Manhattan Circumnavigation

Paddle the 30-Mile Lap around Manhattan by Kayak & SUP

30 miles | 21 bridges | 5 boroughs

Every month of 2026 from May through November, we offer this classic urban-to-nature adventure to any paddler who has the skills to do it. This is the most unforgettable way to experience the City — a lap around Manhattan at sea level and under your own power.

Glide past every landmark along the lower Hudson, Battery, East River, Harlem River, and Spuyten Duyvil Creek. From skyscrapers to natural features and secluded corridors. After completing this trip, you qualify to store your own kayak or SUP at the boathouse.

“As we waited for the Hudson’s current to shift so it could carry us south towards the soaring skyscrapers of Midtown, it occurred to me that for as much as this island had changed in the last 400 years, one part of its natural landscape remained the same – and it had been guiding me around Manhattan all day.”
– BBC Travel’s Elliot Stein

Upcoming Manhattan Circumnavigations:

• Saturday May 23, 2026
• Saturday June 20, 2026–MKC 30th & Summer Solstice
• Sunday July 5, 2026–USA 250th & Parade of Ships
• Sunday August 16, 2026
• Saturday September 5, 2026
• Saturday October 31, 2026–Halloween
• Sunday November 29, 2026

Important

This is an expert-level guided trip for sea kayakers and paddleboarders.
To qualify, start with our class series or pass our screening; then, once you’ve completed 4 intermediate trips and 3 advanced trips this season, you’re ready for this trip. A Membership offers deep discounts on every step of that journey.

What To Bring

• At least 4 liters of water
• Sturdy shoes to wear on land during the break
• Spray jacket, fleece, and headlamp for after sunset
• Dry bag with a hearty packed meal and supplements
• Quick dry clothes suitable for the day and extras for after

We Provide

• Sea kayak or paddleboard, life jacket, paddle, and guide
• Lockers, changing rooms, outdoor rinse station, restrooms