University of Washington Waterfront Activities Center (WAC)

This is one of my favorite places to kayak in Seattle. Once you get on the water, you can go into and along the Union Bay Natural Area where a variety of birds and turtles hang out. Further along, you can gaze into the backyards of Seattle’s wealthy residents. It’s very chill, especially compared to kayaking on Lake Union. It’s easily accessible from the UW link station. The kayak rentals are relatively affordable and locker rentals very cheap. Staff are friendly, fast, and effective. Avoid potential lines (and sunburn) by arriving early in the morning.

Fantastic place to rent kayaks and canoes and see wildlife. A wonderful day for under $20 Paid parking next to stadium. Lockers available for $2.

Great access for students to the great outdoors in our backyard! Rentals are pretty affordable or free, the staff is really knowledgeable about everything, the gear itself is in good condition, and it’s not a bad walk from campus. Plus, the views of Lake Washington from here are epic.

This stretch of seashore exceeded all my expectations. You can walk on a metal broadwalk for a while along the water where people boat and fish next to a marsh. So so cute!

It was pretty fun but also pretty pricy if you are not an UW student

This was almost perfect. The staff is super nice, the cost was reasonable. One concern was that no one asked if we knew how, and while I did know how, there was an issue specific to the kind of kayak that I would like to have been aware of. Lots of birds and some turtles, and you can see that the environment is being maintained so that the native plants thrive.

The scene is amazing, the staff helped me holding the kayak is also amazing! The wait time was long. It was against the wave when rowing back, so took arrived late and paid extra. Plan for those things to save time and money.

I had a great time kayaking in a tandem (double) kayak with my friend who was visiting from out of town. We arrived just after they opened on a summer Sunday morning, and did not have to wait long for a kayak. The service was friendly, and though it wasn't possible to kayak through the arboretum due to bridge maintenance, we went through the nature preserve and had a lot of fun navigating around some fallen branches & logs to the quiet creek beyond. We saw so many adorable baby ducklings, frogs, turtles, and a heron posed for us for ages.

We rented 2 canoes from here and it was a great experience! Checking in was quick and there was no time limit when we went (this may be different if a busier time, but they told us to return when we were ready and to pay for the time you are gone). Lake Washington was a great place to paddle and the staff were very helpful. They help you get in/out of your canoe at the dock. There was a very accessible parking lot that you pay per hour for. Great experience!

A very nice area to explore while on the lake. Also a very nice place to simply relax. These random events I'm slowly finding about has made this area a gem on the water.

You still have to pay for parking per hour once you get to the Husky stadium lot. Upstairs area with glass doors that open up to Lake Washington. You can see people canoeing and paddle boarding here. There is a projector screen, tv screens and a basic kitchen. Indoor and outdoor seating area. The chairs were a bit dirty for the outside area. Otherwise, it is a fantastic view and very spacious. Nice party venue.

Fun water rentals for a great price! Lots of cute birds and ducks! My boyfriend and I went here to canoe during our trip to Seattle. The staff was very helpful and there were many boats available for rent that day. They provide you with life jackets as well if you need them. The route is not specified and they just tell you generally which areas are good to go to and which areas you are not allowed to go to. We spent about 1.5 hours on the water just going around to different areas on the lake. There were areas that were covered with lily pads, but for the most part there were clear areas between the lilies to boat through. There were not a ton of boats on the water, which made it seem nice, private, and romantic. But, the best part of the trip was the ducks that were in the water! There were many of them and a few of them would follow our boat around as well. We wish we had brought bread or crackers to feed them, but we didn't know! When we came back to the rental area, the staff was nice and charged us for an hour and a half even though we were out for a little over that. It was $18 for the two of us and a great way to spend an afternoon in Seattle! Would highly recommend this and would go next time with some snacks for the ducks :)

