Pilot a 2-person Craig Cat and cruise the Chicago River skyline
2 Hours
2 people
Take a 2-hour Craig Cat e-boat rental and cruise the Chicago River for skyline views, bridges, and hidden river sections. It’s beginner-friendly and built for fishing, cruising, and leisure.
You must be 21+ to rent. Operators must be 16+ with a license; all ages can ride as passengers. When you return, check out in the office with staff so they know you are off the water.
Cancel at least 48 hours before your tour or rental time to be refunded. Cancellations within 48 hours can be rescheduled for a $25/person rescheduling fee but will not be refunded.
You must be 21+ to rent. Operators must be 16+ with a license. All ages can ride as passengers.
Each Craig Cat seats 2 people.
When you return, check out in the office with staff so they know you are off the water.
The Chicago river location is just three blocks east of 90/94, and one block south of North Avenue. Magnolia Avenue is the first street west of the North Avenue Bridge across from the Home Depot. We're located at the south end of the brick building just next to the Chicago River, at the intersection of Le Moyne and Magnolia.
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
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