Milwaukee Kayak Company

We stopped in this morning to rent a few kayaks to take out and about. The staff was extremely helpful and slightly apologetic when they didn’t have a tandem kayak for us to rent. No worries– we made it work.
They were kind enough to give us an overview of the river, and plenty of helpful suggestions for places to stop along the way. We had an absolute blast and can’t wait to rent again.

Wow, what a great experience! Beth was extremely accommodating and was able to adjust my reservation. Her and her team have wonderful customer service skills. They provided me with a map, directions to points of interest, a waterproof bag for my valuables, and even sunblock. Milwaukee Kayak Company has it figured out. Go check them out!

Great experience! I booked a canoe a few days in advance via email. She responded quickly and confirmed the reservation.
It is a little off the beaten path, so listen to Siri. There are signs directing you to a grass/​gravel area to park, and you walk back to the water. They have two large tents set up with the equipment (ie. kayaks, canoes, lifejackets etc).
The woman who runs it was very accommodating and nice, explaining the different kinds of kayaks and offering dry bags for my wallet/​cell phone. Each boat has a laminated map of the waterways through the city, and specials are offered for paddling up to some of the restaurants on the water. She will walk you through the different ways you can explore, and you are given 4 hours.
Great experience, and I’m bummed I didn’t try before the season ran out! I will be back next year for sure.

Kayaked on the river today for the first time. The outfitters were professional and nice. Very reasonable rates and a great time! I can’t wait to do it again!

Just did another rental today, second time in a week. This is the best thing I’ve done in forever. The kayaks are easy for all fitness levels although my arms got a little tired today bc it was windy. Beth, the owner, and her staff are really great and it’s a really easy rental process. I’m going again in another week and really can’t say enough about how great this is! Today we kayaked to lunch and then moseyed along the canals. Gorgeous! These rentals are also significantly cheaper than the competitions rentals at Clearwater Outdoor. Also, You can tell the owner does this because she loves it, which makes me happy!

$ 30 for 4 hours of kayaking on the Milwaukee River– the actual experience? Priceless! My friend and I had heard about it and got there expecting to kayak all the way down the river for the full 4 hours but then we realized we could dock our kayaks and grab a drink at some of the restaurant down the river. So a little bit of day drinking at Lakefront Brewery and Milwaukee Ale House in between kayaking made for a pretty fantastic summer day.
I’m a first time kayaker and the ladies who pushed us off gave me some good advice and I made it the full 4 hours without falling in the river, although I did take on some water at one point. I would recommend wearing a swimsuit in case you tip some water into your kayak. They graciously provide you with a waterproof bag for your belongings– phone (because let’s face it, you’ll probably take a selfie), ID, and card (for drinks of course) — and let me tell you, the bags are most definitely water proof (thank goodness)!
It’s definitely a must do summer activity! I’ll definitely keep it in mind for any out of town visitors! Definitely make a reservation in advance!

Welcomed by friendly expert staff/​owner who took as much time as needed to get us fit into the perfect kayak!
Novice or expert, you are catered to with attention to every detail.
Great adventure in a city desperately in need of attractions and things to do.
We honestly found a diamond in the rough when we found MKC!

This is an absolute must during the summer in MKE! The staff at MKC were super friendly & the views of the city are amazing!
I would definitely recommend making a reservation! If you’ve never kayaked before, don’t worry! They are really helpful and it’s way easier than it may seem!
I cannot wait for my next Kayak journey!

Beth and her team are fabulous! $ 30 for a single kayak for 4 hours — can’t beat it! Call ahead and make reservations and you will be set — they do book up in advance.

My wife bought me a kayak rental for my birthday and it is now one of my favorite gifts. The perfect way to see the city and everyone at Milwaukee Kayak Co was friendly, helpful and encouraging!

Ok, so I thought $ 25 for a kayak rental is a bit pricey at the start, but in the end it was totally worth it. The absolute best way to see Milwaukee — man is this a beautiful paddle.
These guys are super relaxed and it’s your boat for the afternoon (they just said he back by 7ish). They cover the different directions you can to and provide a map with breweries along the way. no rules except don’t paddle out I to the giant lake. Which is more like an ocean. Makes sense. And keep your life jacket on. Also makes sense.
Paddling the Milwaukee at your own pace, you see the whole city and from an extremely unique perspective. Stop at several breweries along the way, all with public docks, and enjoy a beer or snack and then paddle on. I stopped at the Riverfront brewery which was a surreal and fun experience after being on placid, super calm water. And the water appeared to be very clean despite other reviews. It’s a city. It’s too cold to swim anyway.
So glad I found this gem of a place. It would be the one thing to do I would recommend to my friends.

