BFLO Harbor Kayak

So much fun, kinda whack that they sell out of kayaks during busy times and don’t allow you to reserve. Can only reserve for tours. So much fun. Life jackets smelled really gross though!

Extremely busy place. Went yesterday at what we thought was their opening time of 10. The girl working was extremely rude to us and others looking to rent a kayak.
She said we open at 9. We’re booked for the next three hours. So rude!

My 2 kids &I went kayaking here yesterday, we walked up at about 3pm, looking for 3 single kayaks. We have heard & read that there is usually a long wait time, but Friday afternoon, there was a short line, and we got signed in for 3 kayaks. It was a bit windy out, but we went out and had a great time. The man told us were to go to stay protected from most of the wond, which we did, and we had a great time. I will definitely go here again.

We had one full day in Buffalo, and all we wanted to do was kayak or canoe on the Buffalo River to see the grain silos. It rained in the morning, but cleared up by 1 as all the weather reports said it would. We showed up at The BFLO Harbor Kayak kiosk at 3, and there wasn’t a soul there — just a note scrawled on the window that they were closed due to weather and would be back the next day. This is an absurd way to run a company, especially one that’s driven by tourism, and it’s bad for Buffalo. Boo on you!
That said, we settled for the Buffalo River History Boat Tour that was next door and enjoyed an awesome, informative, SUNNY tour of the river and the silos. I highly recommend the competition!

I love this place so much!
I’ve rented kayaks here a few times before. It’s a perfect thing to do on a summer day when you have out of towners visiting. You get to just paddle around the grain silos and war ships in the harbor; it’s so cool! They provide the kayak, paddle, and life vest and just let you go at it. It’s incredibly self explanatory, but I have a feeling they will give you a demo if you need one.
My last visit was a little different. My husband and I got there around 2 and there was already a 3 hour wait for everything (kayaks, water bikes, paddle boards, etc). We ended up putting our names on a waiting list for the paddle boards anyways and figured we’d just enjoy Canalside until our turn.
About an hour and half later, we got a call that it was our turn so we went and paid for the paddle boards. We had never done it before, so the guy at the dock walked us through it.
Paddle boarding is hard! We began on our knees and paddled out to the naval park. It was a comfortable breezy day, but that didn’t translate well to being a beginner on a paddle board. So we paddled our way on our knees in between the USS Little Rock and the USS The Sullivans where the water was very still and very, very carefully worked our way to standing up. We did two runs between the ships and headed back out to open harbor. We immediately when back down, but then the hubs stood up again and worked it. After several more minutes my ankles began to get sore to the point I was doing table pose on the board, so that was enough of that and I too worked my way up to my feet. I’m so glad I’ve done so much yoga at East Meets West on Elmwood, because all that was used to balance on the board and not topple over. It was awesome! I totally loved it! I even finally got comfortable with all the ripples of the waves of passing boats and jet skis. It worked out fine, but there were a few times I thought I was going into the Harbor. So if you want to give yourself a challenge, definitely go for the paddle board! It was a really fun experience!

Finding it was a bit of a challenge, but once we did it was great. We had to wait an hour for our kayaks to be ready, but in the meantime we went to Liberty Hound and walked around canalside. We had coupons from our BCBS 2 for 1 cards, otherwise I do not think we would each pay $ 20 for an hour on kayaks.

We had to wait an hour but they called us when it was our turn. Don’t be put off by the wait times, just go earlier next time. It’s worth it. We kayaked near the ships, and down to the blue towers. GO EARLY or your may end up waiting 2 – 3 hours for your turn. You can explore Canalside while you wait.

