NYC Downtown Boathouse

The Downtown Boathouse is an all volunteer-run nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free public access to the harbor in New York City through public kayaking programs. Our mission is to encourage safe public use of the harbor waters of New York City and thereby provide residents of this space-constrained city with increased recreational opportunities. We support our operations exclusively through volunteers and with your public donations.

Kayaking is our original and most popular program. You do not have to have any kayaking experience or have taken any of our classes. You can take one of our kayaks out for a short 20-minute paddle inside the protected embayment in front of the boathouse. We give you a life jacket, a kayak, a paddle, and some tips on paddling. You will need to stay inside our protected embayment out of the river currents, where we can keep an eye on you, but otherwise you are on your own to enjoy the river and the sunshine.

It runs at all of our locations on weekends and holidays from the middle of May to the middle of October, and on many weekday evenings, weather permitting. Check the Calendar on the official website for  specific dates and check the specfic pages for Pier 40, Pier 96 and 72nd Street for updated informtion.

Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt. We have changing rooms, and a hose to rinse off at our Pier 96 and Pier 40 locations. We have no running water and provide no changing rooms at 72nd Street. – Downtown Boathouse

Locations

• Pier 40 – Hudson River Greenway New York, NY10014 – Pier 40 is at the West end of Houston Street. Take the #1/9, train to Houston Stree and walk West. Take the A, C, or E subway to Canal St (express). Walk west to the river, then North along the esplanade for five blocks.Pier 40 offers Walk up Kayaking every weekend and holiday from 9AM until 6PM with the last boat going out at 5:30, and Thursday evenings from 5PM-7PM with the last boat going out at 6:30PM. Check the Calendar for more details. Pier 40 offers has lockers, a changing room and shower and hose to rinse off with. We have limited number of locks available, Please bring your own lock.

• Pier 96 – Hudson River Greenway New York, NY 10019 – The Pier 96 Boathouse is located in the Clinton Cove Park on the Westside Highway and 56th St. The nearest subway stop is the #1/9 and A/C/E station at Columbus Circle. The M57 and M31 busses run down 57th St. to West End Ave (one block east).Pier 96 offers walk up Kayaking every weekend and holiday from 9AM until 6PM with the last boat going out at 5:30, and weekday evenings from 5PM-7PM with the last boat going out at 6:30PM in July and August. Introductory classes are held at Pier 96 every Wednesday at 6PM. There also public 3 hour trips from Pier 96 most weekend mornings from mid June until Mid September

• 72nd Street– Riverside Park – W 72 St. New York, NY 10023 – Our dock is attached directly to the waterside promenade in Riverside Park, approximately at 72nd St. Take the 72nd St. stairs into the park and follow the walkway to the river, and you will find us.72nd Street offers Walk up Kayaking every weekend and holiday from 10AM until 5PM with the last boat going out at 4:30, however on nice weekends there is often a very long line and we can not gaurantee you will have a chance to go out if you arrive after 4PM.