A friend and I rented two single kayaks, 25.00 each for four hours which is a great deal. We stayed out the whole four hours, we were enjoying it so much. My friend had never kayaked before. The Milwaukee River is a nice relaxing paddle, no currents to fight, great for beginners. Although there was a lot of boat traffic when we went, it did not cause any problems. We were provided with a map which was helpful. There was also staff who helped us get in and out of the kayaks, which I really appreciated. I would do this again!

A Hidden Treasure sitting right on the Milwaukee River.
What a Great way to see the beauty of Milwaukee that may otherwise go unnoticed! This is a Great place for 1^st time kayaking or those more seasoned. The Staff are very friendly & informative! For the low price of $ 25 for a 4 hour rental, how can you beat that? They do have double kayaks & canoes ($ 30) if you dont want to paddle alone or if you bring the kids. They provide the life vests & you bring your snacks & water. This is a river view that you should try at least once while sight seeing Downtown Milwaukee! Get a glimpse of the architecture of years gone by commingled with the new age condos. See the town from a river that many thought was lifeless.(It’s Not!) See the Harley Museum, Pottawatomie, The Fashionable East Side & more from the River in the comfort of your Kayak. I Promise you, You Won’t regret it! Call a head to make a Reservations; No deposit needed at time of booking. Head over to Milwaukee Kayak Co. for a New or Different perspective of Milwaukee. DON’T FORGET A CAMERA!

Milwaukee Kayak Company is a great asset to the area! Too often, the local rivers don’t get as much appreciation as they may deserve. Yes, they’re a little dirty, but there are awesome views of the city that one may never see otherwise.
As for my experience last night, we participated in the Wednesday evening guided tour. Last night’s tour was of the KK, and it was $ 20 for two hours. When we arrived, we were fitted for a kayak, got our life jackets, and headed out as a group. I hadn’t been kayaking in quite a while, but with all the individuals and varying levels of kayak experience, it didn’t seem to matter.
I definitely recommend trying this place out, even if you’ve never gone kayaking. It’s a really fun experience, and I will definitely be back again this summer! I would probably do the general kayaking (not guided), which is reasonably priced at $ 25 for 0 – 4 hours. It’d be fun to stop and get drinks along the river, too!

So much fun!
My friends and I rented kayaks yesterday. Beth and her staff were friendly and helpful. $ 25 for 4 hours, which I thought was a great deal. Plenty of time for a trip up the river to North Ave and back, with a few stops at riverfront bars along the way. Sure, it’s not the cleanest-​looking water, but to see the city from the riverside is a great experience. Milwaukee really is a beautiful city. We all agreed we’d be back to Milwaukee Kayak Company a few more times this summer.

My first time kayaking and I really enjoyed myself. The staff was very helpful and made me feel comfortable in explaining how to use the kayak. The scenery was gorgeous. Looking at downtown Milwaukee while on the Milwaukee river added a unique look at things.
Although it was exhausting on my arms it was really fun and I’d recommend this activity to anyone whether you live here and looking for a new experience or you are from out of town and looking for something that offers an adventure and a different look on what Milwaukee is about.
They also have different routes you can try and no matter where you go you’ll see tons of what Milwaukee has to offer. You can also dock at certain places and stop at a local restaurant if need be. I went through downtown Milwaukee to North Ave. and back. Great photo opportunities as well.
Don’t forget sunblock, camera, and water.

This is a great opportunity for tourists and locals. You will get a different view of downtown Milwaukee. If you take the route that goes, north of downtown it quickly starts to seem like you are in the country. If you take the KK river route, it goes from industrial to a park-​like setting. Ask for a map of the rivers. If you want to eat, there are quite a few places to stop. I have only tried the kayaks. I don’t ever see me being brave enough to rent a stand up paddle board.

Summer’s not over yet! If you are going to go out on the river, Milwaukee Kayak is the place to start your adventure. Located on the Milwaukee River just south of the Third Ward, this is the kind of family business you want to deal with. I stopped in an hour before closing (sunset) and tried out one of the paddleboards. The owner and her father provided great new equipment along with how-​to and safety instructions to make the experience enjoyable.
How’s the water? It’s dirty and there’s lots of crud floating. If you’re new to this, you’re going to take a swim so be prepared. It’s worth it.
They have quite a few kayaks but only a few paddleboards. Call ahead if you’re thinking of going out to make a reservation!

At my age, you’d think I’ve done it all. But did my first kayak this month. It is a great way to see the nicer side of Milwaukee. It was nice to see the river being used by so many people: paddle boards, jet skis, pontoon boats, motor boats, etc. We also glided by turtles, duck, pigeons (yuck), and other wild life. (No my daughter not included in the wild part.) In spite of all the company, the river is quiet & peaceful in most parts. (Except when going under a bridge that has a car going over at the same time.) You should make reservations to make sure you get the size kayak you need. Then spend a few hours just enjoying life.