and had a great experience. Reserved our kayaks and filled out the waivers online the night before. Walked in and the check-in process was quick and easy. All the staff was really friendly and helpful. From the slip, you are given the choice on which direction you would like to go out and the gentleman kindly detailed what we could see depending on what route we chose. We intentionally chose a morning visit to limit the high amounts of traffic that comes through as the day goes on. It was perfect. read more

Wonderful experience on the water. I kayaks were ready and waiting for us upon arrival.

This may be my favorite kayak rental in Western New York. It was about $50 for 2 hours, tandem kayak. The kayak was great quality. The location is fantastic, though the water does tend to be a bit busy here. Lots of boats. But it's great scenery, paddling past the silos as well as Buffalo River Works. The staff was wonderful. Very helpful. It was a breeze checking in and getting the kayak in the water. We will be back! read more

Seamless. Made the reservation online. Attendant was friendly. Great location and better value than the alternatives.

Went with a group this weekend, the rental process was easy enough and the two guys helping at the dock were great. I had my own kayak so was unsure of their scheduled return time. A couple of people in the group got stuck behind a large boat coming through the canal and it caused them to be late. Upon returning the owner was at the dock swearing, yelling and ranting to people in kayaks his rental or not. His argument was how stupid are you, if you see a boat turn the F*** around and that's common sense. Common sense to me is that this is not how a business owner acts to paying customers. He was very hostile and confrontational, if you are looking to rent kayaks go to Riverworks and have a better customer service experience. read more

Elevator Alley Kayak - Tugboat pulling large ship - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buffalo, New York

We decided to go take advantage of the cooler end of summer weather and spend some time on the water. Was a great experience with Elevator Alley! They're definitely the more cost effective option between them and Buffalo Harbor Kayak nearby - $25 for a single kayak for 2 hours, instead of $25/hour. Go into Barrel Factory over towards the left and they have their little shop where they sell supplies that you might want while out on the water (drinks, bag to protect your phone, gloves to protect your hands from getting blisters from the repetitive oar motion, etc). They assured us that they're being vigilant about sanitizing equipment between uses (kayaks, oars, life vests) when we asked, so that was good to know. Once you've checked in, it's a short jaunt down to the water. Once you're in, there are two options. Go to the right for seeing the sights that define the Buffalo waterfront; you can go as far as the lighthouse past Canalside, at which point you turn around before you get out to Lake Erie. This is the path to choose if you're looking for the more impressive sights and some cool pics. Towards the left, you go down in the direction of Tifft Nature Preserve - there are still some cool industrial structures with graffiti and whatnot, but it's quieter with more greenery and increased odds of seeing some nice water birds. Overall it was a great way to spend an afternoon, it was nice to have some choices in terms of where to go, it was more affordable than competitors, and it's a great way to hang out while social distancing. read more

The kayaks included in the rental were great quality. We kayaked down to canal side and saw other kayaks along the way that looked so rickety and so low to the water, I was a little worried for the people inside them. This location was ideal because it took a little less than 2 hours to kayak to canal side and back. read more

Elevator Alley Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buffalo, New York

The boats and equipment are fine, and always in great condition. The route a paddler can take is amazing. However, the primary person (owner?) has zero customer service skills. He approaches inquiries or small talk as interrogation or judgement, and therefore reacts with antagonizing jokes or defensive arguing. He's got it made with a business and location that can't be beat, but his ability to navigate simple business conversation with women, or just engaging in smalls talk needs to improve. Caveat emptor. read more

We took a History Kayak tour today and it was wonderful! We were beginners and Justin and his crew were excellent teachers and very patient and kind. We highly recommend it! read more

This was my first kayaking experience since moving to Buffalo - it certainly will not be my last! My co-workers and I wanted to arrange a retreat and decided on kayaking. After exploring the kayaking companies on Yelp, we found Elevator and gave them a call - they were able to reserve over 10 kayaks for us over a week in advance! We were a group of 16. The owner, Jason, was very helpful throughout the process. He helped arrange for us to order food ahead of time as well, since there's a small restaurant inside with a full menu. There is plenty of seating inside and outside. FYI, there is a full bar attached to the Barrel Factory building (Lakewood Spirits). Some important facts: 1) The kayaks are in excellent shape and are comfortable 2) There are no locker rooms for changing, but the restrooms are at least a decent size (and they're clean) 3) No lockers - you should either leave valuables at home or have them kept in a waterproof bag. 4) We managed to kayak all the way to Riverworks (it was awesome!), but you can certainly go further if you know you'll be back within the 2-hour window 5) If you call, there's a good chance someone may not answer, BUT they always call back read more

