Charles River Canoe and Kayak

Allston, United States

4.5

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 617-965-5110
Website:
www.paddleboston.com
Address:
1071 Soldier's Field Rd, Allston, MA, 02134
Allston/Brighton
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
180 ftWashington St @ Euston St
250 ftWashington St opp Euston Rd
490 ftWashington St @ Monastery Rd
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Dogs Allowed
Yes
By Appointment Only
No
Offers Military Discount
Yes

Today

Today 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Allston) 7:42 PM Saturday, June 21, 2025

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Charles River Canoe & Kayak specializes in canoe, kayak and stand-​up paddleboard rentals with locations throughout the Boston area (Cambridge-​Kendall Square, Boston-​Allston/​Brighton, Newton-​Nahanton Park, and Waltham-​Moody Street). All locations have stable single kayaks and stand-​up paddleboards, fun double kayaks, and family-​friendly canoes. We offer group and corporate outings, birthday parties, ten-​person canoes, and much more!

We offer amazing guided tours like our Skyline & Sunset Tours from Kendall Square, our Boston Harbor Tours from Kendall Square, our Barbeque Kayak Tours from Kendall Square, and our Kayak Eco-​Tour from Newton-​Nahanton Park.

We also have a full-​service Paddling Store in Newton/​Auburndale and a Paddling School that offers classes and sea kayaking trips.

History

Established in 1973.

Our original Charles River Canoe & Kayak location in Newton/​Auburndale was created when our founder, Mike Farny, envisioned recreational use of the Charles River, a remarkable resource that was largely ignored by the Greater Boston community.

Our Boston location in Allston/​Brighton opened in 1993 and, for the first time, allowed Bostonians to access the river that they’d walked along and across for generations.

In 2009 we opened a second rental center on the Charles River Basin, this time in Kendall Square, Cambridge. Paddlers experience spectacular skyline views right off our dock, whether renting or on a tour. Paddlers can also enjoy one-​way trips to and from our Allston/​Brighton location.

In 2010 we opened a rental location in Newton’s Nahanton Park on one of the longest uninterrupted stretches of the Charles.

Check out our newest location at the Moody Street Dam in Waltham, on the calm and beautiful Charles River Lakes District.

Meet the Manager

John P.

Manager

John has worked for Charles River Canoe and Kayak as a site manager for almost 9 years. He has a history of providing a high level of customer service which can be observed through all of the helpful, charming staff that work with him at the Boston (Allston) rental location. Having grown up in northern New Hampshire he has always thrived in outdoor work environments and spends most of his time away from work in the outdoors as well. Please feel free to ask for him by name when you come down to rent this season. He would be happy to meet you.

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20 reviews of Charles River Canoe and Kayak

