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) boats 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 a lesson before you get in the boat on how to correctly paddle, as well as how to stay safe on the Chicago River. Then we set you up comfortably in your boat for your ride!
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.
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WhenSchedule and Current Availability
Starting October 13th, rentals will only be available on Saturdays between 12 pm and 4 pm. -
DurationMinimum 1 hour rental. All rentals are pro-rated $5 per 15 minutes per person after the first hour
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ReservationsTimeslots available every half hour
Reservations take priority over walk-ups
Note: Reservations are for seats, not for a specific type of boat. If you make a reservation, we do our best to allow you a choice of single(s) vs. double(s), but there do exist circumstances when this is not possible.
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Walk-UpsIt is a good idea to call ahead for availability!
We do not reserve all of our seats in advance - we save some flexibility for walk-up rentals. However, these are subject to availability, and we will make a first-come, first-served waiting list if we do not have boats available at the time.
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Price (first hour)Weekdays - $25 per person
Weekends - $30 per person
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Group SizeMaximum of 6 boats per group without a guide
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BoatsSingle and double kayaks available
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Weight LimitsSingle kayak - 275 lbs (approx.); Double kayak - 450 lbs (approx.)
