Kayak Pittsburgh Downtown Dock

My husband and I are experienced kayakers but had never kayaked in downtown Pittsburgh. However, the experience is really for any level of kayaker. I would recommend Sunday because there's technically no wake allowed which would make it easier if you're new. The venture outdoor staff (Sam, Noah, Nolan, and Kendall - I wrote it down!) were helpful, friendly and professional. They gave us everything we needed to know for an enjoyable 1-hour paddle, which was pretty reasonable in cost. They're also very flexible on time, and don't start your time until you're in the. Note, there are no bathrooms but they pointed us towards the Carnegie science center which is less than 5 minutes of an easy walk with nice public restrooms.

Motivated to share the review since the only other review is an insane 2-star review. This is one the best ways to experience this underrated, gorgeous city! The reservation system is really easy and the staff are friendly. They set you up with a nice boat (I had an Eddyline Sandpiper, an expensive model), a lifejacket, and paddle. All the gear is clean and high quality. They make it so easy: they sit you in the boat and push you out into the water. If you've never kayaked before, getting in and out of the boat is the hardest part imho, so by pushing you out, they make it really easy. I'm an experienced kayaker, and I own my own boat, but it's so easy to just come here and have an amazing day out by the Point. The Allegheny River is especially beautiful. So far on the days I've done this, the boat traffic was minimal, and the water placid. You should plan ahead little bit for parking. I parallel parked on North Shore Dr. There are also lots of paid lots in the area. On game days it is probably a little tight down there. To sum up, this service is awesome, and if you're coming to Pittsburgh, you should consider this as a way to see the city.

I had a frustrating experience with Venture Outdoors. Their downtown location was incredibly hard to locate, and their lack of available staff made it impossible to reach them through phone or social media. Even though their photos depict a stunning environment, it isn't worth it. I advise against booking online with them, because you will have an impossible time trying to find parking downtown and will have to search for a while to even find the place. We eventually chose a different company and were relieved we did.