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Brookline, MA
I have enjoyed so many wonderful mornings and afternoons this summer at this location. John Pyne and his staff are awesome. Always service oriented, personable and helpful.
Equipment is first class which really makes a difference. The quality of their kayaks are important for tracking and the quality of their paddles is impressive. Obviously they care about each guest’s enjoyment and experience. Not all rental places are like this.
This is a great way to enjoy nature in the city. Paddle alongside ducks, geese, see beautiful birds. Plus, what great exercise! Whether you pay hourly or get a membership as i did, i believe this a terrific thing to do! No better way to have a mini vacation in just a couple hours!
Place rating: 5
Holden, MA
We had a great time riding in a two person kayak. Watch out for rowers and larger boats and keep to the right and you will be fine. Very relaxing and fun hour on the water. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a casual fun weekend activity.
Place rating: 5
Cambridge, MA
Just came back from a 2 hour kayak trip!
The staff here was very helpful, they made sure that we were well-​informed and safe. We rented the kayak from this location and dropped it off at Kendall square location, which is like a 5 mile ride. It took us 2 hours to kayak all the way to Kendall. You have to pay an extra 10 $ to do that but it is definitely worth it.
Place rating: 5
Boston, MA
Went to the Cambridge location today. Cost $ 15 an hour for a single kayak, but it’s worth it for the views you get once you get out onto the river. Had never kayaked the Charles so I was a little nervous, but the staff was very helpful and make you take a safety quiz before you launch. I got there at 11 and there was a line, but it moves fast since they seem to have a lot of staff on the weekends. They have life jackets for all ages and if you get nervous about dropping your stuff, you can rent a bag that floats for $ 1. They don’t have lockers so leave your stuff in your car or rent one of these bags.
Place rating: 4
Boston, MA
Ok, Ok. I AM a fan of this place BUT the prices YIKES!
We rented the paddle boards and went towards the city and back and it was more than I expected. I admit I didn’t check the price but who knew that a couple hours standing up would cost more than a pair of jeans?
There were a lot of people waiting to go on boards, kayaks, canoes but everything was moving fast and we got on no problem! The views were great and it was relaxing!
Place rating: 5
Quincy, MA
Went on Memorial Day, just showed up and hoped for the best even though I sort of worried it would be too busy/​all booked out. Well I was pleasantly surprised. The free parking lot had a few spaces left, and we didn’t have to wait more than than a few minutes to get our kayaks.
I had always wanted to kayak on the Charles River, so this was a nice bucket list item. The location is convenient for driving or taking the T (I think it’s close enough to Harvard Station). And the location is a great starting point for some nice views and river bends.
The staff were nice and efficient.
Place rating: 5
Boston, MA
I love this place! You can come kayak for an hour, for ~18/​h.
Come here, get your gear, kayak, get out and pay!
The staff members are extremely kind and helpful! My fried dropped her phone in the Charles as we were getting out, and one of the staff members helped look for her phone. It was eventually retrieved by someone else, but we all put in the effort!
Great people, amazing hobby, great view of Boston. Absolutely amazing.
Place rating: 5
Boston, MA
Great location and the small parking lots they have is a major plus.
First time experience for my group — 3 of us went for stand up paddle boards (SUP) & the BF went for the kayaking.
They have you fill out a consent form for each individual plus a quiz for your group to take. Basically to brush you up on safety and rules of the river. Next, you go to the window to specify your watercraft in which you’re given a ticket, life jacket– up, paddled-​up & you’re on the water.
There’s no real instructions or guidance, I say this because I was nervous as heck on my SUP board. But they have you place the strap on your ankle for your board, kneel to get on and slow paddle yourself out. NOW standing up on this board is a hit or miss and PHEWWW I stood up and stayed dry.
In the beginning I asked one of the crewmembers «how long till I get acquainted with using a SUP board» He shrugs and says I’ve never done it before lol… I would say that after 5 minutes you’ll get the hang of it. Watch out for strong currents as boats cruise through the river and it might knock you down.
It was such an awesome way to spend my sunday going down the river and I’m already itching to go back. We spent 2 hours on the river and it was just best way to spend a nice breezy day.
Place rating: 4
Boston, MA
We rented a double kayak from them yesterday and it was a fairly efficient process. I went with a friend, but it was my first time,. The quiz DEFINITELY helped with some basics. While we received no instruction from the staff, we received our jackets, paddles, hopped into the kayak and they set us off into the water. Smooth sailing.
A friendly bunch received us at the Kendall end, and the experience was good overall.
I will definitely be coming back for more!
Place rating: 5
West Roxbury, MA
I wish I could give Charles River Canoe & Kayak 10 stars.
Whether you love kayaking or you just want to try something new on a sunny afternoon, go to these folks! Even if you’ve never kayaked before, they’re set you up with the right boat for you, show you the basics, and get you going on nice, quiet waters. If you’re a sworn water rat like me, then get a Season Pass and you can rent just about any boat they have any time they’re open and for as long and as often as you want! They’ve got a great variety of boats (rowboats and paddleboats as well as kayaks, from racing kayaks to recreational ones), and also stand-​up paddleboards (again, if you want to try them for the first time, they’ll get you started).