Such a blast! The UW Waterfront Activities Center is the best place to canoe and kayak in the Seattle around. We visited the UW Waterfront Activities Center on a clear day and it was the perfect way to spend time in the outdoors on the water. Located at the University of Washington, there's a parking lot, making it easy and accessible to get to. On a nice day there was a line, which went by fast. For non-UW students or faculty it was only $12 for an hour rental, which is the cheapest in the area. We rented a canoe, which included life vests for my boyfriend and me, and more importantly, our dog was able to come with us! Since we visited on a really nice day, everyone was out on the water, so there were definitely a lot of big waves from the boats. However, the canoe was easy to use and it was a great workout. We wore our swimsuits under our clothes, which I recommend because you'll definitely get wet. We saw a lot of people bring coolers with them in their canoe, so good to know for next time. Great, fun activity with views of the arboretum. Lowest price for renting a canoe or kayak, dog-friendly and accessible to get to!

Canoeing through Union Bay and the UW Arboretum was surreal considering that it was lily pad season and they were all in bloom! Little did we know that in August, Union Bay and especially, the UW Arboretum is covered in blooming lily pads all around and to get up close and personal with them, all ya gotta do is rent a boat of some sort to paddle on over. UW Waterfront made this option available by providing, canoes, kayaks, and row boats to rent, and all for a very great price! We decided to get the canoe for $12/hr (and a locker for $2) and spent about 2 hours exploring the area and enjoying the waterways around. The waters were calm, weather was amazing, and views were spectacular. As I mentioned before, this place had lily pads blanketing the lake, especially once you entered the arboretum and the best part was that you could even paddle through them since there were some paved "lanes" to let you pass. Though the lily pads were the main attraction, there were many animals - geese, ducks, turtles, and more - to see as we went through the different parts of the arboretum and they were quite sociable, often following us as we traveled. Shade is available, especially while you paddle under the highways and trees, but I'd definitely recommend sunscreen and a hat to bring along for full coverage. Though this was a little excursion away from the city, getting there was especially easy since it was only a 5 minute walk from the UW campus, and 3 minutes away from the Lightrail station. I strongly recommend renting from WAC and checking this spot out before the lily pads are no longer blooming or the weather gets too chilly! And so if you're there now in Seattle looking for something out of the ordinary to do, go on over to the UW Waterfront Center for an adventure to remember!

This is a great place to rent a boat if you have several people and/or a dog! I've rented from them a handful of times and haven't ever had any issues. I've been out on the lake here on two of their different boat rental options with two dogs once and one dog another time. As long as you have a dog that isn't bothered by being on a boat this is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon out on the water. The cost to rent boats here is less than anywhere else on any of the lakes around town, though the organization of the check in process is a bit muddled on busy sunny weekends. You have to take a ticket with a number on it and wait in the long line. If you get to the window before your ticket number is up you have to go to the end of the line and wait all over again. They would be wise to revise this system of order but it won't deter anyone from coming back i'm sure.

$10/hr for a canoe rental (public peeps) - UM YES! Discounted for students, staff, etc. Visiting Seattle and found this thing to do. Thought it'd be cool! Great way to experience Seattle in a different light. PARKING: Drive up to the lot right next to the Activities Center, right behind the Husky Stadium. There are signs pointing you in the right direction. Parked in the lot and bought parking on the weekdays. Price wasn't that bad on the weekdays. Free on Sundays and after 12pm on Saturdays. CANOE RENTAL: Walk right up to the window like you know what you're doing! They will ask for an license to hold and waivers to be signed. They'll hand you life jackets (you don't have to wear them if you know how to swim, or you could wear them anyways), a map of where you can/can't go, and paddles. "Point!" There are the canoes, have at it! It was neat to paddle around the bay. Paddling through the lily pads is harder than it looks. Also paddling against the current is such a workout! Fun nonetheless! Good luck steering that canoe ;) Would def recommend for anyone visiting Seattle if you're looking for something to do! Usually no line on the weekdays, I believe. We came on a Wednesday and walked right up - plenty of canoes available. Sounds like it can get packed on the weekends.

A Seattle must! Had so much fun renting a canoe and going out on Union Bay. $12 and hour, includes life vests. They have sunscreen for purchase if you forget to bring your own. If you're visiting, the train lets off right at the waterfront in front of the stadium. A couple minutes of walking if that and you'll be in your canoe and on your way. Don't miss out on such a fun experience.