Such an amazing way to spend an hour of your day in the summer, that is, when you aren’t told there is a 3 hour wait. I have made several attempts to go kayaking here and on only one occasion did I not find myself waiting. They only have 25 kayaks, which is insane to me, considering the size of the river and how empty it appears when you look out. There is room for an additional 15 – 20 kayaks at a time in my opinion and they would do a killing if they invested in a bunch more. Nobody wants to be told there is going to be a 3 hour wait on a Sunday afternoon. It kills the whole day, Sure, there’s places to see on Canalside and a lot of area to be explored, but you can only walk around, sit on a bench, and drink so many 21^st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon beers before you reach that hot and desperate point in your day where you just NEED to get in the water!
There is little organization at the renting stand. There is no line, more like a group of people standing around and a guy with a clipboard directing his attention to the person closest to him asking if they need help. Make sure, if you’e been waiting, speak up, don’t let other people walk up and get in front of you because people can be pushy here. It was $ 20 for a single kayak for an hour which I thought was very reasonable. $ 30 for a tandem, but a single is much more fun, they allow for splashing wars, races with your friends (or strangers) and you paddle at your leisure. They have sit ins or kayaks you sit on top of, I recommend the sit in ones, they seem more comfortable and there’s room for a small backpack. They did not have any waivers available for us so they taped the last copy they had on the booth window and had us sign on a blank sheet of paper. Official. Then we were told to grab a life vest and head down to the dock. Once we got down to the dock there were two people sitting underneath the dock in lawn chairs who didn’t move a muscle and then a woman assisting one lady getting of a kayak and motioning me to come over to the one that was available for me. There was an area to drop your shoes off and they were happy to keep your backpacks for you, we kept ours though. The woman helped me into the kayak and told me to paddle out to the second bridge and then to come back because that would be about an hour. Perfect. Apparently if you paddle right, the water gets a bit choppy, we followed her advice.
The experience was awesome, weather was perfect, we stopped when we wanted, few boats on the water so rarely did we need to have much direction. The view of the city was incredible, definitely bring your camera. On the way back, I pulled up to the dock and the two men sitting underneath the dock in lawn chairs didn’t want to move to assist me out of the kayak. It made me a little uncomfortable but I think they secretly did a rock papers scissors, and the losing dude came and helped me out. I got some seriously good color, but definitely bring sun screen.

The wife and I were looking for something fun/​adventurous to do at Canalside. We ultimately decided to give BFLO Harbor Kayak a try, as kayaking was something we’ve always wanted to try. We signed up for the two-​hour guided tour via their website.
We signed up online for a two-​hour guided tour of the Buffalo riverside, and headed down the following day (7÷12÷15). Please be warned that there is no actual «storefront» for BFLOHK, so locating it may prove a challenge if you’re unfamiliar with the new Canalside. Instead, there’s a small ticket-​booth located at the very end of the Canalside boardwalk, just behind First Niagara Center/​Harbor Center. It would’ve been nice if there were some «You are here» signs to help guide the way. To be fair, my wife after-​the-​fact found a missed text alert with precise directions to the tour stand. No biggie, however.
Once we signed our waivers and took a life jacket, we made our way down a ramp to the kayaks. Our tour guide gave a very high-​level overview of kayaking, covering oar gripping and seating. Unfortunately, he did not cover how to make turns (wide and sharp), although I later was able to figure those maneuvers out via trial and very wet error.
Each person was guided to their kayak and pushed out into the harbor to begin traveling downstream. I have no idea what the difference is between a «good» and «bad» kayak, but I do know that mine was relatively comfortable, spacious, and stayed afloat the entire time.
As we made our way downstream (or up, I’m no sea skipper), our guide (who is a history professor at Buffalo State) provided us/​those close enough to hear with very interesting nuggets of information/​history. Historical highlights include the history of the General Mills factory, the grain elevators, and the process of cleaning all of the silt/​surface of the canal (a billion-​dollar effort!).
What I absolutely loved about the guided tour is that the guide acted more as a shepherd herding the flock than an actual «follow me, all ye faithful!» guide. We were all allowed to kayak at our own pace, and the guide just made sure we were all relatively close to another and away from boaters/​independent kayakers.
My absolute favorite part of the tour came when we arrived at the grain elevators. A makeshift «cave» was located beneath one of the elevators that we were able to access. Within we were able to find swallow nests and see the birds/​newborns generally flitting around. It was a really neat addition to the tour.
For us, the tour clocked in at around 105 minutes (including the brief training session), so I reckon we had a total of about 90 minutes of solid kayaking time. Once I got my bearings about me and figured out how to make wide/​sharp turns (actually extremely simple), I really began to enjoy myself and the idea of kayaking itself. My core/​arms/​legs still feel like utter jelly due to the great workout I’m sure kayaking provides and also probably due to my horrendous newbie-​technique.
I definitely recommend BFLO Harbor Kayak for those looking for something to do on a hot summer day, while downtown. The price is wallet-​friendly, you get a good workout and learn a bit about Buffalo’s history. Can’t go wrong there!

