Fun! We took a ride on a flamingo pedal boat at Hoyt Lake. It was a beautiful sunny day and lots of fun. Wish that there was more to see on the boat ride but it is something fun to do. Don't know that I would go again, but glad I did, always wanted to. read more

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My sons really wanted to ride a flamingo boat one of these days, and today was the day. For $16 dollars ($15 for the ride, an additional $1 service fee for purchasing online) we were able to paddle a four seat flamingo boat around Hoyt Lake. You have to wear lifejackets, which I especially appreciated since I spaced on sunblock today and my shoulders at least had a little extra protection for awhile. Seriously, though. Wear sunblock. You're on the highly reflective water of a lake with minimal shade for cryin' out loud. I was worried because four seaters have two in the front controlling the flamingo and two in the back doing jack all. Neither of my sons wanted to be relegated to the back, but it turns out two eleven year old boys can manage piloting the boat just fine so I was able to sit back and enjoy. Service is good. One of the workers was playing a ukulele in between customers. read more

Hoyt Lake Row Boats - Boat Charters Near Me

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It's annoying these reviews have been merged. They aren't remotely the same thing. Walking around Hoyt Lake is lovely and the trail is a very good one. You'll come across dog walkers, bird watchers, runners, and people sitting enjoying the park. Then there are the boat rentals. That's a business, you know, for profit. Not a free open park. So not the same things. Update 87 2021 read more

Reserved boat online for 12noon, at 12:30 boat was still tied off in the middle of the water.

On a beautiful Thursday summer night, we rented a two seater Floatmingo for a half hour. It was such a nice, relaxing time. On the mainland, it was hot, on the water it was cool. When you first arrive at the hut by the lake, you are asked to sign a waiver that can be read by texting BOAT to a phone number. The phone number texts you back a link where you fill out the form. It takes under 2 minutes to complete the entire interaction. Only one person from your party has to sign the waiver. The Floatmingos are $15 for a half hour rental and $30 for an hour. It is $15 for as many people as will fit in the boat. So, if it is a 2 seater, or 4 seater, it is $15. Pretty cool. You are given life jackets and the staff are cleaning the life vests and boats as soon as people bring them back in. When you're out on the water, it is nice watching so many different activities taking place within the park. We saw people doing exercises on a tree, hula hoopers, runners, walkers, bikers, people playing volleyball, people practicing yoga, dogs walking, etc. It is so nice to see people using the park. read more

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Nice weather in Buffalo is finally here and my friends and I couldn't wait to check out the Flamingo boats! $15 for 30 minutes and they accept credit card! There was about a 45 minute wait for one of the flamingos , so we just decided to take a stroll around the park until they contacted us by phone that a boat was ready. Each boat can hold up to 4 people or 600lbs. You are required to wear a life jacket and don't dare try to go under the bridge or it's a $50 fine. Two passengers can pedal at once, it is fairly easy to maneuver and you do burn some calories. The two associates working were very friendly and helpful getting us in and out of the boats and taking our pictures . I had a wonderful experience and I think it's a great attraction for our city! read more

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By now, most people have probably seen pics of the new pink flamingo paddle-boats available to rent on Hoyt Lake. There are also rowboats available for rent as well and you can take those out for a full hour (half hour on the flamingos). Why am I just learning about this now? I have always loved boating and being out on the water but what I had never experienced previously was the serenity of going out on the water by myself. Just me, on a tiny boat in the middle of a lake. For fifteen bucks they give you a life jacket and your own little rowboat. I had never rowed an actual boat before but I own a rowing machine, how different could it be? Well, for one, you can adjust the resistance on a rowing machine. On the water, not so much. But I got the hang of it pretty quickly and I've been out twice now. So peaceful. All that time and effort spent trying to date a man with a boat. SMH. This is SO much better. read more

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A great summer activity for children and adults alike. Employees are friendly and prices are fair.

