Hudson River Expeditions

Really enjoyed our time tandem-kayaking and stand up paddleboarding (first time on SUP). We arrived early for our booking and we were able to go out onto the water immediately after signing the waiver and getting life vests. We were given an explanation of our boundaries on the river and basically set off to enjoy the water! Appreciated that the shop has a locked room for belongings, a bathroom, and some supplies you might need for sale (waterproof bags, bug spray, sports drinks, hats, etc). I'd definitely come back! One thing to note is that they only briefly ask "have you paddled before?" (I answered yes to kayak, no to SUP). Only a few tips were given for SUP, like where to stand on the board and how to hold the paddle. So if you're a complete newbie I'd recommend going for a class or something (think they offer some?) before just coming to rent. We consulted YouTube videos beforehand so felt pretty confident to just go for it ourselves.

I had a great experience on a kayak tour with Hudson River Expeditions in Cold Spring! The weather was beautiful, and our guide, Don, was knowledgeable, friendly, and made everyone feel comfortable throughout. This was my second time booking with them, and it was just as wonderful as the first. They were also very accommodating when I needed to reschedule. Highly recommend—well worth it!

Update: Today we brought our own kayaks and planned to paddle the Constitution Marsh based on the 4-hour tidal access window indicated on the HRE website calendar. However, when we arrived we learned (by overhearing some customers who had signed for a tour) that the tidal time on the website was mistaken. Although we were not customers of HRE today, we had relied on their website for accurate info about the tidal marsh access time, so we were surprised and disappointed. I imagine that people who paid money for the ill-fated tour were even more bummed! Did no one from HRE double check the accuracy of the tide times listed??? Thank goodness we overheard customers talking or we could have been unexpectedly trapped in the marsh during high tide until the evening. They could have at least put up a sign by the water to let people know! Previous review: Beautiful paddling location at Cold Spring in the cove and the marsh. Feels great getting out on the water. Good quality, comfortable kayaks. Clear instructions about marsh access and safety. Slight delay in getting on the water because there were so many customers at the launch site but it was fine. Next time we will arrive more than ten minutes early.

Had a great time for the fourth of July. Tour guides kept us together and the view was amazing

You ever find yourself up a river WITH a paddle? Shout out to the folks over at this kayak rental and tour joint. We kicked of LDW with a brisk ride down the Hudson before we explored for good eats. Highly recommended for day adventuring. Happy kayaking!

We had a great time kayaking on the Hudson from Cold Spring. The team were great and gave the right amount of advice depending on requirements. The river was great to kayak on and we were given a lot of leeway as to where to go which was perfect. Thanks to everyone for making it a great trip

It was so nice and the guys that work there were outstanding. We didn’t last the two hours but they were so kind to give us a credit back for our hour. The kayaks are in great shape and comfortable and the scenery second to none. Thanks for a great day. Will be doing it again with more family members

Beautiful place and everyone at Hudson River Expeditions was great. Super friendly from check in to boat launch. Constitution Marsh itself is gorgeous, definitely worth exploring. Just make sure to look up the easy to find access times on the HRE website. As it is a marsh, exit and entry times depend on the tides (low tide there's not enough water to prevent grounding). If you're not planning on a marsh visit, your schedule is more flexible.

Wow this is NY!??? Growing in Queens the only placed we kayaked was in the Carribean! Then found out about Hudson Valley when friends had a wedding here. Planned a group outing and Maki was great to work with! Brian, Matt, Andrew and the rest of the team were friendly and reassuring they would save us if we fell or got stranded lol! Anyways, all was good in Cold Spring, fun, gorgeous and relaxing! Will plan another kayak trip and check out the other locations, thanks guys!

Came here at the beginning of the summer. All I can say is five stars all around. The people who checked us in we're very friendly and informative. The two guys down near the water were fantastic and extremely helpful. My friend and I had a wonderful time on the Hudson River and definitely plan to return. Thanks!!

8/6/2021 - Finally made it back to HRE in Cold Spring to do some kayaking and I realized how much I've missed it. The staff is fabulous - they're friendly, efficient and professional. The kayaks and paddles are very well-maintained. It's reservation only now which is great. I won't repeat what I've already said in my previous HRE updates but will reiterate what a wonderful place this is. I definitely recommend paddling through Constitution Marsh too. Just make sure to check out the Constitution Marsh Access times on the HRE website before you go. I highly recommend Hudson River Expeditions! You won't be disappointed!

Open until the water temperature is 60 degrees...whether that might be. Was told it could be as late as Halloween but usually sometime in October. Time is provided to ensure people know and understand safety maneuvers before they head out. Launch area has a gentle and easy slope to drag the kayaks on and off the water. Paddle boats are also available for rent and fishing is allowed off a shady dock area. Bring a blanket and picnic lunch, too! The shady grassy area is well kept and has a beautiful view of the river. Nearby is the launch for the Bannerman Castle boat tour. Main Street in Beacon is a long and pretty stretch of shops, numerous charming eateries, and art galleries. Fun destination for a day trip if you live within a 1-2 hour drive in the vicinity.