We went here during Memorial Day weekend and truly enjoyed it with our friends. Parking was easy although thinking it might be a bit more difficult when there is a game going. The rates were affordable and it is nice that they offer rowboats which easily fit a family of four. It was very busy but the staff was friendly at the counter and the dock. The water had some sweet wildlife and fortunately was much easier to row on vs the times we have been out rowing near the ship canal or in Mercer Slough.

I came here with my workgroup and it was so smooth. They are very organized and they accommodated our large group very nicely. I am very impressed. Parking is around five dollars. To canoe for an hour, it's 6 dollars for students, 8 for faculty and 10 for the general public. We had a group of 21 people and it was 80 dollars total for everyone to canoe for around an hour and a half! It was long enough for most of us!

Amazing access to UW's gorgeous waterfront! Just $7/hr. per canoe ($11 non-student), super reasonable. A few highlights while on the water: floating lily gardens, a pair of charming bridges, ducklings, pretty docks...and a stunning view of Husky stadium from Lake Washington. Interested yet? For those who are in for a challenge, row to the 520 ;) See you out on the lake!

For 7.50 and hour (cash or check only) you can get one of two things. One: The perfect date. You're in a boat together, rowing through the marsh as a Heron carefully eyes you, and ducks scurry out of your path. Landing the boat in the Arboretum and setting down for a carefully prepared gourmet picnic and a nice bottle of red wine, Love is in the air... "every sight and every sound" Or... Two: You can do it Julea and Scott style! Boxes of cheap red wine and a whole different trip entirely! It usually begins with a long battle of wills about who's rowing the wrong way, and slowly brakes down into a mad rush to get across the waterway before we're slammed into by an oncoming Yacht... sometimes we mock them... sometimes we don't... that's the art of it. It's time to behave anyway we damn well please! All of a sudden we're ten year olds exploring every nook and cranny, watching giant rodents called Nutria, or seeing if we can sneak up on the odd crane, (we can't). Julea tromping off into the brush to get Cattails and ending up attacked by biting ants as I insist that ants don't bite in Washington State! It's all stupid fun! ... and I was wrong about the ants. I'm usually prattling on about how we should sneak one of those small outboard motors on-board so we can cruise to Kirkland for lunch! Or how next time, we should talk twenty people into coming and buy some Touch Football flags for the boats to play capture the flag with! We could all dress like Pirates, bring super soakers and crash our boats into each other like madmen! Julea just laughs, and the beat goes on.... They're closed November, December and January... so in a way, this is like our Yacht taunts... except it's directed at you.

I got quite the sunburn, but I had SO much fun canoeing... AND we only spent about $9 for those 2 hours of fun! (I'm a UW student so I got the special "current student" pricing, but it's only about a few bucks more per hour if you're not a student and don't qualify for any of the other discounted prices.) Two big things: Bring cash or check. They don't take plastic and you have to go to the stadium, or campus, or U-District for an ATM. It's cheapest for UW students, so make sure to bring your current Husky card... or invite a friend that's got one! ;) Overall it was lots of fun and quite beautiful. We spent some time over in the Windermere area and checked out some pretty sweet houses, yards, and wildlife. We even saw some baby ducks with their momma and a couple turtles! (What? I get excited by nature sightings!) It was a great part of my birthday!

I love Seattle! Where I'm from, it's not so easy doing water activities like canoeing. Why? I'd have to drive far to get to a lake, and the rental fees would make me wish I didn't drive so far to spend so much $. We did get lost several times trying to get here, with the help of a GPS. I think you're better off following the posted signs. You have to drive through this campus to get to the rental site. Go on a Saturday afternoon/evening so you don't have to pay for parking. What attracted me to UW Waterfront was the price. I'm from CA, so to spend $10 for an hour of canoeing was well worth it. My friends and I actually wanted to rent the row boat, so we can fit all 4 of us in one boat, but since all 5 of UW's row boats were taken, and who knows how long they would be gone, we took the canoe instead. The lake was spacious and beautiful. What was scary though were the bigger boats that went by because the water got rough to the point where I thought we would tip over. We did see a big boat with a bunch of girls partying go by, and lets just say, one of the girls was almost nude. Think.... Lil' Kim and the pasties! The lake is so big, we stayed away from traffic and floated around the calm waters with other boats that were missing an engine. Did I mention this was my first time canoeing?

