Man, this was the unexpected highlight of my recent 5-day trip to Chicago. Booked this on a whim through a Chicago friend... I wanted an activity to help show my cousin around Chicago for the first time so we did the Architecture & History tour, each in our own kayak. He'd never kayaked before, and it was a simple, fun, and safe little training session while we got going. Beautiful summer day and what a fascinating way to explore the city and see those buildings. Our leader, Matt, was a funny and gregarious guide and always directed us safely and helped create a vibe of camaraderie in the group. Super nice guy and just spouted knowledge about Chicago's history and the history of the Chicago river. It was such a sensory experience to get some exercise in while feeling the Chicago sun and hearing the water and factoids about Chicago ghosts and boats etc! I even had a chance run-in with an old friend I hadn't seen in years who happened to be walking along the Chicago Riverwalk at the very moment I was paddling down below. The whole thing was magical. Special thanks to Charlie who helped set us up with the right tour for what we wanted, and our tour guide Mateo H. for being the best we could have asked for. Trips are precious - sometimes they're a flurry of activity and you get home and begin to process the whole series of moments... this is a standout moment and I highly recommend this for anyone who is experiencing Chicago for the first time or - like me - experiencing it anew from a new vantage point. THANK YOU for a beautiful memory! read more

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Great first time kayaking! The views were breathtaking and the staff member was very informative and kind to us. I will be doing this regularly. It's a great way to explore downtown Chicago and connect with yourself. read more

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First, it says when booking that it will be two hours. The start time is 8:15. So I told my babysitter an end time based off of that. The day of the tour we get a text saying it will be three hours. That meant we had to scramble to see if our babysitter could stay at least an hour longer. Second, they put a green light on each kayak on each so it can be seen at night on the river (we did the fireworks tour). I am not exaggerating when I say half of the kayaks on the tour lights were out on the way to the fireworks. That made me feel unsafe and anxious. It also made it more difficult to figure out who our tour guides were because at least two tour guides' lights went out as well. Third, they directed us to "park" (not sure how else to put it) for the fireworks in a spot that the other kayak tour groups seemed to very clearly know was to be avoided because a giant boat was going to dock there. This resulted in our group being yelled at by another kayaking group that we should leave for our own safety because a boat was going to dock there. Then the boat was descending upon us and we had to play kayak-frogger across the river in a mad dash at the last minute while the giant boat honked and played sirens because we were in its way. Again, felt very unsafe. For a person looking for a a casual, fun kayaking experience, this whole thing was too stressful. Would not recommend. Other kayaking places we saw on the water seemed more organized and safety-conscious. read more

Found these guys on yelp. So glad that we did. They were a truly friendly group who took safety seriously and knew how to have fun. We chose the architectural and historical tour. We learned a ton about Chicago. Really, we learned stuff that should have made it into the history books. The entire tour took about 2 hours. It wasn't overly strenuous to keep up with Trevor. He kept things moving and we got about five 10 minute breaks while he gave us a history lesson along the route. I would highly recommend this for the adventurous type who want to explore Chicago at water level. read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Was looking for something to do last minute on our last night in Chicago and saw that Wateriders does a moonlight tour. I was unable to book online same day, but I called and they said that I could still swing by and join them in an hour. My group and I chose to all do single kayaks, but you can also do doubles if you'd like. Kayaking through the Chicago River at night is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I highly recommend. The city looks so amazing at night and it was a pretty easy route. Larger boats come through too and it wasn't very hard to stick to the sides out of their way. The guides with us that night were Peter, Jack, and Sarah, I believe and they were all great. I learned some good fun facts about Chicago too! I did think the mixture of experience of other people in the tour was the one thing I did not like. I'm not an expert kayaker but I do know enough not to splash other people or hit them in the head with the paddle, both of which happened to me. People were also pretty inconsiderate and would cut off other kayakers. It definitely put a damper in the experience but that was just the combination of people in my tour, so fyi! read more

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They were not there when we showed up. I mean nobody present at all. When we finally got hold of them on the phone, they wanted us to wait over an hour for someone to get there, so we left extremely disappointed. Total unprofessional business. There are others to choose from in Chicago. I will never trust them again. Ruined my birthday present. read more

