Your Gateway to the Hudson: From $12 Rentals to 30 Mile Journeys
We’ve seen the Hudson change for 30 years. Today, it’s a living swimmable river, and we’ve built a path for every New Yorker to experience it. Come paddle NYC’s largest open space. Choose casual fun or professional training for longer trips. Find your people on the river.
How Do You Want to Start?
See the Skyline
Great views.
River trip in stable kayaks.
No experience needed.
Easy Rentals in the Cove
45 minutes for $12 per person.
Kayaks and paddleboards.
Kids and dogs join for free.
Learn to Go Farther
Take a 3-class course.
Get ready for longer trips.
Build skills in sea kayaks or paddleboards.
Not Sure Where You Fit?
Come to our Open House.
See the boathouse.
Get a free introductory lesson.
Already highly experienced? Start here.
What's on the Water
Choose a date to see what’s running.
New here? Start with 🟢 Beginner.
🟢 Beginner
🟦 Intermediate
◆ Advanced
◆◆ Expert
Prefer to browse by activity?
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Learn to Go Farther
Classes Start on May 1
Start with the basics in three sessions using sea kayaks or paddleboards. Each class builds on skills from the one before. Start with the Basics 3-Class Pack. If you’re serious, the Membership makes everything simpler.
Start Learning
🧭 Beyond the Cove: Your Path to the Open Harbor
After 🟢 Basics Class 3 (or passing our Paddler Screening), the river opens up. You’ll travel across boroughs, land at hidden beaches, and–if you choose–earn your way toward the 30-mile Manhattan Circumnavigation.
🟦 Intermediate Trips: The Local Circuit
Requirement: Completion of Basics 1-2-3 (or Screening)
- Goal: Complete 4 trips to build the instinct needed for the open harbor.
- Reality: Be humble on your first trips, like Sushi or Secret Beach. The river will test anyone with new skills. Many veterans stick to these social workouts for years.
- Explore Intermediate Trips →
◆ Advanced Trips: The Endurance Tier
Requirement: 4 Intermediate Trips.
- Goal: Build the stamina for open water crossings. Complete 3 Advanced trips (like the GWB or the 18-mile Robbins Reef) to empower your mind and body.
- Reality: You’ll transition to 2.5-hour continuous paddling stretches, learning to maintain a 4mph cruising speed.
- Explore Advanced Trips →
◆◆ Expert Trips: The Inner Circle
Requirement: 3 Advanced Trips.
- Goal: Master the most complex water in NYC.
- Reality: Whether it’s the “washing machine” chop of the Upper Bay to reach Red Hook or the 30-mile Circumnavigation during a squall, you’ve done the work.
- Explore Expert Trips →
Bring a Private Group
30 Years of Team Building | Hundreds of Schools and Teams Served.
Host your next offsite on the Hudson. We have served hundreds of NYC organizations, including major investment banks, global tech firms, and top-tier consulting companies.
Seamless Logistics: High-stability single and double kayaks for up to 60 guests. No experience or swimming ability required.
Expert Guides: Our staff of 26 paid professionals ensures a safe, structured, and high-quality experience for every team member.
After-Party: Following your guided river trip and group photos, relax at the pier with music, games, and space to unwind.
Meet Manhattan Kayak
For 30 years, we’ve taught people to paddle on the Hudson River and in New York Harbor.
We run guided trips, progressive classes, and rentals from the boathouse at Pier 84. Many people come for a skyline trip. Some stay long enough to circle Manhattan. Over time, the water feels like home.
Our staff teach in open water. We train people carefully. We build skills that last beyond a single afternoon. And the boathouse is where we linger, talk, and plan the next trip.
“Paddling Manhattan combines adventure, challenge, and escape—an antidote to urban stress.” —New York Magazine
Named #1 Kayak Tour in America by USA Today.
4.9 ★ From Locals & Visitors
600+ 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!