It's $10/hr on the weekday and $12/hr on the weekend for the general public. Price includes paddle and life vest. I rented a canoe and there were three people total. I would suggest making sure everything u bring on the canoe, you are ok with getting wet if your canoe happens to tip over. I stayed away from the motor boat traffic going through the Montlake cut so my canoe didn't tip over. There is still plenty of lily pads and ducks to see on the left side of the bay. The weather was in the upper 80's on the day that I went so I would suggest wearing sunscreen, bring a hat, water bottle, and some sunglasses. There hours right now are 10:00am- 7:30pm on weekday and 9:00am - 7:30pm on the weekend. I went around 2:00pm on a weekday and the line was really long but moved pretty fast. Would suggest going really early in the morning or around 6:30-7 pm.

Cheapest canoe rental ever! especially with a U-dub ID ($5/hr) when we got to the rental booth, the girl saw us and pretty much played with ehr nails for like 20 more seconds and then decided to start to help us. Terrible service.. at least show the first timers what to do and where not to go. no 2 minute lesson on how to paddle effectively, no walking us to the canoe, no telling us if we were allowed to flip over a canoe to place into the water and no helping us get in. she did however tell us not to go to the right side, so what do we do? we go to our left just to get yelled at by the row boat coach other than that it was not too bad, saw some birds and had zig zagging canoe action

This place gets crowded! We came here at 2pm on a Saturday and the lines for everything were ridiculously long. So we went to Pikes Place and had an early Happy Hour dinner, and then came back at 7pm, about 1.5 hours before closing. When we went there, there were maybe only 3 other boats being rented. It was a sunny day so it was still beautiful outside, and we didn't have to deal with crowds! The price was cheap for 4 of us to split a rowboat too so it was a fun little adventure! The water is kind of yucky when you look into it, so be careful when moving around in the boat! Our friend almost fell in the water when getting in it from the dock, so also put your mobile devices/wallet in the lockers they provide or in your car. Last tip, parking is free certain days/times so plan for that too.

The WAC is one of my favorite places to hang out when it's nice and sunny in the Emerald City. If you're a faculty/staff member of the UW, it's only $7 an hour to rent a canoe which is a great deal. Don't worry if you don't attend or work at the UW because rental prices are still under $10. There are a lot of fun things to sight see around the lake such as the arboretum, ducks, and the abandon freeway which is a fun place to take photos with friends. Its also fun to pack a picnic lunch to bring along.

Was a fun activity to enjoy with the kids. Parking is free after (noon) on The weekends. Rentals are first come first serve; So expect a wait. General Public $10. Hr -$12. Hr They provide life jackets but you can bring your own & they check to see if it's USG approved.

My girlfriend and I had so much fun canoeing! We explored the waterfront, canoed under 2 small bridges, and saw beautiful views of nature and water lilies. Unfortunately, we aren't UW students but they do offer a discount to UW students. However, the price is still very affordable! Highly recommend if you're interested in going out in the water in Seattle!

Oh my goodness, we had so much fun here! I don't know how we found out about the canoe rental, but I'm so glad we did! Turtles? Check. Blue heron? Check. BALD EAGLE? Check. Refreshing + relaxing day on the water for $12/hour? Double check. While I don't expect this was a tourist trap kind of experience, it was so wonderful that I didn't even care. I truly enjoyed my time out on the water and would love to do it again!

I heard about this place from my hair dresser and I thought we should check it out while my mom was in town. I think this will move to the top of the list for things to do with visitors!! It is really easy to find, parking is easy (and free on Sundays and after 12pm on Saturday), and lots of fun! You get a canoe rental, life jackets and paddles for $12 an hour. We were gone an hour and a half and they charged us for the half hour. Sweet! We paddled over to the arboretum and got out and walked around a bit. Lots of nature but also Urban! We might try sailing with the yacht club next time!