I had a lot of fun kayaking and exploring Chicago with its wonderful architecture. It was sad to see how much trash was in the river. Maybe a cool idea would be to have volunteers clean up the river once a month and get a free kayaking session while doing that. Just a thought! read more

We got a Groupon for the Rockwell tour and it was amazing. Two hours was plenty of time to explore the river. I wanted to see downtown but we could see the buildings from so far away. It was relaxing and I found myself exhausted after paddling for an hour. I didn't think I would had made it back to the dock in time. We did luckily. I think the Rockwell location was awesome. Lots of choices for food and entertainment. Really nice atmosphere. read more

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We had a really great tour with Derek! He had great energy and kept us safe throughout our time on the River. I learned tons of new things about Chicago, despite having been to Chicago close to twenty times. The best part was how beautiful the city was from the vantage point of the kayak. read more

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Derek and Ethan did a terrific job with the architectural tour this afternoon. I had a blast! They provided a short tutorial for any first time kayakers, and I found it very helpful. I had rowed in a canoe before, but this was a little different, as you are holding your paddle nearly the entire time while you're in the water, and if you tip too far to either side, you'll capsize. So, you have to be sensible. Once I got over some early jitteriness and got the hang of kayaking, I really enjoyed myself. I highly recommend Wateriders. Their entire staff was great and knew what they were doing. Very professional. You should definitely give them a try. read more

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Been a wonderful experience with Tanner at Water riders Kayak tours. We did the moonlight tour (stating and 8:15 pm for 90 minutes).Kayaking though Chicago downtown at night is a beautiful experience and happy to do this with a friendly team at Waterriders Kayak Tours.Highly recommend. read more

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I'm so torn over this review. We did the Saturday night fireworks tour. The guides were fantastic and the fireworks spot was amazing! The only thing I didn't like about this tour but it was as a big thing was there was SOOO many people on it and most had no idea how to kayak. Which meant a lot of people running into my kayak when there was plenty of room or traffic jams with kayaks all on top of each other or getting wet from people's paddles running into me. If you are new to kayaking this tour is for you. Extremely patient funny guides. If you aren't new to kayaking keep in mind you are going to be surrounded by a lot of people that have never kayaked in their life. I would guesstimate there were close to 50 people on our tour. There was a lot of guides to look after everyone, it was just a big group with a lot of time spent getting in and out of the water etc. I thought the location was super easy to find based on the email directions. Overall though, this is a great way to see the city and enjoy the fireworks. read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time and we'll go back. the hosts Jack and Jack were wonderful with how to enjoy your time. Don't forget your sunscreen and have lots of fun!! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - After a half an hour of balancing my son became a pro - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My sister and niece were visiting from out of state and this was the perfect chicago architectural tour for us on the water. Our tour guides were awesome and knowledgeable. The parking and kayak entrance area were perfect and less busy than what I was anticipating so that was a plus too. I plan to go again soon! read more

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My first thought after finishing our kayak tour was "when can we do this again?!" After living here for many years, seeing the city from the river was a stunning change of perspective. And Waterriders made for an amazing first experience! My mom and I did the morning architecture tour, and everything from the on-land instructions to the stories when we were in the water was super well done. The whole thing took about three hours, and on a perfect summer day, it was exactly the right amount of time. Our guide was funny and personable, but not over the top cheesy. And the staff helped with getting into and out of the kayaks, so you stayed dry the whole time. In looking at the various kayak companies, I ended up being really glad we chose Wateriders. Urban Kayak's bright green kayaks seemed to be all over the place on the river -- not in popularity but as in lots of them seemed to be floating away, lost and unorganized. Waterriders did an amazing job corralling both the kayaking pros and novices alike to respect the rules of being on the water and keep everyone together to hear the tour. I can't wait to do this tour again or check out their hourly rentals. And I've already been talking it up with basically everyone I know! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had a great time on our history and architectural tour. Our guide Ben was very knowledgeable and fun. We enjoyed the river, the experience in kayak and the views. We didn't think of taking out of cash beforehand, and gave the little we had to our guide as a tip, we are sorry we didn't give him more. He is very good. read more

