Emoji Key:
🟢 Beginner 🟦 Intermediate ◆ Advanced
◆◆ Expert ☀️ Day 🌅 Sunset 🌃 Night
🍁 Autumn Is Amazing
Season at a glance:
· Warm water (May 1–Oct 31): Busy & lively – beginners welcome
· Cool water (Nov 1–Dec 20): Calm & cozy – intermediate+, wetsuit provided
· Cold water (Dec 21–Apr 30): Serene & special – intermediate+, drysuit needed
See what to wear year-round →
All activities require reservations.
📍 Pier 84, Hudson River Park @ W44St
Rentals vs. River Trips
Rentals float in a calm, supervised cove along the Hudson by the Intrepid. Kid & dog friendly. 🐶 No NYC outfitters permit renters to roam alone beyond the cove–the wide-open river requires local expertise or guides.
River Trips leave the cove with guides to explore all around NYC. First timers, join our easy skyline kayak trip and get free skyline photos. 📸
Craving more distance or speed?
Start with our 3-class intro series to gain skills that take you from beginner to a solid intermediate, then join trips from 5–35 miles to explore NYC and learn the rhythms of the river.
Want this experience all to yourself?
Team Outings and Corporate Events on the Hudson
Runs May 1st to October 31st: Kayak NYC’s wide-open river on a guided skyline route built for fun. Perfect for groups up to 60, including students, friends, and coworkers. After the trip, hang out with music, lawn games, and space to relax by the water.
🚀 Learn to Kayak or Paddleboard for Real Adventures
Group Classes Every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday: May 1st to October 31st
Start with the basics in three step-by-step sessions using real sea kayaks or paddle boards. Each class builds on skills from the one before. Save with the Basics 3-Class Pack or set yourself up for a full season with the Season Pass.
Start Your Journey
🧭 Now Your Adventure Begins
After you complete Class 3 (or pass our screening), you’ll unlock NYC’s best routes:
3 Basics Classes →
4 Intermediate Trips (runs year round) →
3 Advanced Trips (runs year round) →
Expert Trips
This progression makes the 30-mile Manhattan Circumnavigation totally doable in one season.
You’ll explore more miles, master real conditions, and visit places you never imagined – no car required.
🟦 Intermediate Trips
- Variable wind, waves, and some rough spots.
- Little Island, Secret Beach, Sushi and more
- Completed Kayak or SUP Class 3
◆ Advanced Trips
- Strong currents and exposed crossings
- Statue of Liberty, GW Bridge, Surf City, and more
- Finished 4+ intermediate-level trips this year
◆◆ Expert Trips
- Our longest, toughest, most unpredictable trips
- Red Hook, Coney Island, Yonkers and more
- Finished 3+ advanced-level trips this year
Meet Manhattan Kayak
With 30 years of experience and named the #1 Kayak Tour in America by USA Today, we offer guided adventures, classes, and rentals for everyone, from first-timers to seasoned pros, and individuals to large groups. Join us for an unforgettable paddling experience in the great wild outdoors of NYC.
“Paddling Manhattan combines adventure, challenge, and escape—an antidote to urban stress.”
—New York Magazine
4.9 ★ From Locals & Visitors
500+ Glowing Google Reviews
The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they want you to have a great experience on the water. Whether you're a total newbie or an expert paddler, they support you at the right level. (More...)
They have something for everyone—practice sessions in the protected cove, short jaunts up and down the river, longer trips across the river to Jersey, and more. And there is nothing like being on the Hudson, open skies above you as the light reflects off the Manhattan skyline. It's an amazing adventure (and a pretty good workout to boot!)
First of all, I don't know how to swim. So the whole experience being on the water in a small kayak was terrifying for me. But I gave it a try. Now I feel confident and having so much fun! It’s truly a life-changing experience! The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable (More...)
and they want you to have a great experience on the water. Whether you're a total newbie or an expert paddler, they support you at the right level. The team is very knowledgeable and patient. They help you to build this skill step by step. Very supportive and atmosphere! You are the best!
I’ve taken Classes 1 and 2 there so far and am really impressed. The teachers absolutely know what they’re doing and make sure that students learn techniques correctly. They’re attentive, yet foster independence in students. (More...)
Going out on open water in a small boat is something that should be taken very seriously and that’s exactly how they approach it. Kayaking is pretty challenging but learning from dedicated educated instructors makes it that much easier.
My wife and I greatly enjoyed our rentals at Manhattan Kayak. Making an online reservation was quick, easy, and super affordable. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly, and very kind to our two dogs. The equipment was top level and the cove was amazing. (More...)
We cannot wait to go back and make this a regular family summer activity. They are very dog friendly which is always a plus!
MKC is an outstanding company and I would give them 10 stars if I could. They went out of their way to accommodate me on short notice and I am so grateful for the experience. Paddle boarding is my favorite hobby, so when it turned out that I would have a free afternoon (More...)
while on a work trip to NYC, I naturally looked at possibility of paddle boarding. Most places are closed for the season or were too far to be reasonable for me to get to via public transit so it didn’t look like it would work out. But I reached out and they made it happen! They set me up with a private guide Robyn who made me feel comfortable and safe. The location is spectacular, right on the Hudson with unbeatable views of Manhattan. Without a doubt, this paddle boarding excursion was the biggest highlight of my trip!
I taught myself stand up paddle boarding by doing it on vacations. But I decided I love stand SUP enough that I wanted to learn good form. Now realize how much I've just been muscling through it. I took the classes and it's been enlightening.(More...)
The instructors are awesome. A special shout out to Judy whose great at breaking down the mechanics and videotaped me to showed me what I needed help with.
Definitely worth it! This was my first time kayaking and I had the time of my life. It was well organized and we had guides that helped us throughout the trip. They explained everything to us and even took pictures of us. (More...)
My experience was amazing and I'm definitely going kayaking with them again.
I’m usually pretty scared of going outside and on the water, but the friendly staff at Manhattan Kayak made me my experience great! The cove between the Intrepid and Manhattan Kayak is a great place to get out on the water while feeling safe and secure!
– Gus M.
My first beginner class was yesterday and it was a wonderful experience. Instructor Jay was patient, detailed, experienced and absolutely not pushy or hurried. Every personnel involved was friendly and relaxed. The boathouse is comfortable and clean. (More...)
A mini New England feel in the middle of NYC. Would absolutely recommend a try.
I love this place! It is so well run and inviting that you can focus on the pleasure or adventure of your experience on the water and know that you are in good hands. You can be a recreational kayaker / SUPer in protected waters or go for more adventurous tours after classes. (More...)
I decided to do the classes this past summer after being an on-and-off recreational kayaker here for a few years. After the kayak / SUP class series, I went on guided group paddles in the Hudson with their encouraging and helpful staffers and have recently learned how to cold-water kayak safely and go on longer, more physically challenging group trips. Just an amazing activity with a great group. Highly recommend!