I really like the UW WAC. Not only is it a great place to rent canoes but it also is an okay venue to host student events. A couple of my student organizations had a dinner there. It is super cheap to rent out and the view and location make for a really great event. Parking is somewhat of a hassle. In terms of canoeing, I know of no other place in Seattle with great, cheap canoe rentals and going around gives you a completely different perspective of the arboretum area. The boats are scary as you're making the first cross toward the arboretum so be prepared to book it.

This is such a great place to spend a sunny weekend without breaking the bank. I've gone kayaking a couple of different times in Seattle on Groupon deals, but nowadays, those deals don't seem to be running too often. At UW though, you can rent out a canoe or rowboat for $12 an hour! Not bad at all, especially considering that you can fit 3-4 people in each boat. Additionally, when we went last Saturday around 4pm, parking was free. We had a fun time on the water and the hour went by very fast. We look forward to coming back on another sunny weekend.

5 STARS! and no, not just because I am a retired WAC attendant aka WACCO. Even though I worked here for two years I can vouch for the idyllic appeal of canoeing at the good ole' WAC. Cheapest entertainment you can find in Seattle. $4/hr/boat for students, $5.50 faculty staff, $7 for alumni assc. card holders, $7.50 for the general public. That's cheaper than a movie kids AND you get to play outside. Parking is not free except for Saturday after noon and all day Sunday. Mon-Fri and Sat before 12 it is park at your own risk, meaning, get a permit or else you'll be fined $30 or more. NO KAYAKS, CANOES and ROWBOATS ONLY! If you want a kayak, I suggest Agua Verde but don't come asking for one here. No motorboats, jetski's or sailboats for that matter either. Rent a canoe if you want an easy paddle, faster ride and element of danger of tipping by passing boats (which is rare). Rent a rowboat if you want a romantic workout through the lilypads but only if you know what a rowboat is (flat on one end, not like a canoe). The arboretum is beautiful in late Spring and all summer, come on a sunny day, bring a picnic, and expect to see sunning turtles, herons, voracious ducks galore, drunken frat boys tipping boats left and right (losing their ipods and cell phones while they're at it) and if you're lucky (or not so lucky) the legendary Mad Whacker or other au naturel characters that frequent Foster Island...

Great rentals...fair prices....beautiful location. You would never think that beneath and off the 520 bridge, you would find such beautiful scenery and wildlife. Go!!! Avoid lines on sunny days by going super early or later. Otherwise, you can wait for an hour plus.

Located in the back of Husky Stadium. Great place to go boating on Lake Washington. Rent a canoe and explore the nearby sites & nature. Discount for people with Husky cards.

Wanting to do a little outdoor adventure during out weekend, we opted to rent a canoe and explore the lakeside. This place was perfect. We went on a Sunday around 3pm and had no problem getting a canoe. They checked our id's, gave us some paddles, and we were out on the water in about 5 minutes. Unfortunately due to the construction of the new bridge, both close entrances to the arboretum were closed. So we turned left out of the dock and headed along the shore that way. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and very peaceful. We got to see a bunch of baby ducklings swimming around. PLUS! Once I noticed there were ripe blackberries along the shoreline I started carefully maneuvering my canoe to get to all of them that I could get my hands on.

If you are in Seattle, you MUST MUST go canoe-ing here. HIGHLY recommend and hands down my favorite activity when we visited. We came on a Sunday so parking was FREE! I believe it was something like $10/hr to rent a canoe for non-students. You get to paddle around the gorgeous lake and although the arboretum was closed when we went in August, the lake itself was still stunning. You get to paddle through areas covered with lily pads -- they're really very pretty. You can also see a snowcapped mountain in the distance, I think it's Mt. Rainier, but not sure. Anyway, it's breathtaking and really nice to just paddle around the lake and admire the beautiful scenery.