I finally went Kayaking, I was nervous since I never did it before ; but they were all very welcoming and supportive to everyone. Orion (cool name) went through instructions and we went into the water. The tour was an hour and a half and we saw Chicago in a different light and view. I would definitely recommend this place. You will feel protective and safe. Enjoy read more

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From the moment we signed in to the moment we left the experience was wonderful. They made sure to provide hand sanitizer upon entry and sprayed down everything you'd be using. We were provided with a beginners course were they walked around to make sure we knew followed exactly what they were teaching us on land before even getting on the water. I appreciated that the most, and although you may think you got it during the class you might get stuck in the water. No worries at all though , because the tour guides stay on the side line to help anyone who may be having difficulties getting into the rhythm. They make a few stops along the way which you can use to take some very good pictures or just take in the amazing view our city has to offer. I'd recommend this ! Go out of your comfort zone a little , you won't regret it! read more

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Great tour! Very organized and professional group of guys. Seth was a great guide...very funny and knowledgeable. A great way to see the city! Highly recommend. read more

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Loooover this kayak tour! Everyone in the staff had lots of energy, tour guide was hilarious, but what impressed us the most was the safety provided. They sprayed down all the kayaks, life jackets, and paddles after each trip. Even more than that, they would scold drunk boaters making waves in a no wake zone to ensure our safety and for everyone else on the water. One tour guide went after a jet skier for going too fast and helped to protect our kayak flock. Thank you for making my first time feel secure and loads of fun! Great anniversary experience read more

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My family surprised me with the Chicago River Kayak (Architecture Tour) experience for Fathers' Day! It was a great experience. The weather was perfect. The tour guides, Ben, O'Ryan, and Blake were great (I.e., personable and knowledgeable). I highly recommend CRK. read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I can not say enough amazing things about my experience with Wateriders! From the check-in guy, to Trevor and Jessica, everyone that worked there was friendly, outgoing, and efficient. Trevor was a tour guide and he was not only informative, but he was funny. He made sure everyone had a safe and memorable paddle. I will definitely be going back to paddle again, it was such an amazing day! Don't hesitate at all, buy tickets!! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wanna learn to row? Then Charlie is your man. What a gracious owner to spend two hours teaching us to row! A "must do" when you want to move beyond kayaking. We also did an hour of kayaking with quieter views of the city. Great location with a brewery at the dock to celebrate your voyage. Great location, great service and just a lotta fun read more

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Had an amazing time. Highly recommend the architecture kayak tour. Trevor was a great guide. read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We did the Navy Pier fireworks kayaking tour. There were A LOT of people, but the staff were quick and efficient when getting in and out of the kayaks. More inexperienced kayakers were bumping into other kayaks and swinging paddles everywhere. If you are experienced, hang in the back and let everyone else go ahead. makes for a pleasant experience. We were out longer than expected. On the confirmation the time was 8-10PM. It was more like 8-11PM. read more

My sister and I booked a 12 pm 2 hour ride on a Monday (way back in the summer!) and it was perfect. We booked a ride with this company through groupon - it came out to $52 for 2 single kayaks for 2 hours. In addition to the fee we paid on groupon, I paid an additional $7 and some cents for the booking fee on the company website. So basically the cost was ~$30/person for 2 hours of kayaking! I believe the price fluctuates a bit because I had an extra discount for whatever reason. Also, do note that this discounted price is only good for rides Monday-Thursday! Getting to the dock was a little confusing - the dock is behind the East Bank Club, so if you're walking in from Hubbard St you'll have to go around the block to the bridge on the left and walk down a set of stairs in order to get to the dock. Checking in was quick and easy. I had a prior reservation so the guy quickly checked me in, had my sister and I sign a waiver form, then took my ID just for collateral until we returned the kayaks. They provide ziplock bags, life jackets, and storage space in the shed for your belongings if you don't want to bring it on the water with you. They gave us a quick 5 minute paddle lesson with river rules and then we were off! We boarded the kayaks on the decks and the employees slowly dropped us into the river. They gave us a laminated map of the river which showed pertinent buildings along the river to look out for. We had two hours and were able to make it down the river alongside the river walk and down the southern channel as well (seeing all the architecturally pertinent buildings!). I suppose it depends on how fast you paddle, but we were able to see everything we wanted to see in about an hour and 45 minutes even with stops (because our arms definitely got a little tired). Definitely wear clothes you don't mind getting wet - when paddling the water just drips on your legs sometimes or when you're close enough to the wall and other larger boats pass by the water gets a little rocky and splashes. Just make sure you don't wear those leather booties you absolutely don't want getting wet! Overall, I had a really pleasant time! For the price, I couldn't complain considering kayaking is usually ~$30/hour so I got twice the time for the money. The views from the river are definitely beautiful and it's just such a fun activity on a nice summer day. I definitely recommend! read more

