I was so excited for this part of my trip to Chicago, and it was still something cool that I could say "I did that." However, this place desperately needs a new docking location. This THREE hour tour starts in a place called "little hell" ...which makes complete sense because the water in this area is DISGUSTING. We kayaked past bottles and murky, swampy looking water until we eventually (maybe 45 minutes later) arrived near the buildings. It was neat to see but for $55 this should have started closer to what we wanted to see and not gone through the dirtiest waters in Chicago. Our tour guides Travis & Dave were very nice and kept the group safe. My friends and I are all strong kayakers but we felt the three hours was unbearably long. For a "sunset tour" we started at 7 which for the summer is indeed sunset...but a few weeks into Fall as it is now it's a "pitch black out the entire time tour." I wouldn't say it's something I regret...but not something I'd recommend. read more

Kayak Chicago - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Admittedly, my friends and I didn't actually kayak, but this was because we were told we'd have to wait 30+ min for single kayaks (doubles would have a longer wait), and the website had advertised, "No reservations, we have plenty of rental boats, so just come out anytime during open hours." Sure, what is plenty, and they don't say that you won't have to wait, but the vagueness was still deceiving. I suppose I'll review this company again if I go back and actually get to kayak. read more

Great Architecture Tour! Chad, our tour guide, was very friendly and helped out the beginners with their kayaking technique. It was quite interesting to see Chicago from this point of view. Bring some water and wear some clothes you will not mind getting a little wet. I would like to try the fireworks tour next time.... hopefully they will offer a Groupon; at $50 per peson, it prevents me from going back more often! Overall, a great experience! read more

I have been calling for three weeks trying to schedule the fireworks Chicago kayak tour. Nobody has returned a single voicemail or answered the phone even once. I bought a groupon for this and the last day of the season that hasn't sold out yet is this Wednesday and I want to redeem it before I lose my $115 because of their incompetence. Blows my mind that nobody has answered the phone even once. read more

We had a fantastic time! The staff is super helpful amd friendly. Definitely a good little workout, but you can kayak to the loop and back in two hours. read more

Kayak Chicago was a great experience! We loved the ease of the process. Parking was not a problem, right next to Comcast on Magnolia. After a brief safety and introduction of kayaking strokes, we were in the water. Starting at the Southern tip of Goose Island, we were off. The three tour guides took us all the way up right underneath the Trump tour. We had a few scheduled stops as a group where our main guide David did some architecture explanation. Overall the trip was very well organized and was a great balance of structure and freedom. Walking through Chicago countless times, the water gives you a completely unique vantage point. P.S. Look on groupon for cheaper tickets! Can typically find a $45 dollar deal as opposed to the $75 dollar one read more

Did the Wednesday night trek to (and from) the fireworks. What a great workout, but you can still go at your own pace. A fun time!

I have used this business in various capacities for several years. Mainly, I launch my own kayak from their Magnolia location several times a summer. They charge a very reasonable $10 for this and the employees are always friendly and offer to help me carry my equipment. I have also rented a kayak for a race and also to take a friend on the river. In the former instance, they let me try it out first without charging me. I have also gone with my son to the Montrose Beach location. They allowed us rent sea kayaks after requiring us to demonstrate basic self rescue techniques. We used this opportunity to practice rolling and rescues. In every case the staff was knowledgeable, helpful, and enthusiastic about kayaking. read more