THE WAC! The WAC is a great place to go canoeing in the summer and the views are awesome. If you're a student the rates are: $6/boat/hr for the weekdays $8/boat/hr for the weekends Compared with Kayaking at Agua Verde (more than $20/hour) this is a steal Just know right now with all the 520 construction, most of the arboretum is closed :(

If you know someone who attends UW, make sure you tell them to bring you here! We went canoeing and it was so much fun! And, it's very cheap. The worker said "$5" and I thought it was $5 each person, but NO, it was $5 for the canoe (there were three of us, therefore, it was only about $1.67 for each person). The worker provided a map of where we could go and can't go. You do get to see some wild life, and the serene scenery made the entire ride very calming.

I LOVE the UW Waterfront Activities Center. It's a great way to get a fun, outdoor workout in the summer. Their rates for canoeing are unbeatable here in Seattle. You can canoe near the Washington Arboretum, further out into Lake Washington, or see the Husky Stadium from a different perspective. It's also great for bird-watching out here! As of 10/15, here were their rates per hour during the weekend and on weekends. UW Students $6.00/hour $8.00/hour UW Faculty/Staff $8.00/hour $10.00/hour UW Alumni Association $9.50/hour $11.50/hour General Public $10.00/hour $12.00/hour

Occasionally, in my life, I find myself with a whole day to do whatever I want with. No obligations, no worries. Even more occasionally, my good buddy Scott is having one of those days at the same time. It's like the planets align, and poof! The perfect day. On this day, you can usually find me & Scott sitting in a canoe paddling in circles somewhere near the freeway, laughing our asses off and drinking a box of wine. I had my first fishing trip on one of those days. Never mind the gale force winds and rain, never mind the seaweed, never mind no fish whatsoever. It was a fun day! *warning* If you think it's a good idea to pull over into one of the Cat Tail swamp areas and pick one to smash over your friends head, look down to make sure you're not standing in a red ant pile. According to Scott they don't bite. But according to my leg, they do. They also like box wine. **NOTE** The R.O.U.S.'s that hang out on the shoreline and look sort of like a muskrat are called Nutria, and they are giant rats. So if you think it's a good idea to pull over to the side to admire how "cute" they are for the better part of an hour, be sure to notice their RED teeth and very rat-like tail. By the way, they don't eat strawberries no matter how many you throw at them.

With our one month of summer now imminent, I am looking forward to some canoeing on the lake! There's a large parking lot for use, but it fills up quickly on the weekends--which is when I tend to go--and the hours vary on the season, so be sure to check the schedule. When possible, try to get there early, especially if you're somewhat of a clod like I am in a canoe. There are a lot of staff there to help you get checked in and situated. They outfit you with a life jacket, the canoe and oars (but bring water and sunblock on those blistering 70 degree Seattle days) they point you to your canoe, and you're off! A special note, they don't mind that I bring my dog canoeing with me ^_^ She has her own lifejacket and after about a half an hour of us getting into a smooth rowing groove, she is fine to stand and people-watch. Thankfully, she has never fallen in, because I am not sure how I would lug a 78 pound dog back into the canoe. I guess I could just tie a rope to the lifejacket and row her back in lol (I know she would love it, but I'm knocking on wood over here.) There isn't a route, so go at your own pace and wander around the lake and take in the views. There are a lot of kayakers who are *much* faster than us, so be careful in the narrow areas. There's a lot of lily pads too, so be prepared to get tied up in your underwear for a bit. All in all, a fun thing to do for $11/hr on the weekends! UW students get a discount too!

Yes, I know, 5 stars might seem a little excessive, but I'm feeling generous. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it was a beautiful, hot summer day, and paddling in a canoe on Lake Union was the Best. Idea. Ever. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the staff just assumed we were UW students and charged us as much. Maybe it has something to do with how many cool little bridges and inlets there are around the arboretum that I never knew about till I paddled through them. Maybe it has something to do with the great landing shore we found (among many) to park our canoe and take a dip into the lake. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I didn't pay for parking (for FIVE HOURS) and no one ticketed me. Maybe it has something to do with that cooler of beer that we brought with us... So, ya, maybe that's why this UW-WAC experience deserves 5 stars.