Lovely picnic area. Still one of the best scenic leisure areas in town. Rose garden, Shakespeare in Delaware Park- this is summer in Buffalo! Rent a canoe, bring a bottle of wine and your picnic basket or bring your dog for a lovely stroll. Just awesome. read more

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Players are going to play, and Hoyters are going to Hoyt Lake. Well since my awful soccer injuries are currently preventing me playing, I'm happy to be a Hoyter. I first came to Hoyt with my then-gf, and we had a wonderful romantic night wandering around here. I've been back probably two dozen times since then, most recently for a sunset walk with a good friend. It's absolutely lovely here. Hoyt Lake is one of the prettiest spots in Buffalo. Another of the prettiest spots in Buffalo is located somewhere on the person of my ex-girlfriend who lives around here, but that's a separate issue. Located a stone's throw (literally... you can throw a stone right across the 198 and it will land in Hoyt Lake) from Delaware Park (but if you do, you might break someone's windshield, so maybe not?). It's one of those undiscovered spots in Buffalo that a lot of locals know, but a lot of people in the region don't. You drive past it every time you're on the 198, but you may have never stopped to see it. If you get on the 198 East from Delaware Ave, you've driven right next to it. Next time, stop and actually take a walk around it. You may be surprised how wonderful it is. It's idyllic, peaceful, serene and lovely. Sometimes it's so secluded that you'll be the only one here. It's nice late at night too, for romantic encounters, but don't let the police catch you. And watch out for Alex L, because he's usually down here engaging in a romantic encounter and that could get really awkward really quickly. Happy birthday Alex! And like TS (not Elliott) said, the Hoyters are going to Hoyt, Hoyt, Hoyt, Hoyt, Hoyt. read more

A fantastic running, walking and picnic spot. For you runners out there, making a circle around the lake equates to about 1.03 miles -- makes it very easy to judge distance and run your desired track. There are canoes for the rent here during the summer. On nice days, you'll see people laying out on blankets, playing music and having picnics. Musicians often play the guitar by the benches out front near the museum. Few things that would make this a better public space: - Cleaning up the water a bit. Sometimes when I'm running by certain areas of the lake, I get a whiff of a completely disgusting sewage-y smell. Yuck. - Water fountains! This place totally needs them, especially with all the runners and active life people choosing it as their work out zone. I think a cafe just owned up right in the park, which would partially solve this problem --- but I haven't been there yet to confirm. All in all, a very nice public space by the water in the Elmwood Village. read more

Such a fun activity! Rented a Floatmingo for 30 minutes. Fun paddle boat experience. They even have names for each boat! We had Bird-On-Weck. Highly recommend. Nice guys in the little boat house. Great small husi read more

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Blegh. I want to like this area of Elmwood village so badly. It's maintained that gorgeous Olmsted vision for over 100 years - it still looks like some of the vintage postcards I own - but like my past experiences at the nearby Albright-Knox, at this point I'd rather not. I've walked along the lake a handful of times, both with friends and with my dog, and I just get such a bad vibe from the paths near here. Like I'm going to be grabbed or something. I don't know. I've walked better trails and seen better lakes, and have never felt the way I feel walking around in Delaware Park. Hoyt Lake is definitely beautiful. But from a distance. The water here is most definitely disgusting. There's signs all around this place talking about dangerous algae. People have and continue to throw trash into the water. I had to rescue a poor fish that had gotten stuck in a water bottle obviously cut and made to trap small critters like that. My dog is used to drinking from water sources whenever we walk (we got on a lot of nature hikes with running water) and when I visited Hoyt Lake with her, we had to cut it short since she kept trying to drink that nasty water. I can't imagine renting a canoe and going out there. I'd be so afraid of tipping over. I wouldn't fish here, either. Gross fish living in gross lake water! I get the appeal. But in a city that's becoming revitalized, I really hope they touch on the lake eventually. They should give this place as much love as they've given Canalside. Frederick Law Olmsted would be so disappointed to see his vision be so neglected. read more

This is my favorite spot in Buffalo! I use to live a couple blocks away on Amherst Street so I have tons of pictures of this entire park on my Instagram. The Japanese Garden is just lovely, you can walk the pedestrian bridge and check out Shakespeare in the Park on summer nights, or go sledding in the winter. Kids can play in the playground (I've seen a guy on a bike with an ice box of ice cream that he sells for $1 or $2), there are boat rentals, tennis courts, a soccer field and some nice walking paths in addition to the Art and History Museums in this part of Delaware Park. Buffalo Food Trucks (serving BBQ, tacos from the popular Lloyd's, mac-n-cheese, ice cream etc.) gather behind History Museum (you can access from Elmwood Ave.) on Thursday evenings and it's a nice spot to grab something to eat and then walk it off. The hustle and bustle of Elmwood Avenue starts at Forest Avenue which is walking distance from the park. You can spend the day at the park and then head to Elmwood for beers and eats, or just extend your walk and enjoy people watching. Or you can walk from Hoyt Lake into the extended area of Delaware Park by crossing a bridge over Delaware Avenue. The extended park has golfing, softball and baseball diamonds, a small area for kids to play soccer, restrooms, basketball courts, the Buffalo Zoo and you'll see everyone walking, skating and cycling around the park. This park is gorgeous, a great escape from the city when you need it! I pack my car with frisbees, my softball bag, lawn chairs, blankets, water and snacks to enjoy the day here. I have noticed vending machines by the Buffalo Zoo but none around Hoyt Lake so come prepared with H2O on a hot day! read more