We had such a great time and Aaron was a great tour guide. I highly recommend this for anyone who like to be on the water. Very informative!!! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Chicago river - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The absolute best time and tour! If you want something better than a boat cruise, this is it! Derek and his crew made the two hours fly by! Thanks for making my Chicago visit that much more fun! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - More tour photos! - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My boyfriend and I did the gangsters and ghost stories tour for our anniversary and we were both nervous since we had never kayaked before but Trevor, Aiden, and Laurel made us feel safe, taught us the ways of the water, and by the end we felt like pros! The stories were intriguing, and we got to kayak through the beautiful city of Chicago listening to its deepest and darkest secrets. I 100% recommend touring with these folks! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Chose the rockwell start point. Equipment was good, easy to get to. I tried calling to get more info, no answer. Left message, no return call. I waited kinda last minute to book, worried about Weather. So, groupon wouldn't take our reservation. So booked full price through the website. My fault for waiting until last minute. This trip is not guided, which turned out to be fine. I was hoping to paddle into downtown riverwalk and booked the hour trip, but not enough time to get the far before we had to turn around to get back to start point. Overall it was ok. read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend and I went on the Ghosts and Gangsters kayak tour. Seth, our main guide was PHENOMENAL! Was my first time ever kayaking and was terrified with it being on the Chicago river, but he gave amazing instructions and kept us safe the entire time. He's insanely funny and knowledgable. Carly was another guide on our tour who was super sweet and encouraging the entire time. It's truly the opportunity of a lifetime. Don't miss out on it! read more

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Yikes. I'd stay far away from this place. We booked two kayaks in advance. Unfortunately, the day of our planned excursion, we were notified by a company in which we had taken a small tour with earlier in the week, that two people from that tour had tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution for the staff at Waterriders (and another excursion we had booked that same day), we decided to cancel both and start our quarantine, despite being vaccinated. Waterriders refuses to give us a full refund, unlike the other company we booked with that day, as "per their cancellation policy". If your cancellation policy basically promotes people going forward with a reservation in order to not lose their money for something out of their control, that is selfish & unnecessary. The only message we should have received was a, "Thank you for letting us know, and we're sorry to hear this. We appreciate you keeping our team safe by staying home. We have processed a full refund for you, and we hope you stay safe and healthy." Instead, I received sarcastic replies from the general manager, Aaron. Every business that I've seen has notices that say to stay home, if you don't feel well or have been exposed. How is this not the case for Wateriders, especially for simply booking two kayaks? We didn't book a tour or cause any tour guides to lose out on money. They didn't even offer to rebook us for a later date for the same price. These are greedy & selfish people, and you can tell the quality of a business with the way they treat people during circumstances like this. There are a ton of kayak places nearby. Go somewhere else. read more

Incredibly fun, and without a doubt the company you want. Easy online ordering (they offer a military discount), and validated parking rates that are simply fantastic. Trevor and Ethan were our guides and they, obviously, knew what they were doing as they were professional, courteous, and extremely friendly. I'm originally from the Chicago suburbs and wanted to offer something different to the family on this trip, and this surpassed all expectations. If your reading this review read no further, this is a fantastic experience with the classy company you want. If you want unrefined, rude, and vulgar - that's when you go with Urban Kayaks. Those guys instructed their group to go right through ours, while stopped, and their tour leader was obviously not brought up with the same values my wife and I try to instill in our son. Trevor and Ethan displayed professionalism and kindness that will always win the day, and earn my business. read more