Great kayaking experience! We got there on a sunny Saturday at around 10:30AM, and there was already a good amount of people in line waiting to rent. The line moved very quickly the the staff was super nice and friendly. We rented a two person kayak for $12 and hour which is a deal you can't beat. We went around the lake and it was just a great experience. Will definitely go back again. Parking was also super easy and convenient since there is a parking lot.

Great place to go canoeing!!! Students $5/hour weekdays $7/hour weekends Alumni $8.50/hour weekday $10.50/hour weekends General public $9/hour weekdays $11/hour weekends There are other places in seattle to do such things but they charge ridiculous prices such as Agua Verde charging 25$ and hour! Student or not this is a great cheap place to go paddling with your friends for a low low price! You pay per boat not person last time i went there I think thats still the case! The service is a hit an miss... but its ran by students and its cheap what do you expect? TIP: !!! do NOT bring your electronic devices with you!! It might be common sense but you'd be surprised how many people bring their phones only to have the person in front of them paddle water on them! If you do bring electronics but them in a ziplock bag.

Almost had a great experience here. Came with a group of 12 and we were told that there was only four canoes left but the rest of our party could "float along" (with the Rafts we had brought). We agreed and paid for the four canoes (with the expectation that all of our party could be accommodated) Then we're told at the water that we're not allowed to float with the canoes. At the water we had a long conversation about what we would do and ultimately decided it wasn't going to be fun or fair to leave two friends behind. My friend went back to the front desk to ask for a refund and was denied both a refund and a canoe. I understand they were overwhelmed with the crowd due to the holiday but this was unacceptable.

OOOOOooooOOOO! I love this place....esp since I had friends at UW. You can row out to the arboretum, or just hang out under the 520 bridge. Be warned, though. Do not bring your cell phones out on the boat - no matter how good you think you are at rowing/staying balanced.

This is a great resource for a little on the water fun. Its close to me so I can walk and avoid paying for parking. The rental price is good. The customer service was good. It was definitely an experience to canoe under the overpasses and to get chased by ducks! Saw a few herons too, they were pretty awesome to watch. This isn't the best canoeing you'll ever experience but its fun and I'm glad its available to me. In the future I'll probably explore other canoeing options, but would still probably visit in the future to bring someone who hasn't been yet.

Earlier this weekend we tried to rent a canoe, but at 3pm on a sunny ass weekend we were number 193 while they were now only serving number 170... Oi vay! Anyhow, we packed it in for another day and decided to head to our favorite little bar that does free pool on Sundays and toss down a few Tanqueray and tonics. Well, I am glad to say that I finally got to canoe the arboretum today and had an absolute blast. At $7.50 an hour it is totally affordable and worth the hassle of parking and traffic to get there. We were out for just about an hour and I'm amazed just how beautiful it is. Not too mention its kind of cool to canoe under Highway 520!

Super crowded with students on the weekends, even in the summer. Plan to wait 40 minutes plus after you pull a number for a canoe on a weekend day. The staff are students and they really don't give a rats ass if you come back or not - so don't plan on a lot of one on one customer service. I saw the rushed staff fail to assist a couple into a canoe on a busy day and they rolled it into the drink right there at the dock - emerging will all their stuff soaked - they got a "sorry" and it was back to stuffing bro's into boats. If you have no experience ask for help and don't let the staff rush you - wear a swimsuit - waterproof your gear and gadgets or leave them at home. I recommend a pro staff at a commercial rental spot - they at least will act like they appreciate your business and make sure sure no one gets dunked that doesn't plan on it.

Rent a canoe, drink some beer, dive off a bridge. One of my favorite things to do in Seattle in the summer.