Their classes and group trips are also wonderful. Their instructors are skilled, patient, friendly, and reassuring. Any way you go with these guys, it’s a great way to see Boston and its environs and a lovely and healthy way to spend some time.
How do they compare to competitors? There’s no comparison. My partner and I tried kayaking for the first time with an introductory class. At the end of it, we felt we hadn’t learned much more than we would have just messing around on our own. We then took the basic skills class at Charles River Canoe & Kayak, and it was FABULOUS. Charles River’s basic class taught so many more skills — including how to do a «self-​rescue» and get back in your boat if you tip — that the other guys didn’t bother with. Their prices on most things are lower and in any case they consistently give the best value for money.
GO THERE as soon as it’s warm enough (and, if its cold, btw, everything you need to keep warm — from windbreaks to full-​on wetsuits — come with your rental). Paddling is a wonderful workout that’s as gentle or intense, is great for your core muscles and waistline, AND gives you a literal breath of fresh aid and quiet any time of day. I’ve even gone paddling for a half hour during a lunch break from work. It does wonders for the soul as well as the body!
Place rating: 4
Cambridge, MA
This place was a hike, probably because I have terrible sense of distance but that’s okay it was a beautiful Sunday morning as I made my way down there and even though there was a crowd it didn’t take long getting setup. Continuing my mission from the week before I decided to do the one-​way trip from here to their dock in Kendall Square. Sure this was my second time kayaking and I’m not the most comfortable on the water I still went ahead with my plans.
The girl at the counter gave me a map and told me to count the bridges so I know how close I am and showed me a picture of the entrance to the Kendall Square site. Though I of course was already aware since I used that facility first. What’s really nice about this place is the location, lots of open space, calmer part of the river. The MIT area has a lot of sailboat activity. This area not as much. And I’m not quite sure if it is usual or not, as I think there was also some charity run going on earlier but there was porta-​potties, which was very much appreciated before I started my journey. Finished my trip in about an hour and half. But I finally got to use my $ 50 coupon even though it only cost me $ 35.
Place rating: 4
Brighton, MA
If you love slow moving human powered watercraft this is the place for you. Grab a canoe or kayak and paddle along the Charles river at a slow and medium pace.
As far as the service goes these guys are great. If you have never kayaked or canoed before they are more than happy to tell you the rules of the river. When you are ready to mount or dismount there is always friendly staff waiting to help you back on shore.
If you are a tech junkie and have to have your phone with you remember to bring a ziplock bag with you or you can rent a waterproof bag for 1 $. Also remember that the single manned kayaks are faster than the doubles and the canoes.
Place rating: 2
Woburn, MA
*Super unorganized getting on the water. The employees working the dock were really mad at one another and it showed. Buzzkill. Lots of unhappy Wellesley College girls were complaining as they left their kayaks on the way out of the water. Terrible PR.
*We spent lots of time huddling together to hear the tour guide’s lectures. She told us that the river divided the ‘Boston side of the city from the Cambridge side of the city.’ Uh… It’s two cities, lady. She seemed irritated by having to give the tour and yelled out facts like a frustrated 7th grade teacher. Instead of speaking about the river itself, she talked about the Citgo Sign and the Prudential Building. It was really hard to hear her, and the guy she was with, although he seemed like a cool dude was _​impossible to hear_​.
*It’s really hard to reach a live person when you call them on the phone. They had a hard time locating my reservation, too, which made me nervous.
*We started late and ended late which made us late for lunch reservations.
*If you want a great tour, drive out to Essex and do ERBA near Crane Beach. They are incredibly organized and helpful. It’s a much prettier, more relaxed and pleasant tour.
*If you want a good tour of Boston/​Cambridge, look somewhere else. These guys really don’t know what they’re doing. You spend a lot of time being corralled.
*People in our group were unhappy. They did nothing to try to lighten the mood.
*I will never do business with Charles River Kayak & Canoe again. They prove that every business that offers a Groupon deal does so because they have something the matter with them.
Place rating: 5
Baltimore, MD
This was the PERFECT way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Though it was still pretty busy around 3 p.m. that day, we were able to rent a double kayak without a problem. Yes, you do have to fill out a quiz and some paperwork, but it’s really easy and not a big deal at all – takes five minutes, tops. Also, when you give the person at the counter an ID, make sure it’s a MA one to skip potential problems… I tried to give him my CO one, and apparently he had to manually type in addresses, etc. It’s just not worth the hassle, since the main priority is to get on the water!
Anyway, it’s $ 19 per hour for a double kayak (though you’ve got your choice of single kayak, rowboat, canoe, paddle board, etc.), and the boats are in great condition. You pick up a lifejacket, some paddles, and you’re ready to go. It’s really awesome. It really didn’t feel like it, but we spent about 2 hours in the Charles. It was great seeing the different buildings from the water, when we had just passed by them on foot or in the car hours before.
