I joined one of the beginner paddle board classes with a friend on Sunday a week or two ago. I…read morethink the class had about 7 participants total, with two teachers. I came in from Manhattan, and took the PATH to get back home. The walk from the station to Pier 13 isn't short, so I can see why Google Maps suggests the bus to get to Pier 13. Personally I plan to snag a ride share from the station to Pier 13 in the future since I run late to most things and the walk took a while. Although I've been paddle boarding before, this class highlighted that I had never been taught some paddle boarding basics during my prior adventures. We hung out pretty close to the docks most of the time because the water was so choppy that day, but I believe the instructors said under better conditions the class sometimes ventured further out. For those of you wondering about how clean the water is - I personally did not mind falling in and was splashing my hair with the water to cool down as needed. The water felt fairly clean, and was "brackish," as the instructors liked to say. The instructors for this class were great, namely Ben (I believe that was his name anyway). He was fun, easy to talk to, and 100% willing to jump into the water to demonstrate re-mounting the board for people that had fallen. They cover how to get onto your board from the dock, how to hold your paddle, which parts of your body you should be engaging to paddle, paddling while kneeling, paddling while standing, tips on steadying yourself, and re-mounting the board. By the end of the hour I felt way more confident, and was interested in signing up for their other classes where you get a guided tour of the nearby areas. There was mention of paddling to an island nearby for one of those classes. Would highly recommend this as a weekend activity. There's plenty to eat and drink on the piers/walkways around there after you get done.

What an amazing time! A safe new and enjoyable adventure. We learned a new skill, the people in…read morecharge made sure we had an amazing experience.

We took a trip down the River with Whitewater rafting on September 5th, 2026. Our group of 5 had a…read moregreat time. We received safety instructions prior to the trip from the knowledgeable and professional guides. The guides were always visible and helpful throughout the trip. Our group took the EZ whitewater rafting trip as we had a couple novice rafters.

The guides gave a thorough safety and intro talk before our drive to the launch…read more once on the river they guide you as to which side to stay on. It is important to stay on certain sides to avoid bigger rocks and your team has to work together. there are simple showers but you need to supply your own towel, soap and shampoo. We were a group of older adults and had a great time!

Went on the sunset tour with these guys last night and had a great time! It's of course pricier…read morethan you'd expect kayaking anywhere else around NJ to be but you can understand why. Not only is the location the biggest draw of the experience but they are super coordinated and diligent about provide safety measures and precautions for everyone throughout the tour. They do promote that it's friendly to beginners and although I've kayaked before I was a bit nervous being out in the Hudson. We were running like 5 minutes late and they even called to check in, my friend didn't like that because she said it stressed her out but I thought it was great of them to look out for all the attendees since we had already reserved and paid for our spot, they even directed me to parking since I got a bit confused. When you arrive they give a detailed tutorial and answer all your basic questions and when you're out in the water there are multiple guys patrolling to make sure everyone feels safe! They've got the leader on his kayak that you follow as well as guys on jet skis at the perimeter and someone on a paddle board as well. All super friendly and keeping an eye out for the group! Such a lovely experience and I have a feeling I'll be back brining more friends to enjoy this with me!

The setup: Mother's Day was coming up and I always try to find something unique and different for…read morethe momma of my kids as well as the mother-in-law. And I stumbled upon Urban Paddle and booked it for a 9am adventure. We lucked out that every variable and condition was ideal: weather, tide, calm water, almost no other boat-related traffic. We're a party of 7. The 'Urban Crew' numbered at 5. We were spoiled from start to finish with a group of really cool and helpful workers that were informative, fun, professional and made sure we were always safe and engaged the entire hour. (Make sure to watch their 6-minute YouTube video ahead of time so you know all about the proper paddling/rowing techniques when it comes time to hit the water.) The 'Urban Crew' were also invaluable because the owner was constantly taking pictures and videos and at the end airdropped them to us which was a nice 'cherry on top' since you can't really snap pictures for big chunks of the time when you're on the water. Is it expensive for an hour? No doubt. Did everyone absolutely love kayaking and getting to see everything from the Colgate clock to the back of the Statue of Liberty's head to the NYC skyline, not to mention all of the stunning yachts all docked and looking completely out of my price-range? Of course. Was it the funniest thing to see my mother-in-law somehow leaning back in her kayak like she was on a hammock while the father-in-law did all the hard work? Yup. (Did a cranky security guard try her best to be a stick in the mud regarding confusion over some parking-related issues when we were about to leave? Oh yeah.) I'd suggest clothing/footwear that you don't mind getting wet as well as sunglasses and sunblock (that sun is no joke bouncing off the water). Highly recommended. (The Mrs. is already plotting when to go back and I think she's even pricing kayaks to buy with that stimulus check that's burning a hole in her wallet.)