Canoeing seemed like a good idea on Saturday, the first truly warm and sunny Saturday of the summer. Having had experience with kayaking at Agua Verde down the road, I was prepared to wait a while before setting sail. However, within 4 minutes of walking up to the window we were the proud renters of our very own Tippy Canoe and were paddling out into the wild blue yonder. It's just a short ten-minute journey to the Arboretum, and although it's a bit sketchy to do the limbo under the 520 bridge, it's totally worth it. You get to see lots of wild animals. We spotted ducks, geese, all kinds of birds, and six or seven turtles hanging out on a log. If you're lucky, you might get to see the elusive species known as the Frat Boy Overpass Jumpers. I hear they normally only come out at night, but we happened to spot five of them. Five! Going back is a little tougher since you're going against the current, but it's a great arm workout. And when you finally dock back at the boat launch, they'll help you out of your canoe so you don't drown. Or maybe they just did that for me since I'm still an invalid. Grand total for the day's activities: $8.15. *whistles* Pretty steep, I know. And it's even less if you're a UW student. (Personally I'd rather pay a couple grand than have that title, but to each his own.)

Rented a canoe for 1.5 hour for $20. A little pricy for non students but still would go back. Highly recommended!!

This place gets 5 stars all day long. This is one of my favorite outdoor activities in the city. Although they do not rent kayaks, they're canoe rentals are less than 1/2 of what you'd pay to rent a kayak at other places around the cut and on Lake Union (I've tried them all). I suggest packing a picnic lunch and parking your canoe on Foster island for lunch. My daughter insists that you bring at least 1 loaf of bread to feed to the baby ducks and goslings :-) TIP: Get there early on weekends (prior to 11 a.m.), otherwise, you'll have to take a number and wait for boats as they're returned.

I really liked the people who helped us at the counter, but after that . . . ugh. The guy was a jerk. I get scared getting in and out of boats. I asked for help, but didn't get any. When I mistakenly said "do I steer in the front?" he acted as if I was dumb for not knowing that's the back. Unlike the Aqua Verde rental, there was no guidance or help. I'd only done a kayak before, so the canoe was new to me, but who designed it?? Metal which reflects sun (badly burned the entire back of my legs), and the shape makes it conducive for capsizing. Lovely. When we got back, the girl was nice and put the boat away. Which brings me to my next point--they expect you to put the boat in and out of the water. We're newbies, so this wasn't good for us. Another bad part was parking. You have to get a permit at Gate 8 and it's pricey. The price of the rental was great, but the parking made the price not as cool. Lots of people had tickets because it was hard to know where you could park. I do not recommend the canoes for anyone, but I recommend trying other boats for UW students (nice and cheap) who are above novice level for boating. Otherwise, I think you can get a better experience at the Aqua Verde place.

Keep away from the geese. I'm serious. UW WAC (yes, fitting) is a great place to go when the weather is nice and you want to take a scenic, albeit possibly slightly sweaty (depending on who is rowing) trip through some of the marshes and inlets surrounding UW. It's a great deal no matter if you're a student or a bum, considering it's around $10 an hour max for a canoe that seats four. Granted, most people are enjoying their summers at home, but this is a great activity for Seattlelites in general. The surrounding wetlands have an awesome array of wildlife, especially during breeding season. Which is when you should stay away from the geese. The distances may seem vast when you first set out, seemingly a Lewis and Clark escapade that might find you still powering for shore by dark. Nope, you can get pretty far in just an hour or so (please remember that you still have to paddle back). The distance you can cover depends on your rowing style. Many a time, it is much more preferable to hitch together a couple of canoes, and have a grand 'ole time floating around on the lake. Other times, it's fun to paddle the entire time, taking in the different areas you can reach. The canoes are functional, and you're provided with a paddle and life jacket each. I'd recommend bringing some food, and possibly some liquid enjoyment, depending on the mood and the weather. You can always choose to row somewhere and disembark, which makes for a great picnic option. Be aware that the WAC is quite wack in that it doesn't accept credit cards, but given the almost non-existent profit margin they must run, it makes sense. Bring enough cash for the boats, and bring a UW student if you can lasso one, for an extra discount. The WAC activities are a great choice for those summer days when you want to get out on the water and have a quiet (depending on how much you drink) and scenic time.