Wateriders
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, 8:15 PM - 8:30 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 8:15 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
8:15 PM - 8:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Wateriders is seasonally closed until April of 2019. As the pioneers of kayaking on the Chicago River, Wateriders has been hosting kayak tours for 21 years. Guests get an unbeatable view of the city's beautiful interior skyline as they paddle through the architectural canyon of downtown Chicago. Both guided tours and open rentals are available. Located on the riverwalk behind the East Bank Club in the River North neighborhood, Wateriders is ideally situated for making the most out of one's adventure, and is easily accessible by all means of transportation. Discounted garage parking available less than 2 blocks away,
Chicago, United States

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
278 reviews
Excellent
222
Very good
33
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
8

Karl D
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
Thanks Phil for a superb tour of the river. Fantastic knowledge of the city architecture and history. I would recomend you higher but they only go up to 5 stars.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Monique C
Chicago, Illinois, United States10 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend Waterriders. We reserved and paid for 2 single kayaks online. We showed up and the gal who was working (while quite sick with a cold) told us there weren't any single kayaks in the water, and she wasn't allowed to take them off the racks alone, so we could only use a double kayak. We were told a second worker was supposed to arrive in an hour, at which time they could then take additional single kayaks down from the rack and put them in the water. We didn't have an extra hour to wait around. We went to another kayak place (at Goose Island) and had a much better experience, out with single kayaks within 10 minutes of arrival. The only contact I've received from the company is asking me to review them. So I am.
Written 25 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Susan B
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Friends
Sauce is an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable, safety conscious, patient, and funny (sometimes corny). The perspective of the city from the water is dramatic. We also learned a lot about the city we’ve lived in for years. Very highly recommend!
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hina A
New Delhi, India7 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
BIG SCAM - we went to their Bridgeport location after buying a Groupon voucher to basically find nothing there. Their office was locked. There were empty kayaks by the river and no staff. Their phone lines were unanswered. Basically lost our money. They were however quick to send an email for feedback - surprised that this system worked although every other system of theirs had failed. DONT TRUST!
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathy H
Franklin Park, IL9 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We went on the Ghosts and Gangsters kayak tour on the Chicago river tonight. It was a beautiful night and Trevor did a great job! He told some good stories and kept us all safe! A super nice experience! Thx Trevor!
Written 27 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alexis C
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
At this point I’ve been both during the day and at night. Experience is amazing whatever time you go!
Written 25 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Redhabibti
Chicago, IL18 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Fabulous Kayaking Experience! We had a wonderful experience with Wateriders. Very well organized and conscientious guides. They outfitted us with size appropriate life jackets and paddles & gave good overview training beforehand so we knew what expect. The three guides kept a watchful eye on all of us - there was a sizeable group of us - and no one got left behind ;). I can only recommend them for experiencing the city from the best vantage point. Great small business!
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DenverTravelinFool
Denver16 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Chicago has a side she shows only to her river traffic - and kayaking is a spectacular way to experience the heart of this beautiful city. Our riverfront reservation time was about to be rained out and they thoughtfully called us in advance to invite us to come down later in the day. We enjoyed a band performing on the river deck of the Merchandise Mart, listened to tidbits from other boat tours, saw wildlife, impressive barges, and easily cooled 15 degrees on the scorching day. A bit challenging on the south branch with all the tour boat traffic but the north branch was lovely. The equipment was well maintained, the staff helpful, and the location an easy walk from our hotel.
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MrMackelroy
1 contribution
Jul 2023
This was fantastic! As a first-time kayaker, I was incredibly nervous about getting out on the river, especially for the twilight paddle. The Wateriders staff immediately put everyone at ease, and clearly explained what to do, how to keep safe, and described the entire route to us move-for-move in advance so we knew exactly what we were doing. Their patience and good nature made this trip a real treat.
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Daniel Sugimoto
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Friends
Sauce was a an amazing tour guide and made the architectural tour super smooth and fun. I would have happily done a few more tours!
Written 21 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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WATERIDERS (Chicago) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go