Maybe I’m too cheap — for my economics, the price is exhorbitant. $ 20 per person per hour. My party would have a tab of $ 80.
Though, if money grew on trees and price was not an issue, I’d give this place 5 stars by virtue of the amazing location.

I would give it 5 stars however there is no sign telling you to go down the dock to check in… you have to ask at the water bike rental place. There aren’t any signs telling you much of anything about the place, which I think would be a good idea, as we probably would have wandered aimlessly…:(
Anyway, you wait in line and as in our case, they were out of kayaks, so we put our name down on a list. We didn’t leave as others did; we waited about 25 minutes and some kayaks showed up and we were good to go. Used Unilocal check in and saved $ 5 bucks… so $ 25 for 2 ppl for an hour is a great deal in my book. The attendant needs to grow up however; he was so intent on 3 girls in bikinis that he barely got myself and my husband in our kayaks… and he told my husband AND one of the girls «You can remove the life vest (PFD) when you get out in the water if you want.
I think that is grossly negligent on his part; probably because he appeared to be quite immature. The owner should know his employee is doing this…

Great time chillin at canalside. Friendly and helpful staff set you up with an array of watercraft including water bicycles. See the transformation of Buffalo from its rust belt roots to the new and improved gateway to fun in the sun. Enjoyed an August Tuesday afternoon with zero wait time. Highly recommended.

The kid running it had no idea what he was doing. We came on a beautiful sunny buffalo day and expected a wait but he couldn’t even tell us an approximate time. He had no organization. Very unfortunate that such a great attraction on the waterfront is ran by an incompetent teenager.

Amazing time kayaking in Lake Erie around the Buffalo Harbor last week!
Upon walking up to the booth located just under the Sky Way at Canalside, I was a little disappointed to hear there was a wait list for single kayaks, especially since it was a Monday mid-​morning and I was there the day before and was told there wouldn’t be a wait on a Monday morning. Oh well. We decided to do a tandem kayak… even if I thought my likelihood of capsizing increased tenfold. Just a note, though, if you can: try to call ahead or make a reservation online.
Being first timers here at BFLO Habor Kayak, my brother and I had an absolute blast and were greeted with some great customer service! Although I would have liked to know a little more about the lay of the land… er, water… we made it to and from shore safely.
I’m so happy BFLO Harbor Kayak exists… This is a great place to take both Buffaloians and visitors alike. Awesome photo opportunities as well. I was so excited to cross this off my «Buffalo to-​do list» and I can’t wait to go back again! I’m also looking forward to doing a tour!

This is something I’ve always wanted to do when I come to canal side and dang it I did it. Sure I played a little hookie on my lunch break and extended it a bit but hey when you have the opportunity to go kayaking you friggen take it by the oar and row.
If you use Unilocal which you should you get a discount of 5 bucks off which makes this adventure even more worth it. Normally it’s 15 per hour to venture the vicious seas of Lake Erie however check in and well you can do the math it’s close to priceless !
Sure I’ve yaked many of times in my 28 yr old career visiting the downtown buffalo scene but never did I think I’m gunna kayak … sorry. Anyways you can paddle your butt off up and down the lake till your arms fall off. My only tip would be to get on the list to rent on since it seems on weekends it maybe impossible to get on one of these pleasure crafts. And hey I know next time I wanna play pirate of the open seas I may have to bring mr captain Morgan with. Who said you can’t yak in a kayak …

I do love to kayak the grain elevators. And I got to do that by borrowing kayaks after unsuccessfully trying to rent a kayak from BFLO Harbor Kayaks on THREE occasions.
The first time, they were open but simply no one was home. We stood around for an hour figuring we just missed someone off on a lunch break or something since we could see people in the water who had rented. To no avail.
Second time, they were all rented. No one’s fault but the sunshine right? As requested, we gave the gentleman our phone number, stayed in the area, patiently awaited our call to the calm seas. Stopped by periodically to show let him know we were still around. On our next circling of the track — he’d rented out 4 more kayaks and looked at us like we’d never been there.
Third time, everything said open but this time no one, not a soul.
I’m giving this 2 stars because theoretically it’s awesome that people are down on the waterfront in kayaks. And I’ve seen them with my own eyes. In my experiences, 1 star would have sufficed (summer 2013).