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I love Hoyt Lake. I used to come here more frequently in my college days at Buff State, and post college days while I lived in The Elmwood Village. Now, we live in North Buffalo up by Hertel and when we can, we still like to come down here for walks and picnics with our dog. It's a beautiful spot in Delaware park with a huge trail around the lake. Perfect for joggers, dog walking, human walking, etc. there's grassy knolls and little hills, a huge concrete area by the lake where people tend to lie out in the summer, do yoga, etc. I love bringing a picnic and a frisbee and just hanging out for the day. You can even rent boats in the summer months and paddle around the lake, I've done it and it is a lovely afternoon well spent! read more

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I really love this place it's so beautiful and it's a place that I've come to and enjoyed for years. I really love the walking trails around the lake and in the park nearby. My only criticism and it isn't even of the place itself if that other people have left garbage and trashed this area for far too long. It saddens me how often I see the far end of the lake choked with garbage. People this is your park treat it with respect so that you and other people can enjoy it for generations to come. Otherwise, it's a lovely walk with a variety of trees and plants and during the warmer months many different activities and events happening at the nearby Shakespeare in the park and at the Delaware Park casino. read more

I've been to this general area a lot but this was my first time that I've actually walked around the lake on the path. The path was very well kept. The stink from the water went unnoticed, perhaps the issue has been corrected? I enjoyed that there were a tons of birds frolicking and squirrels romping around, almost forgot where I was. Definitely a nice spot for a casual stroll and conversation. read more

Hoyt Lake might get a little stinky, but it's a beautiful area for anyone looking to get in some activity. We walk our dog year round and appreciate there always being an accessible path around the lake. Only wish is there was more than one garbage can around the lake. read more

Hoyt Lake Row Boats - Boat Charters Near Me

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The man working 8/2/2014 at the rental station called the cops on my friends and I who had rented a boat because "we didn't look like we were going to pay" and "he wanted to go home" We called ahead and asked a) time closing - he said 8pm b) cash / card - he said cash c) operating today bc of rain - he said he was open We arrived at about 5pm and asked a) what is the deposit? - he said $10 b) do we need to fill anything out? - No c) is there a time limit? - No We paid the $10 deposit, we got in the boats and had a lovely time. We got caught in the lightning storm and were able to stay safe under the bridge. When we came back out 2 hrs later we rowed back over to him and asked if we could continue around the lake. He said yes. At that very time we owed him $30 and knew we would end up owing $10-20 more depending. About 30 min into our lap around the fountain we see a cop car hailing us down. So we row over. We asked the cop (very nice guy) to stay to go over the amount because the rental guy told the cop we owed him $80 (we owed $40) and that we refused to come back (it was 7:30pm we were told closing was 8pm). We had the cop stay to watch the exchange of money. The rental guy was rather silent at this point bc even the cop got upset that he was called in for this since we had committed absolutely NO crime. We were having an absolutely lovely time and this man ruined it for no reason. Horrifying to have taxpayer money wasted when actual criminals are wandering around Delaware park. Beautiful park. Wonderful boats. Disgusting choice of employees. read more

A great place to run, walk your dog, or just get some fresh air. There is a paved path around the lake so it's not muddy although the path was a bit icy the other day. Nice area right near the art museums. read more

I love going here and walking around, it's so relaxing and tranquil on a hot summers night. On my last visit I was a bit bummed by all the fast bicycle traffic on the narrow walking path and by the deplorable condition of the water. I thought they were going to clean that up? (political B.S.) read more

as is also true of the other local body of water, this town can not address our severe water problems. Annual algae blooms, dying fish, and dogs who have been sickened by drinking here simply do not seem to be enough to develop a strategy to save this beautiful lake. Lake Erie is next - As New Yorkers and together as a nation, we must work to care for our Lakes both large and small. read more