Paddle Goose Island and downtown as Chicago lights reflect on the river
3 Hours
Kayak, paddle lesson, guide
Explore the Chicago River by kayak as evening settles over Goose Island and downtown. Learn the basics, then paddle with guides through the city's river canyons.
Cancel at least 48 hours before your tour or rental time for a refund. Cancellations within 48 hours can be rescheduled for a $25 per person fee but are not refunded.
Product ID: ET8XFS
No experience is required for this kayak tour, though some athletic ability is recommended.
Check out with staff in the office when you return so they know you are off the water.
Kayak Chicago, 1220 West Le Moyne Street, Chicago, IL 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.
Amazing experience! Great people and great instructor, very patient, friendly and funny! Totally recommend it! Chicago at night is magical! Definitely the highlight of my trip!
Rebeca Lisboa
August 30, 2026
Amazing experience! Great people and great instructor, very patient, friendly and funny! Totally recommend it! Chicago at night is magical! Definitely the highlight of my trip!
Rebeca Lisboa
August 30, 2026
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