It's the season of sunny skies and warmer weather. I am finally ready to leave the comfort of my…read morebed and go somewhere fun. Amongst my many hobbies, one that I've missed the most is boating. I had the best time rowing my kayak in the Downtown Boathouse. LISTEN UP! Make sure you get there early, as lines can get super long. I got there with my friend at 2:30PM and got into the water at 3:20PM. We were one of the last groups to get into the water because the volunteers had to leave for the day. We were allowed into the water for only 20 minutes at a time. The water was a bit rough and WILL seep into the kayak, so I recommend bringing a change of clothes and/or a protective phone case. There are other locations in the city offering free kayaking, but you must check out their respective webpages. Downtown Boathouse at Pier 26 Weekends 10 AM - 4:30 PM, Tues/Thurs 5:30 PM-7 PM

Located on Governors island, this Boathouse offers free kayaking all day on the weekend!…read more Until noon, you could take a free ferry onto Governors Island. From there, walk a few yards, and you'll see the Boathouse with kayaking on your left side. This is one of the worlds largest free kayaking programs that provides water access to all! It's first come, first serve. We had to wait about 15 minutes for a group of 3 people. We ended up using one single and one double kayak. The double kayaks were often given to the people with young children since they need to be accompanied by an adult. Hours: 10am-4:30pm on the weekends. In addition, they offered free lockers. You could kayak as long as you want, but keep in mind of how long you're out on the water in case there is a line. For kayaking, you're limited to around a football field or 1.5 football fields of water for safety reasons. They give you a few minutes lesson on how to use the kayak and paddle as well. I highly recommend this place, especially if you're on a budget. After this, there's a restaurant nearby called Gitano Island. It's a beach paradise in NY, but a little pricey for the food amount.

I've never met a friendlier, kinder group. People of all ages. They share rides, gear, and mad…read moreskills. They knew so much about the Adirondacks and local rivers, but even more, they also travel to Southern rivers. It's great to see a group that really bonds with each other. I was tired of groups where people just wanted to paddle and go home. Here, day trips always have a Happy Hour tailgate party where folks share snacks and stories. I've heard the camping trips are fantastic. I was afraid to sign up when my skills were new, but the instructional weekend keeps giving...people keep coaching and helping. Or, you can also be in a tandem canoe with an expert. That's how I broke into moving and whitewater adventures. Best sport I ever did...and I"ve done a lot...because this group is so professional and warm.

AMC is great! I've been a member for about 8 years now and have been a student, taught students and…read morelead lots of paddling trips around the northeast region. I thought I went to learn to kayak, but I came out with so much more... Friends, community, and hundreds of memories and amazing experiences on and off the water. Trips are lead by volunteers so if it's not free, it's really inexpensive for you get involved.

Margo and Paul took excellent care of us on our sunset kayak trip. With an emphasis on safety, they…read moretaught the basics on land, made sure we were comfortable on the water, and then led us on a tour, stopping often to share historical information (and to let the stragglers catch up.) Our trip wasn't a high level athletic event, but Manhattan Kayak does offer training and equipment to get you there if you desire. PS, my wife forgot her wallet in a changing room, the staff called and texted immediately but we were already home when we checked our messages. Stacy came in early the next day so we could collect the valuables. Operation, equipment, and staff all highly recommended at Manhattan Kayak.

The Social Paws allows you to kayak or paddleboard on the Hudson River with your dogs for about 45…read moreminutes! You don't even have to own a dog to participate; simply be a dog lover. Paddleboarding is recommended if you have a dog. I wish you could kayak/paddleboard more, but you are allowed to explore the area around the Intrepid. If you are not interested in the Social Paws, there are other tours available, such as the Night Kayaking Tour, the Private Hudson Tour, the Spuyten Duyvil Tour, the Tribeca Tour, and so on. Five stars - it's a fun time!

