City Kayak

I love City Kayak! Great location at South Beach Harbor/Pier 40 (NOT next to Pier 39), next to AT&T Park on King Street/Embarcadero. They offer kayak rentals, kayak tours, and classes. Great staff!

After taking an introductory kayaking class in Oakland (California Canoe & Kayak), I got hooked and decided I wanted to get into the sport of kayaking. But because I live in the city and don't have room to store a kayak, I decided that rentals is the way to go for now...at least until I'm no longer a beginner and knew more about kayaks and kayaking in general.

I found City Kayak on yelp and ended up purchasing a 3-month pass after my first visit. It's the perfect fit for me so far cause I get to go out and paddle any time they're open for rentals (5 days a week!). The membership comes with all the gear you need to go paddling (kayak, paddle, paddling jacket, vest/pfd, dry bag, etc...) and introductory instructions to get you started. It's a great deal! The significant discount on all the tours and classes alone make the membership worth it. So far I've taken their sit on top kayaks and paddled out on my own three times. I've paddled out to McCovey Cove, downtown, and the Bay Bridge a few times and it's just beautiful every time I'm out there. I've also taken a class, the "Reentry 301" class from them.

The reentry class is a must if you want to progress, and feel safe and confident in the water (It's more enjoyable that way and I recommend it!). The class was about three and a half hours long, and Ted and his crew were very knowledgeable and patient. That resulted in our group learning a lot while having a ton of fun doing it. And like with any rentals/tours/classes, all the gear we needed, (ie, wetsuit, life vest/pfd, etc..,) was provided. Just keep in mind that the reentry class is an immersion class and you're going to be IN the water A LOT! lol

I gotta say what I love the most about City Kayak is the staff. The owner, Ted, his wife Gemma (sp), Jesse, Jasmine, and the rest of the staff are so nice, and welcoming. They are all so cool, helpful and knowledgeable.

I've taken classes from California Canoe and Kayak in Oakland and Half Moon Bay (great kayak fishing class), and I've taken a class from Board Sports California (this place was not so great and made me feel unwelcome). City Kayak by far is my favorite place. It just feels like home and I'm happy every time I'm there (and they liked riding my electric skateboard lol). Try them out!

City Kayak is open Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon at 11am, with the last launch at 3pm. Kayaks should be returned by 4pm in the winter or 5pm during other seasons.

We reserved three single kayak's online about 45 min before the last launch. Super easy to do online. No payment. They just needed a credit card for the reservation. Note that there is a $20 fee for cancellations/changes made within 24 hours. Have everyone fill out the waiver online to save time during check-in.

City Kayak is located in a large warehouse on Pier 40. Great location if you want to Muni/e-bike/walk to Embarcadero/the Ferry Building afterwards.

We thought parking in the lot out front was free and had no issues parking there for several hours. But I realized later that they sell a $20 parking permit online, so we might have been mistaken. Just beware that a permit may be required.

Walk all the way to the end of the warehouse and check in at the table. They have porta potties near the front with a sink with soap as well. They have a few life vests with zipper pockets in them which is great for securing your phone/keys. I believe they have dry bags for a fee. They can also store belongings for you.

The staff gave us a quick rundown of the rules. First and foremost, keep a LOT of distance between you and any boats. Anyone bigger than you has right of way. It was a five minute walk to get to the water. We did a little practice paddle out front, and then we were off. The process was quick and efficient.

We wanted to paddle down Mission Creek Channel to see the house boats, but 1 hour was not enough time for us beginners. I recommend 2 hours if you want to go all the way down the channel. But the views of the city and the Bay Bridge were still great and paddling under bridges in the channel was fun. Expect to get a little wet from the paddles dripping/splashing water.

The water is calmer in the morning and a little choppier in the afternoon as the wind picks up and/or boats are docking. As long as you stay near the dock or in the channel, the water will be pretty calm. But once you exit into the bay, for example, towards the bridge, expect conditions to be a little more challenging.

We timed ourselves so we were only out there for 1 hour. But you can change your mind and stay out longer because they take payment at the end. It was $36 + around $3 in taxes per person for 1 hour + optional tip. Decent value.

They offer other services as well including paddleboard lessons, guided kayaking trips, a McCovey Cove experience during Giants games, and overnight takeaway rentals. You can even buy gift cards and gear. Check out their website.

Overall, it was a great experience in the summer! Highly recommend!

Had a great time kayaking around Mission Bay with City Kayak! The rental process was very easy since you can reserve kayaks and sign waivers online. They did a short orientation for us before heading out and gave great recommendations on where to paddle!

Great experience! Made a reservation online for single person kayaks. We kayaked for one hour which costs $36 an hour. We came on a great day with amazing weather and calm waters. Great views of the bay bridge and AT&T park. Also there's free parking!

Found this place through a friends Strava and knew we had to try this uber cool experience. Arrive 5-10 minutes early as there is a good stretch to walk onto the Pier & a waiver to sign. They give you a life jacket & of course the paddles. We got out onto the water on a beautiful day, around Oracle park & got amazing views of the bay! If you're visiting SF or live here, book a kayak.

Trying to book a 4pm rental on the website this morning it wouldn't let me. Came down to the establishment close to 4pm to rent kayaks for myself girlfriend and the owner said it was closed. He didn't provide any explanation with the issue on the website. Very unprofessional to have conflicting closing times and reservations. Clearly, he was ready to go home.

My girlfriend and I recently decided to try paddleboarding with City Kayak, a kayaking and paddle boarding shop in San Francisco. We had never tried paddleboarding before, and the intro SUP lesson was a good starting point.