Was enjoying myself until some uptight employee approached me in the middle of the water and reprimanded me about my distance from shore and "paying attention" when I'm taking pictures; then "reminded" me to come back to shore on time. Then he approached me a second time to ask when I'm coming back to shore and insulted me to say "you look like you don't know what you're doing." I've been kayaking several times in Fl and I've never encountered anyone so deliberately rude who badgers customers until coming here. Obnoxious and unnecessary; I'll find another company to rent from. There's plenty of them in this area.

My 10 year old son recently stated we never did anything fun. I reminded him how we had to create our own fun when I was a kid. All he lacked was imagination and a bag of glass. Well, maybe he was right. We'd been kayaking before in Long Island a couple years back and he had loved it. So over Memorial Day Weekend, we booked a nature kayak tour at Hudson River Expeditions. He even rocked his own kayak. The staff and tour were superb. Learned a lot and had a blast. And the kiddo has been happy ever since.

Another excellent outdoor activity business in Cold Spring, NY! If you are looking for some outdoor adventure (that isn't hiking Breakneck Ridge) in the area, HRE is it. We rented a tandem kayak for 4 hours (so we didn't have to rush), and explored part of the Hudson, the cove area near town, and then went under a bridge into a beautiful marshland. The equipment was all clean, the staff were friendly and attentive, and of course the scenery was beautiful! We called it a day after 2 hours, tired but happy. When we turned in our gear, the staff actually refunded the 2 hours we didn't use! That's good business, and we will definitely be back. Highly recommended!

Went with the boys to Cold Spring to go kayaking on a gorgeous Friday. Rented a tandem kayak and a single. Quick and easy to get to, as well as fill out a quick form/waiver and get suited up for launch. I would say to buy the $99 10-hour punch card if you plan on going back a few times bc its one and done and worth the price. Quick overview for those who are not familiar with kayaking, nothing too in-depth tho so if you are a nervous Nora, better do some home research...truthfully theres not much to it except you better have some strength if the tides are strong. You are allowed to even go under the train trestle and into constitution marsh which is awesome (as long as the tides are on the 'right' schedule) but if you are freaked out of spiders like I am... DO NOT LOOK UP when going under that damn bridge. Or skip the marsh all together. Great experience, down to earth staff and wonderful trip on the Hudson River. ALSO-- this group is located in Peekskill as well. The old kayak company at Annsville closed and this one took over so if you want to rent in the Peekskill location, call this same number and they will assist.

Another perfect day with HRE! This is my third time taking a guided tour with a group of 20 high school students with Hudson River Expeditions. As before, the day was perfect. The guides are fun, friendly and very knowledgeable. Always patient and attentive, they continually make sure everyone behaves in a safe manner and has a good time. The owners are very accommodating when planning the trip and are a joy to work with. I would highly recommend booking a tour or renting kayaks from them. All of my students said it was their favorite field trip ever. If you are not familiar with Cold Spring, the views from this part of the river are stunning. You can walk from the train and to nearby cafes, which you should definitely take advantage of. We ended our day with a stop at the famous Moo Moo's creamery, which is a block away.

This was my first time kayaking in a long time and everyone was so friendly and helpful! They helped with life jackets, getting in and out of the kayak and orienting my group with a map so if you are a beginner like me, you are welcome. Highly recommend if you are in Cold Spring!

The company was very efficient with getting us out on the water. We had all age groups and everyone had wonderful time kayaking the marsh and river. We will be doing this again with HRE.

Great bunch of folks who run this company. Call ahead to reserve kayaks and leave yourself 15 minutes to fill out forms and get your life vest.

Very experienced and professional. They have a beautiful place in cold Spring, right by the train, which makes it super easy and comfortable. The place is absolutely beautiful and we were lucky enough to have a gorgeous day.

This place is great. We were pretty blown away by how genuinely sweet everyone was. Like, the nicest people. They all seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. Our group of six split three tandem kayaks to row out to the beach and back. The kayaks were in great condition and we felt taken care of by the crew, who made sure we understood everything about this section of the river and surrounding land. We booked three hours but only ended up using two and they offered to reimburse us for the unused time, which was lovely and shocking. We'll definitely be back and would 100% recommend HRE to friends.

Booked a two hour kayak rental for a bunch of tandem kayaks + 1 solo (odd number of people in our group!). They were flexible with us running a bit late and quickly got us fitted with our life vests and after a quick rowing demo, we were on our way! We were a group of 9 girls and they had originally asked an employee to accompany us through Foundry Cove and show us how to get back in the kayak if it overturns, but he ended up taking us to Little Stony Point as well! He was super helpful - took all our photos - and even tugged our lagger kayak all the way back! ;) We had a great time on the water and the scenery is breathtaking! Highly recommend.