Our group (approx. 30) signed up for the Fireworks tour. Let me state this right up front...SAVE YOUR MONEY! If your idea of a kayak adventure is paddling through stinky, nasty, filthy, bacteria infested back waters of the Chicago River and getting yelled at by guides all along the way then, by all means, sign up and enjoy. I went to Chicago with a group of experienced kayakers, including myself, to specifically enjoy this excursion. First off, we had to endure about an hour of kayak 101 classes, which I can understand, given there were others attending aside from our group...and, of course, the liability issue. So, I give them that. After 1 hour, we were finally in the water at dusk. The first 30 minutes of paddling was through some of the nastiest, filthiest water I have ever had the mis-pleasure of paddling through and on top of that, you had to endure the vomit-inducing stench from the waste management plant...very unpleasant and not relaxing a bit! My next complaint is the guides were constantly barking at everyone to stay bunched up to the right in the canal..we were ALL on the right side...but for some reason they wanted us to be bunched up to the point where our boats were like sardines in a can and you could not paddle your boat efficiently/effectively without constantly bumping into to others or hitting other boats with your paddle. I thought it showed a total disregard for safety and safe paddling and these instructions were very unsafe...I ignored these knuckle heads. I understand staying to the right in the waterway to limit exposure to oncoming boats, but again, we were to the right, but they felt the need to constantly bark at you if you moved a bit left to give your self safe distance between others. As we finally made it past the backwater area and into the main channel in the city, the view was nice...the ambiance of the city all a-glow and night-time party music was abundant and somewhat enjoyable. After about and 1 hour and 15 minutes of paddling, we finally made it to mouth where we backed up our boats on the left-hand side of the canal to see the fireworks...ALL 5 MINUTES WORTH! What a disappointment the fireworks were. It was explained to me the fireworks were second to none and we would be right under them...we were about a mile away, as far as I could tell, and they were very short lived. VERY DISAPPOINTING! So, time to paddle back. For whatever reason, the guides wanted us to wait for every single motor boat and every other kayak company's group to get in front of us prior to us beginning our journey back. As we were waiting and the water was getting choppy from all the boats passing, I felt the need to steady myself with my paddle. For whatever reason, the guide felt the need to constantly reprimand me that we were not to proceed for the umteenth time. Mind you, I was going nowhere, just steadying myself, but he didn't seem to understand this. He almost was force fed a paddle sandwich! after waiting for every boat on the river to get in front, we were then allowed to proceed at a snail's pace. The guide explaining we were only allowed to go as fast as the slowest paddler. Well, I think there were four kayak guides and two dinghy guides, but not sure. So why they couldn't divide us into a fast and slow group I am not sure. But it was very frustrating not just to myself, but to most of the folks in our group. We constantly had to stop and wait, stop and wait, etc. It's about 11 pm by now and folks want to get back. About 2/3's of the way back, we explained we didn't want to be on the river all friken night, the front guide finally got the hint and actually started to paddle with some effort. When we arrived back to Kayak Chicago close to midnight, we were informed we had to walk out the street, about a 1/4 mile, and hale a cab, we could not use their phone. Late at night in a not so great part of town, hike a 1/4 mile and hale a cab...the last thing we wanted to do, but we did it. As we mulled over out disappointment of the evening, we all decided for the money we could have had a spectacular dinner and cocktails and perhaps taken a water taxi up to see the fireworks. Next time, this is what we'll do and I recommend you do the same. read more

We had an awesome time! The staff members were helpful and laid back. We had free reign of the kayaks once we were in the water, and were provided with a map so we could create our own route. I definitely recommend this company as a great way to see Chicago from a whole new perspective! read more

My girlfriend and I went to Kayak Chicago as a weekend outing and were greeted by a friendly cashier sorry I didn't catch her name, and David which added great but subtle humor before we set out by ourselves. And I don't get why people are complaining about how physically tired they were, well of course it's a physical activity and you probably needed the exercise! lol but over all thanks David we'll see you again soon! read more

The guys at the Montrose Beach location were fantastic. We had a bachelor party and they took us through a pretty intense tour for the Air and Water Show. It was awesome. The guys even helped paddle a buddy of mine who tweaked his shoulder halfway through the trip and needed help! The guys were all fun to hang with and took us right up to show. It was a great time. read more

Lat night a group of us went on the sunset kayak tour and it was amazing! Our guides David and Brain were friendly, funny, and super helpful. I have never written a yelp review before, but I felt the need to after such a great experience. I had never been kayaking before, but that didn't matter, they were there to help you along the way. The views of the Chicago buildings at night is absolutely breathtaking! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to do something active and fun! read more

Would do this again, all day long. Took my visiting nieces on an afternoon kayak, and expert, professional, fun coach Brian gave us a little training session and we set off on a marvelous tour around Goose Island. Highly recommend. Will be back. read more

Incredible experience! My friends and I actually went to Kayak Chicago when it was closed on a weekday during May. Fortunately, the owner and the coordinator were there doing some business. Instead of turning me and my two friends away, they opened up solely for us. No questions were asked, and the guys were super friendly about the whole thing. The kayaking itself and the views were remarkable. Highly recommend for tourists and Chicago residents alike! Amazing service and amazing experience. Already planning to go back later this summer. read more

Poor service is enough for me NOT to even want to get in a kayak with them. Unresponsive, unprofessional, and very poor customer service overall. read more