The lesson was quite useful, covering all the basics of paddleboarding. We learned how to get on the board, handle the paddle, paddle in a straight line, turn in both directions, and get back on the board after falling. By the end of the lesson, we were comfortable with paddling and felt good about our progress.

After covering the fundamentals, there was time left over for us to practice some more advanced things like whole-body paddling and the J-stroke. The instructors guided us through these, adding a fun challenge to the day. We appreciated how they kept safety as a priority throughout the lesson.

We also found that the equipment provided by City Kayak was in good shape. The paddleboards were stable and easy to handle, and the other gear like life jackets and paddles were well-kept.

To sum up, our time at City Kayak was enjoyable. The lesson was instructive and fun, and we appreciated the chance to learn a new skill while also seeing San Francisco from a different perspective. If you're interested in getting out on the water and trying something new, consider giving City Kayak a visit.

Nice place to rent kayaks right in the city, where you can get a good view of the city skyline, the Bay Bridge, and the baseball stadium. The owners (husband and wife?) are really friendly, and the entire operation had a mom-and-pop feel to it.

TIPS:
Paddling around splashes water so you will get a tiny bit wet, so bring appropriate clothes (or maybe a change of clothes for after). I left my sandals on the dock and went barefoot. You can buy water and snacks at the checkin desk (and don't forget sunscreen), and rent a dry-bag for your belongings. I recommend two hours, since getting ready, onto the kayak, and leaving the dock area all eat some time which would make a single hour quite rushed. We were able to paddle to the bay bridge, back to the dock, to the baseball stadium to watch some of the game, and back all in two hours. If you're prone to seasickness, take some dromamine or ginger candies before you go!

OVERALL:
Go on a nice sunny day when a baseball game is being played.

5/29/2021 Quarantine Day 439

City Kayak is located at Pier 40, just a few minutes away from Oracle Park. The parking lot is only for people who have permits (not sure what kind of permit), so you'll have to park at a meter on the street. Unfortunately, the meter maids do a good job in this area, so make sure you put enough time on your meter. My friend and I were here saturday afternoon and it wasn't too crowded so we were able to find a metered spot across the street.

You want to walk past the parking lot and into the warehouse, all the way down to the end and that's where you will find City Kayak. Beware, there are NO bathrooms except stinky port-a-potties so be sure to use the bathroom at home beforehand. There are no portable sinks either so bring handwipes and sanitizer (but nowadays, who wouldn't carry around those items??). We checked in with the guy at the front named Brett. My friend had booked the time slot but we had not completed the waiver beforehand. Brett was very patient as he showed us how to do that on our phones, so have those waivers filled out before you come so you can just show it and be out on the water without any delays.

After checking the waivers, Brett gave us fitted life jackets and paddles. He then directed us to the dock where we find the kayaks. Walking down towards the dock, I was feeling a sense of excitement and dread because, my dear yelp friends, I cannot swim (insert crying emoji here). So doing this activity was a huge, huge step out of my comfort zone. Was it worth it? Let me continue the review...

Another staff member greeted us on the dock and helped us (mostly me because I was starting to have a mini- panic attack), into our double kayak. So my friend sat in the back (we were told the more experienced person should sit there), and I sat in the front. After we were both safely sitting on the kayak, it was gently pushed and off we were into the bay for our kayak adventure...

Despite my initial awkwardness on handling and maneuvering the paddle, we were able to paddle out as far to the Bay Bridge. The water was calm, the sun was shining, I had stopped freaking out, and it was for the most part enjoyable. After about 30 minutes, we had to head back (we reserved the kayak for an hour) and that was when trouble started brewing for us. As we turned around and we started paddling back to the dock, the wind was blowing against us, and the waves were getting choppy. Given my inexperience with kayaking, I did not think to wear appropriate clothing for the water... so as we fought the waves AND the wind to get back, my friend and I both got soaked and we were fighting so hard! My arms were already sore from the first 30 minutes it was a miracle that we got back at all. And as you can imagine, with all the paddling and choppy waves, I was just drenched in sea water. I literally got splashed with every paddle stroke and the waves would rise over the kayak, getting my legs and shoes wet.

After what seemed like an eternity of almost nonstop paddling, we made it back to the dock. We carefully exited the kayak and in our wet shoes and clothes, walked back to the check-in place to return the paddles and life jackets. I asked the staff if they provided towels so we could dry off but they don't. I honestly think they should consider having clean towels and even little things like instant hot chocolate or coffee for people who have gotten really drenched like I did, and they even said that people have fallen into the water before. So having towels and a hot drink for people on hand would show customers an extra level of care for their well-being. Driving home in super wet pants, shoes and underwear was T-E-R-R-I-B-L-E.

So back to my question: was it worth it?

My answer: Yes, and now that my kayak cherry has been popped, I'll be sure to wear more appropriate clothing, have extra towels, and extra clothes to change.

Thank you City Kayak for a wet and fun experience!

Got to go Paddle Boarding with a friend this Friday and had the best time!

Ted is amazing. Not only did he best help accommodate our plans and prepare us for our trek, but during our trip he went above and beyond to make it memorable and as enjoyable as possible. We can't wait to visit again perhaps during peak times like fireworks and baseball games, just be prepared for the rush!

Say hi to their friendly resident sea lions too!

We paid for the tour with the kayak rental vs just renting kayaks, so that we'd have a guide. This is our first time kayaking in San Francisco (I went with my husband and 4 kids with the youngest being 11). We didn't go out too far since all the people in the tour were mostly beginners.