Night kayak tour to watch Navy Pier fireworks
3 Hours
Guided kayak tour, Fireworks view
Paddle through Chicago at night with guides and watch the Navy Pier Fireworks Spectacular from the water. Start with a quick lesson, then cruise the Chicago River into downtown before heading back after the show.
Some athletic ability is recommended, but no experience is required. Children under 12 must ride with an adult in a double kayak; single kayaks are for ages 12+. Sea kayaks require prior experience and completion of sea kayaking courses or equivalent rescue skills.
Cancel at least 48 hours before your tour or rental time for a refund. Cancellations within 48 hours can be rescheduled for a $25/person rescheduling fee but will not be refunded.
No experience is required, but some athletic ability is recommended. Your guides start with a lesson on basic paddle strokes, safety, and rules of the water before you launch.
Single kayaks are for ages 12+. Children under 12 must ride with an adult in a double kayak.
Sea kayaks are only available if you have previous kayaking experience and have completed sea kayaking courses (or have equivalent rescue skills). If you qualify and want a sea kayak, select a single kayak online and you will be sent out in a sea kayak.
1220 West Le Moyne Street Chicago, IL US 60642
Kayaking through downtown Chicago with this crew is genuinely hard to beat. Guides like Adam, Matt, and Antonio consistently earn praise for being knowledgeable, funny, and attentive, and the routes themselves are spectacular, whether you're paddling through calm wake-free zones around Goose Island or catching the river turn green on a seasonal tour. First-timers especially seem to feel well looked after, with solid instruction before hitting the water and staff who go out of their way to make sure everyone's comfortable. The experience itself is the star here. Calm water options make it approachable for beginners, while more adventurous paddlers can venture into the busier stretches of the Chicago River. A couple of negative reviews flag some concerning situations around safety response and customer service, so it's worth keeping that in mind. That said, those experiences appear to be outliers in an otherwise overwhelmingly positive track record. Overall, this is a well-run operation with genuinely passionate guides and a product that delivers a pretty unforgettable perspective on the city.
Fantastic experience and professional staff. Aaron was a terrific guide- very chill and friendly. He even had to tow a grown woman who registered and somehow didn’t realize paddling was involved in a 3 hour kayak tour (full disclosure: it is). Aaron then proceeded to tow her to the river bank after she somehow managed to flip out of her kayak (a feat that requires a lot of effort). I’ve kayaked many different times and places, including downtown Chicago on several occasions but never w Kayak Chicago or this far up the north branch of the river. I would definitely do it again and recommend to others- just be prepared to paddle.
Chris W
June 22, 2026
Fantastic experience and professional staff. Aaron was a terrific guide- very chill and friendly. He even had to tow a grown woman who registered and somehow didn’t realize paddling was involved in a 3 hour kayak tour (full disclosure: it is). Aaron then proceeded to tow her to the river bank after she somehow managed to flip out of her kayak (a feat that requires a lot of effort). I’ve kayaked many different times and places, including downtown Chicago on several occasions but never w Kayak Chicago or this far up the north branch of the river. I would definitely do it again and recommend to others- just be prepared to paddle.
Chris W
June 22, 2026