Totally Worth It! I did the Bannerman Castle Hard hat tour. This was such a fun tour. You come thirty minutes prior to the start time where you sign forms and size up your life vest and then you walk two minutes to the launch point where you size up your kayak. After everyone has finished sizing up, everyone gets in a big circle and reviews the kayaking basics. They have a lot of helpers. This is a well manned tour. They launch you with three guides to ten kayaks. That's a lot of accompaniment. Also there are hands to help launch and receive you. For a princess like me? That's awesome because nothing would make me more tired than doing all that grunt work. The guides are attentive and safety is number one. They will help escort and speed up the slower ones and entertain and watch out for the faster ones. At Bannerman, the historical tour is fun. They also provide a delicious little packed lunch snack: cheeses, preserved meats, pita, hummus, tomatoes and nuts. So you know, if you have an allergy or need kosher or halal, they will provide. The weather worked with us. The guide says that light rain does not stop these tours but bad tides, bad currents and cold waters will. If the temperature of the water drops below sixty eight degrees Fahrenheit, then no tour. The cold water makes sense. Imagine falling in and having to be rescued! You will be in hypothermia! BUT the water was seventy six degrees that day and they pulled the tour to stop for a moment for some more experienced kayakers to take a dip and then they helped those guys and gals get back into the kayak. That water feels so good after kayaking in the sun. Bring Sun Screen.

We are back and this time my wife and I tried stand up paddle boarding. It was great! We stopped by the shop at around 12pm and the owner told us about taking the boards under a train bridge into marsh area that would be calm, fun for any level of experience, and exciting. She said it would be better to go from 2-4. It sounded like fun so went for a walk and returned at about 1:30. That gave us enough time for Matt(instructor) to explain the ins and outs of how to paddle board as well as get around safely in the marsh area. He was very helpful and we had an amazing time. The boards were super stable and easy to manage. We were able to bring a small cooler with us and bungee it the board. This was our 2nd time on paddle boards and we had a blast! We had to sit down on the board to go under the bridge. That was fun. We also saw lots of frogs, fish and beautiful marsh flowers. They also have private guided tours. While we waited for our boards we watched the guide in action. He was polite, friendly and very knowledgable in the area of kayaking. He helped each person in his party into the kayak to make any adjustments and he helped them out. This was all on land. Then he had them stand in a circle and show them how to paddle with actual paddles. It was a family of 4 and they seemed to really enjoy it. We saw them later in the marsh area having fun. Looked like it was there first Hudson Expedition!

First off I have to say the guys that work at the dock are all very polite and so helpful. My husband and I have come here many of times already and every time has been a great experience. Everyone is so accommodating, when we first went out in a canoe I didn't like it and felt scared so we went back and the guy who worked there took his time and gave us other options of what we could try and we ended up with the double kayak which was way better for me and we had a great time. Water is beautiful out there too! Also the prices are really reasonable!!!

Hudson River Expeditions offers outstanding service and expertise. As a faculty member in the TELC program at Laguardia Community College, I often take my international students to Cold Spring for kayaking and hiking. We go at least 3 to 4 times a year. Each time Hudson River Expeditions provides our students the opportunity to enjoy a magnificent outing on the Hudson. Kudos to everyone!! Wayne K.

Great service, friendly and experienced guides who know the water, the area and are fun to be with. The location is a skip and a hop away from the train, and the people were very accommodating to beginners, making the whole experience very pleasant by looking out for us all the time. The equipment also was very clean and new so we would not hesitate to come back!

If you're looking for a fun, active outdoor excursion, look no further then Hudson River Expeditions. A little on the pricey side @ $25 / hour for kayaks, but there aren't many other options in the area for waterfront rentals. Knowledgeable staff and good quality equipment. Would definitely return again if I'm in the area.

We had a great experience with the Bannerman's Island Kayak trip - great guides, gear, and all-around great people! They are located right next to the train station, so you can park there for free on weekends, or even take the train in from the city or elsewhere.

This was a great option for a day out on the water. My boyfriend and I rented a tandem kayak for two hours, and were given great advice both on kayaking tips,plus places to see in the area. Every person who helped us along the way was friendly and went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed for a safe and fun time on the river. I would definitely recommend it for any level of kayaker.

Not only was the kayaking absolutely beautiful and the service amazing, but I left my Fitbit in their store and they ran it down to the train station to me so I wouldn't miss my train! Overall an incredible experience and anytime I am back in Cold Spring, I will be coming back to kayak or paddle board!

So you want to get out of the city for a day? I can't think of a better option. This place is STEPS away from the Cold Spring stop on Metro North, a quick hour ride north from Grand Central. Whether you are a skilled paddler or a complete newbie these guys have you covered: super nice instructors, a great range of boats from recreational to (almost) pro touring boats, and all the gear you need on site. You can rent and paddle around or take one of their awesome and well thought out tours. Great for anything from a date to a full on river voyage.

I did the Destination Waterfall tour with five friends and a few others who had signed up for the tour. We paddled through Constitution Marsh, to a waterfall, and then stopped by the Audubon Center before paddling back to the launch. The setting was gorgeous and the two guides were wonderful. They packed us a huge spread of gourmet snacks that we enjoyed by the waterfall. The storefront is also very close to the train station, so you can do a tour from the city without renting a car. There is a bathroom there so you can change clothing before heading back on the train. I'll definitely be signing up for more of their tours.