They’ve also got a one-​way option to Kendall, which is neat – I may have to do that next time. Whatever I end up deciding, I do know that I’ll definitely be back. What a wonderful weekend activity!
Place rating: 4
Houston, TX
Kayaking is always fun and it’s a nice way to enjoy a city.
My only recommendation if you do decide to kayak is to rent it for an hour or so. My friend and I kayaked from one location to another (Kendall Square to Brighton) and it ended up being about 3 hours. I had a really good time but it ended up being a bit expensive.
Place rating: 5
Boston, MA
CRCK is a great inexpensive way to get out on the Charles in a canoe, a kayak or a stand-​up paddle board. The panorama of Boston from the river is breathtaking and the equipment is in top shape. Traffic on the river was light on this mid-​September day. Also, we found out a secret involving this little treasure that will transform our summers forever, and will probably change the way you look at summer holidays, too. But I’m not spilling, because I don’t want to spread the secret too broadly. You can discover the secret on the website or at the kiosk, if you hunt a bit.
Bottom line: that old Dirty Water never looked so good!
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
What a fantastic way to view the skyline of Boston in the warmer months! I went to the location near Kendall station and my husband and I rented two single kayaks for an hour. Having a lot to accomplish in that day’s tourist docket, we showed up as soon as they opened and set out on the Charles River. It was fun and a good way to add in exercise to our trip (which is laughable because we walked so much – Boston is a pretty walkable city in specific areas).
The details:
If you are new to kayaking but feel comfortable getting out there in open water, consider going early in the morning. Things were pretty calm on the river at 9am and there weren’t any Duck tour boats, sail boats, motor boats, etc. to speak of. By 10 when we were heading back, things were getting busy. Also, if it is hot out you avoid the worst of the day’s heat.
You go kayaking as you are. I love sport and exercise, but otherwise am not dressed to just jump in a kayak and get sweaty before turning around for lunch, dinner, or sight seeing. You might want to work in a plan for a shower once you are done if you are a tourist and have other plans for the day. If you have a purse, backpack, etc, it goes in your boat between your legs.
The company has drylock backs, but i’m not sure how much they cost. I used a good ziplock bag with a double zipper and it worked fine.
The company sells maps of the Charles River area if you need one. I think it cost $.50.
If you are on a budget, you can save some money by renting the kayaks but not doing the guided tour. This option costs about $ 15 per boat per hour.
Credit and debit accepted.
Allow 5 – 15 minutes before you start to fill out a water safety test and waiver.
They have kid-​sized boats at this location as well as double kayaks and canoes.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Love this place. You can know nothing about kayaking, show up, and by the end of the day you will feel like you are ready to take on some Colorado River rapids (although you probably shouldn’t). Free parking, grace time for setup, picnic tables, and a helpful staff all really make this place great.
I usually take a single kayak and I paddle hard to the MIT boat house (just before Mass Ave Bride), then I rest for a little, and head back. I do all of this in about 1.5 hours and it only costs $ 23. It makes for a nice challenging workout all while getting a nice tan.
It is also a great place to take a day date. Pack a cooler with lunches and drinks to leave in the car while you kayak. Afterwards, set up a blanket on the grass or sit at one of their picnic tables.
Few tips…
1) If it’s on the weekend come early before they run out of boats
2) They have big water jugs, but bring your own drinks because they don’t sell anything and when you are on the water in 90 degree heat the little thimble cup of water wont help you
3) Just tell them you have taken the test before if you have kayaked before. If you have never kayaked it is a good idea to take the test and learn the basic rules.
4) Unless you have something to cover your electronic (waterproof case) you should leave them in the car. You do get residual splashing in the kayak.
Place rating: 5
Milford, CT
Kayaking down the Charles is awesome! I have wanted to do it for so long and finally did on this Memorial Day weekend.
The line was pretty long but it went really quick. You take a short quiz, sign a waiver, and off you go! They charge either a daily cost or by the hour. If you do it by the hour then you just pay when you get back. We were out for about 2 ½ and the girl only charged us for 2 which was really nice.
If you want an active day and the feeling of getting out of the city definitely visit Charles River Canoe and Kayak. It is 5 miles down to the Mass Ave bridge from the Brighton location and took about an hour to get down there. The view was definitley worth it!
Place rating: 4
Waltham, MA
This place is the bomb! Went there with my activities partner and best friend David P. on a nice, sunny afternoon in July and rented a canoe. We both hoped on and paddled away on the Charles river, fighting about which direction to go in… «LEFT! No more to the left! No not that much, now paddle to the RIGHT. The right I said!»… Ah, the good times.
I can’t exactly remember how much they charged for an hour but it was reasonable but just remember that they can be packed during the warm season so parking will be tough.
Oh and we lied about the quizz, we had never taken it and still got to go regardless, but shuushhh don’t tell them, because you know… I’ll be back.