Took the 9:00 Buffalo history tour. It was a lucky day because we had our tour given by Brad, the executive director of Explore Buffalo. There were some bloggers on the tour and Brad was there to make they saw what the new Buffalo has to offer. Jason, the owner of Elevator Alley Kayak was there to make sure everyone was safe out on the water, and he also provided some comic relief. Our tour started at the Mutual Riverfront Park and went down to the Navy Park before doubling back. We were able a see a beaver in the Buffalo river also the Michigan Ave lift bridge from underneath as it was rising for a large boat to pass underneath. Great way to spend a morning getting some exercise and learning about Buffalo read more

Great kayaks and good service attitude. They wear masks and that makes me feel safe and respected. I will return for more fun on the Bflo river! read more

I have been here three different times and each time I enjoy it more and more. I have been with a school I teach at, with my girl friends and with a group of my girl scouts. It is phenomenal. The public launch location is perfect, this part of the river, there are not a lot of boats to contend with as you would find by canal side. There is a lot of history in this area with the grain silos and much to see. When I went with my colleagues from work, we did a quick tour and history lesson, if you are a history buff- get the tour! With my girl friends we ended up at Gene McCarthy's for cocktails after! It was a week night an there were quite a few boats on the river. I just went with my girl scouts this morning (9:00 on a Thursday). They loved it! Because they use a public launch, other party members who own their own kayaks could meet us there. The River is quiet in the morning perfect for kids. We had 8 year olds to 14 year olds with us. This company has great Kayaks, super staff and are the cheapest in the Buffalo area! read more

Elevator Alley Kayak provided us with everything the 5 of us needed for an awesome adventure. Starting with safety equipment, helpful hints on using the paddles, ideas on where to paddle. We had a great time and give it 5 . Best equipment on the Buffalo River definitely my first choice for rentals. Can't wait for our next outing. read more

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After having rented kayaks previously from Elevator Alley Kayaks , we returned and My husband and I purchased two used kayaks from the owner Jason. He went above and beyond with customer service. Everything we needed we got right there. He ordered the parts that were needed to transport the kayaks on our SUV. Everybody there was helpful and knowledgeable and we cannot wait to get many years of fun out of these kayaks. I highly recommend anyone considering renting or buying to go to elevator alley. read more

Came to Elevator Valley for a nice relaxing activity and got just that. The shop was neat fairly price. Reading the other reviews about the poor management shock me. I had a great interaction with the owners and other employees. We were also late to our reservation and they were understanding and we still got our two hours. Great activity for our trip! read more

Elevator Alley Kayak - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buffalo, New York

- Shockingly rude management - Bad equipment - Bad service - Fraudulent charges on my credit card The owner should be ashamed of how he does business. He made rude and extremely passive-aggressive comments to us during check in because we didn't want to sign his waver to be recorded. While on the water, the kayak paddle was defective and left black stain marks on the palms of my hands where the black plastic paddle rubbed against. No one was there to help us when we returned with the kayaks, we had to pull them in and carry them ourselves. When I told him about the paddle he said my hands were probably like that before. Also, he falsely accused us of smoking pot in his kayak and charged us $10 on my card without my knowledge. When I called to confront him about this and asked it to be refunded, he said his staff smelled pot when we returned the kayaks.. but no one was there to receive us when we returned so how could that be true? Apparently the black marks on my hands were from the ash. That just cracks me up. This is NOT a man you want to do business with. read more

We had the best experience with Elevator Alley Kayak. The whole process was really simple, from parking to renting to getting out on the water. The location is a little off the beaten path but that makes the experience that much more fun. The scenery on the river is amazing and the friendly staff (including the owner) were so helpful from start to finish. We highly recommend this place and can't wait to come back! read more

Very affordable and a great launching location. The kayaks are a step up from other places and they have multiple sizes and types. The staff is super friendly and helpful and the owner was onsite, which added the personal touch. I would not hesitate to rent from here again, and will recommend this to anyone coming to Buffalo or who already lives here. read more