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Visiting Chicago for the first time, hubby and I were debating between the kayak tours or the boat architecture tour. The thought of sitting on a boat when listening to a tour guide was not my idea for fun, and once we saw the kayakers paddling away our first night overlooking the Chicago River we were hooked. Originally we used Groupon and was able to get a much cheaper deal than what Wateriders had on their website. We had wanted to do the subset tour but on Saturday's the only tour they have are the late night fireworks so we opted for that. When we went to book the tour, the groupon was ineligible, and so we had to pay the difference (hence me docking off one star). I would say be careful if you're doing to use Groupon. The tour itself was fantastic. Excellent instructions. Kayaks were in good condition, although there is water inside of them so don't freak out (like I did). It's a pretty long night, so def come prepared. The workout is great, but come I would try to eat a few hours before. Overall, I'm sure any of the companies are good, and you should do this if visiting Chicago in the summer! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My husband and I did the sunset/moonlight tour. We were disappointed when we arrived Friday night into Chicago to find that the weather was going to be awful. We had walked all the way to where we were supposed to go for the kayaking to receive a call canceling that nights tours. We were graciously offered a refund or to go another night, which thankfully we did have one other night free. I'm so glad we switched because the night we went out was absolutely perfect. Our guides met with us, learned our names and where we were from. They gave a great quick instructional since all of us on the tour had kayaked before. The lights on the water were breathtaking. We ended up going a total of around 4 miles on the kayaks. My husband and I loved taking our time and checking out all of the beautiful buildings along the way. Our guides stayed close to us and chatted with us. It was extremely romantic and such a fun way to see the city at night. It's also a great workout. ha I can not express how much fun this was. We will absolutely book another one the next time we are in Chicago!!! read more

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Wow such a fun and informative experience! Our guide, Charlie, was very knowledgable and engaging, giving us a lot of Chicago history and information about the architecture along the river. Two of us shared a kayak and it was the perfect way to take in the beauty of Chicago, hear a few fun facts/stories and get to be on the river. The group was fun and everyone had a great time. Would highly recommend!! read more

My fiancé and I took a Wednesday night fireworks tour and it was one of the most memorable things we did that involved exploring the city. The views were absolutely breathtaking, the instructors were friendly and upbeat, I really enjoyed the whole experience from start to finish. Prepare for a lot of paddling and wear waterproof clothes as you are going to be drenched from all of that water running down from the paddle. I will most definitely repeat this experience in a couple of years and will recommend this to everyone! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic architecture and history tour! Perfect length for kayaking and absorbing all the information. It's about a two hour tour but just about an hour of actual kayaking - you kayak, pull to the side, hold on to something and float while the guide explains what you're seeing. Ben was an outstanding guide and so knowledgeable. Dennis kept us safe, bringing up the rear. Sign up! We now want to do the other tours they offer! read more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Without hesitation, I would 100% recommend using Wateriders if you're in the mood for a kayak tour. I had never been kayaking before and was extremely nervous initially but the guides totally put myself and several other rookies at ease. Honestly, one of my favorite parts of the whole experience were actually the guides themselves. They were all so funny, knowledgeable, and personable. Not only did they give us insight on the architecture of the city but also some of the haunted history. We chose to do the sunset kayak tour and there is literally no cooler view of the city at sunset, than that which you get to see while kayaking the Chicago River. Just a little pro-tip, it is colder and windier on the water than out of the water, so bring some gloves just in case. I will also say that it is way more of a workout than I initially thought too, so prepare to be mildly sore in the morning. It was worth every sore muscle though! Hands down, doing the sunset kayak tour was one of the most amazing things I've ever had the chance to do. Worth every penny at full price and an absolute STEAL on groupon. read more

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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 more

Wateriders Kayak Tours - Boating Near Me - Chicago, Illinois