The canalside is a wonderful place for kayaking! Water can be a little dirty though, but I suppose you can’t expect much from lake water. But it’s an awesome summertime activity and great way to soak up the sun! There’s always other people on the harbor on their boats so it’s kind of cool to see everyone passing by.
I went later in the afternoon around 5 pm and we were told it was a 45 minute wait, which turned out to be much longer. There’s only a limited number of kayaks and paddle boards! Pricing is decent and fairly standard.
The canalside is great. You can just sit on their cool chairs or on the grass and eat some ice cream while you wait!

Ok so let me first say that I’m an impossible fan of kayaking.
That being said, I’ll leave the fun of the hour I had on the lake to personal stories.
The actual service provided is what I intend to cover here.
I showed up the the harbor and was a bit confused as to where to look for this place. Luckily there’s really only one direction to travel.
Eventually we stumbled upon the rental shack. There was a guy there who advised me that ‘she’ was gone for a minute and we’d have to wait. No big deal. I’m not expecting «good evening mr. Dispenza, care to engulf on a magical adventure?»
Eventually ‘she’ showed up and showed my friend and I the waiver. We signed without glancing at it but I’m sure it covered liability to some extent. No worries. The only reason I’m here is because I’m too cheap to buy a kayak I know I’ll only use a few times a year.
Afterwards she asked if there was any valuables she could hold onto for us, which I thought was a nice touch. Also. I checked in via Unilocal mobile and received an offer for $ 5 off which she readily accepted.
We life jacketed up and proceeded to the dock. A bit of a careful display to load is into the boats one at a time. Being former military I understand safety regulations but it was almost insulting to have a young girl «help» me into this watercraft.
Then we hit the water and had a great time. The kayaks were well maintained and free of debris.
A few notes though.
Unless you being a watch or cellphone. I don’t know how you’d know if your time was up.
When you return you’re supposed to wait for them to meet you at the dock to help you unload. Which makes it easier to dismount but can be awkward just waiting there.
I did speak with an older woman I believe to be the owner though. She was very kind and loves PB&J sandwiches. So if perhaps you need a discount or favor. Being some with you :)

I’m going to preface this review by saying that I think this is awesome. As someone who grew up in Buffalo, I’m happy to see Canalside thrive and any business that adds to that should get props.
I visited BFLO Harbor Kayak twice in the past week and must say the customer experience before getting in the boat leaves a lot to be desired. The first time I visited, the owner/​manager (not sure of his position) was openly yelling at his employees. I understand that they have no real privacy, but it is never appropriate to yell at an employee regardless of the situation. I rented a kayak and had a lovely afternoon.
The next time I visited I was again greeted by this super sunny person, who this time managed to not yell at his employees, but instead snapped at me after I asked about the stand-​up paddle boards laying around. Grain of salt for it being a holiday weekend and busy, but when I overheard him comment to an employee that he was glad he was leaving so he «no longer had to handle this sh*t,» I left.
5 stars for a fabulous concept, –3 stars for a jerk running the biz.

I love this place. This past weekend, I knocked paddle boarding off my bucket list. It only cost $ 15 for an hour and I got to enjoy magnificent views paddling from CanalSide down to the First Ward. I did fall in once, but it was worth it (and the water was so refreshing).
I could do this every sunny day here in Buffalo. If I’m looking to show locals the beauty of our city, this would be one of my first stops. Can’t wait to have many more adventures with BFLO Harbor Kayak this summer. It really couldn’t get any better. Professional, laid-​back easy going staff.