Well worth the forty bucks Give it a shot tour guide was great the look from the river was great enjoyed the tour read more

Amazing from start to finish. Stopped in the day before to see the place, loved it. Made reservation online, arrived on time, check in was seemless. Family outing had a wonderful time, great rentals and very affordable. When in the area will take one of their tours. They even answered an online question for me. Highly recommend read more

Elevator Alley Kayak provided a great value and a great experience. The owner of the company was knowledgeable on kayaking and gave great tips and advice on how to paddle properly, deal with wakes, and what we could expect on each route. The kayaks themselves were in great condition, the staff was friendly, and the website booking system was functional and respected. I had a seamless experience getting into the water Elevator Kayaks and only had to focus on enjoying the towers of Silo City! read more

Jason took great care getting each of us set up in the right size kayak and gear. The new roller launch a the foot of Hamburg St makes easy access in and out of the water. Very affordable rentals and sales of new and used kayaks. read more

I have been kayaking for years. Many times friends ask me where they can rent kayaks for the afternoon. I usually launch from the Smith Street launch. I've noticed Elevator Alley Kayaks launching from the public launch for a few years. On two separate occasions, I have witnessed his interactions with his staff and the general public. Based on his behavior, I would never recommend this company to anyone. I witnessed the manager/owner berating his staff, yelling and embarrassing them in front of his customers and the public. I always learned to praise in public and correct in private. It has been my experience that people who don't, also treat their customers the same way. If he was screaming about a safety issue, I might understand... but it was as stupid as which way to launch and recover. Left to right or right to left. He then proceeded to start yelling at the public that was also trying to use the launch. My feeling is that if you are using a public launch to make money, you probably should be more considerate of the public around you. read more

We rented a single and a double kayak yesterday for 2.5hrs, nice kayaks, easy launch. We ended up paddling to a bar at the end of the alley and stopped for a beer, very fun, and then paddled back and ended up renting longer than expected to 3.5hrs. Once back we were berated by a man who told us that he had people waiting for us and that if we rent for 2.5hrs that is what we rent for and no more, very rude man. Definitely killed our wonderful vibe from paddling. They didn't tell us we only had 2.5 hrs, and couldn't rent for more time. They didn't tell us the kayaks were rented again at a certain time and they needed to be back. Number one, I had told him we would have no issues paying more and he snarkly remarked "you will soo be paying for more time". On top of that they had more kayaks and didn't even use our kayaks upon our return. The lady Beth that rented to us was super nice, the man's response was over the top and so not needed. Too bad we as we were so looking forward to many return visits, but until this guy gets a lesson in customer service he will not be getting any of our future business. read more

You can't get better than Elevator Alley Kayak when it comes to the cost of renting a kayak. Two kayaks for two hours worked out to just over $50; other places I have rented from have been much more expensive. Elevator Alley Kayak launches from Mutual Riverfront Park, which is much friendlier to a novice kayaker. Other boat launches have had you step into the water, plop down, and get pushed in. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about kayaking to properly describe it, but it's a metal structure with a pathway elevated over the water that allows you to set your boat down and push off into the water. There are no wet feet involved in getting in and out of the water. The staff are very helpful, and do a great job of explaining kayaking to you. They let you know what sights you can see along the Buffalo River, and about how much time it takes to get there and back. My only complaint is the lack of a parking lot at the park, but honestly, that's really a minimal issue. I would definitely go back! read more

I wasn't sure what we'd find when we went to go kayaking I'd never done this activity before. I was able to go online and reserve a time slot for two of us. It was very clear who our contact was when we arrived at the park. Jason had a sign up. We arrived a little early so he got us going a little early. He went through safety issues and made sure our life jackets were on properly and comfortable. He also gave a short lesson on technique which proved to be very helpful and then off we went. The kayaking starts right in the middle of Silo City. You can go north toward Canalside and Lake Erie or take a more nature based trip south on the Buffalo River. We got two hours for $25 (plus tax) per individual kayak. Tandem kayaks are available for $45 for two hours. I found this outfit through a Facebook article giving information on two different rental places. As for price this was a better deal. The other, while right at Canalside, was $20 for only an hour. Historic Kayak Tours are also available for those interest. read more

Reserved 3 Kayaks on a very busy Father's Day. Staff was professional and friendly, boats were great! Highly recommend!!