So well run. Get there at your slotted time and then do all the things to get ready to have a fun…read moreday - pick up lunch, get wetsuits if it is cold, listen to the safety instructions. Feel free to bring your own lunch - we ordered from them and wish we had brought our own. Make sure you tuck your toes under the seat in front of you because otherwise you will pop out. Our picture at the end only had 3 people because one had popped out into the river. This was on the 6 hour tour. The guides were nice but in an emergency, which we had where two boats emptied their passengers, it was a little hairy. All in all a great day on the river. Super fun!

I have booked with White Water Challengers before and was excited to return because of the great…read moreexperiences I have had in the past. Unfortunately, our recent trip with a group of six was extremely frustrating due to the organization and scheduling. Our original time slot was changed because there were not enough groups, which we understood. However, our new 10:20 time slot was expanded to accommodate additional groups, and we were then required to wait an extended period for a very large group that arrived late. As a result, we did not begin rafting until after 12:15, and the safety review had to be rushed because of the delay. Throughout the trip, our group was repeatedly forced to stop and wait for the late group, who frequently fell out of their raft and struggled to follow the safety instructions. I estimate we spent close to an hour collectively waiting along the river. Even the group scheduled after ours eventually passed us, and we did not return to the bus until shortly after 5:00. I want to emphasize that Olivia, Bailey, Kristen, and Sid were excellent guides and did their best under difficult circumstances. My frustration is entirely with the organization and scheduling of the trip. Additionally, while this was outside of anyone's control, we paid for Class II and III rapids, but the river flow that day was approximately 820 CFS, making the experience much closer to Class I and II. I hope you will take this feedback seriously, as this experience was significantly different from the positive experiences that led me to book with White Water Challengers again.

Can't believe I missed reviewing Pier 26 as it's a beautiful area which I've passed through on my…read morelong runs down the west side highway. On a nice sunny day this pier area offers terrific scenery of New Jersey (Hoboken & Jersey City across the water). Plenty of seating with benches and other structures along the way. There is a Science Playground which is a great place to take the kids. Kayaking, green areas, a City Vineyard for food/drinks, and a dog run park too. Great spot to enjoy and relax.

Hudson River Park in the winter on the day before the big snowstorm was nearly deserted. Even…read morethough it was freezing cold, it was worth going here for the gorgeous water views. There was hardly anyone there - why would anyone go there in the middle of winter? But I think this may be my most favorite time to visit this part of NYC. It's so peaceful with a uniquely urban atmosphere.

We stumbled upon Manhattan Community Boathouse free kayaking program while exploring the city and…read morewhat a glorious experience. The program is run by volunteers and funded by donations. Kayaking is offered on a first come, first served basis. They supply everything: life jacket, paddle, a single or two person kayak and a locker. You have 20 minutes and must say within the boundaries of the cove. Participants must be at least 18 years and know how to swim. Under 16 must share the kayak with an adult. Our experience felt like finding a treasure but in our case we want to share it with others

I first came here back in 2016 for the free kayaking. It was a blazing hot day and I just HAD to…read morefind a way to get out on the water, somewhere in the city. Manhattan Community Boathouse was just the place! I felt so welcomed and had so much fun during my first visit that I decided to become a volunteer. 5 years later, I still spend almost every summer weekend here, helping the organization offer the public the priceless (FREE!) experience of paddling on the Hudson river. Sharing this unique experience with the public is one of my favorite things to do in the city, and seeing the smiles on people's faces makes it all worth it. As a volunteer, I enjoy the extra training classes offered and volunteer-only kayaking trips we get to go on as well! A few things to know for the 2021 season, some of which is different from prior year reviews: MCBH is operating by reservation to prevent overcrowding. They are open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 PM - 6 PM through October 10. You can reserve your spot up to 2 weeks in advance on the website. Paddlers of all skill levels are invited to participate as long as you know how to swim. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. They offer changing rooms and lockers with locks provided, so you can bring a change of clothes if you want, because you will get wet. There's no public restroom here though, so be sure to stop in Clinton Dewitt park at 54th & 11th Ave before walking over if you need to use the facilities! Otherwise, a portapotty along the bike path near the boathouse is the only toilet option. Did I mention it's all free? The program is run entirely by volunteers, and funded solely by donations from the public, but there is absolutely no pressure to donate. Whether you come as a volunteer or as a member of the public, I think this is the best free activity in NYC!