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Custom Outings & Boat Delivery
Charles River Canoe & Kayak is happy to work with you to create the perfect outing for your group. The possibilities are endless — canoes or kayaks; at our rental centers or a location of your choosing; guided trips or on your own; top-notch catering and expert instruction; we can do it all.
For more information on creating the perfect custom event for your group, browse the ideas described below. We're sure you'll find the ideal outing!
To start planning your outing, try our Instant Quote form, or contact us by phone at (617) 965-5110 [M-F, 10am–5pm] or by e-mail for more information.
Reservations Are Required
for All Group Rentals
Rent-and-Go at our Five Rental Locations
In our most basic outing type, your group rents boats with no guiding or instruction at one of our five rental locations (Boston, Cambridge, Newton (Comm Ave.), Nahanton Park (Newton), and Natick). Just show up and get on the water!
Groups love double kayaks, both for adults and kids!
Our trained dock staff will give you a basic dryland paddling orientation at no additional charge.
You can choose from any of our available rental boat types, though the favorites are kayaks (single and double) or canoes (standard and Tripper XL).
Most groups spend one to two hours on the water. If you plan to stop along the way (for a snack at the Esplanade, for example), add extra time.
For a new and different experience, try our One-Way Rentals between Kendall Square and Allston/Brighton — an unforgettable event for sure!
Guided Outings at our Five Rental Locations
Some groups may not want to venture out on their own. Others may want to learn about the history and wildlife of the area, or build their paddling skills. If so, a guide and instructor is just what you need!
All our guides are also instructors, and they can help your group members with boat control and paddling efficiency. They're sure to enhance your experience on the water. Learn about our group rates for guiding!
Catering and Picnicking During Your Outing
Groups can picnic right at our location!
You can choose to augment any paddling trip with food, either before, during, or after your time on the water. Each of our locations has a picnic area with a water view (see detailed information about each location's facilities: Boston, Cambridge, Newton (Comm Ave.), Nahanton Park (Newton), or Natick).
You may bring your own food or have your event catered, and we are happy to arrange catering for a fee. Learn more about catering with us, or consider one of our pre-planned tours that includes food (listed below)!
Groups love the combination of paddling and food, so talk to us about the many tasty options!
Our Favorite Guided Tours for Group Outings
We've been combining tours of the Charles River with great food for years, and three of those tours have become favorites for group outings! Consider one of these tours for your group and see why everyone loves them.
Our Barbeque Tour is our all-time favorite group event. Spend about 90 minutes on the water and come back to a glorious barbeque picnic catered by Redbones of Somerville. The Barbeque Tour can be held at any of our locations.
From our Cambridge location in Kendall Square, we offer our spectacular Skyline Tour. Enjoy about 90 minutes on the water basking
Paddlers will see exciting landmarks like the Museum of Science.
in the best skyline view in Boston and exploring the lagoons of the Esplanade. You can opt for light snacks on the water or a full meal to finish the tour!
Also from our Cambridge location, we offer a unique Harbor Tour that combines amazing skyline views with the excitement of venturing onto Boston Harbor! During this three-hour tour, see the Esplanade, Museum of Science, Zakim Bridge, and U.S.S. Constitution. As with the Skyline Tour, choose between light snacks on the water or a full meal to finish the tour.
  
Group Outings away from our Rental Locations
If your group wants to explore areas other than our rental centers, we can create customized outings to any location! There are many great destinations in eastern Massachusetts; see some of our favorites below.
We will deliver canoes and kayaks according to our boat delivery rates, and can provide guiding/instruction at our group instruction rates. Groups looking to paddle on the ocean should consult our custom sea kayaking trip rates.
Upper Charles River: There are several wonderful trips on the Upper Charles River. Between Rt. 109 in Millis/Medfield and Rt. 27
Our Ten-Person Rabaska Canoes are great fun for groups!
in Medfield/Sherborn (5 miles), the river winds extensively and has a wide, marshy flood plain. Before Rt. 27 you will pass the hidden entrance to South End Pond.
Continuing beyond Rt. 27, you'll reach Pleasant St./South Natick Dam (5 miles). In this stretch, the river is much straighter and passes through conservation land, including Rocky Narrows Reservation and Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. You'll see some exciting rocky outcrops, like Rocky Narrows and King Philip's Overlook.
We also like the 5-mile stretch between Elm Bank Reservation (South Natick) and Red Wing Bay (Needham). This stretch of river has more houses along the shore, but winds past some interesting marshy areas with lots of wildlife.
Sudbury/Concord River: The Sudbury and Concord Rivers pass through the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and encompass the longest stretch of flatwater in Massachusetts. In general, the river in this area has a wide floodplain surrounded by marshy areas and lots of wildlife. Possible put-ins/take-outs include Sherman's Bridge Road (Wayland/Sudbury), Rt. 117 (Lincoln), Lowell Road (Concord), and Rt. 225 (Bedford).
Group Outings on the Ocean
There's nothing like the experience of paddling on the ocean! Ocean trips are great for smaller groups (10 or fewer participants) who are looking for a unique and exciting outing. There are many possible locations, and our favorites for beginners are Cohasset Harbor, Marblehead Harbor, and Hingham Harbor because they are protected from weather but beautiful to paddle.
For pricing information, see our custom sea kayaking trip rates!
Boat Delivery Rates
Charles River Canoe & Kayak can deliver boats to any location. The rates listed below are per load,
Our Ten-Person Rabaska Canoes are great fun for groups!
include both delivery and pick-up, and are based on distance from Charles River Canoe & Kayak in Newton. Boat rental is additional. We can carry up to 14 canoes or 28 kayaks per load.
We are happy to provide a trained staffperson to assist with people entering and exiting the boats, as well as provide a dry-land orientation, for $25 per hour.
  • 1-5 miles $50
  • 5-9 miles $75
  • 10-14 miles $95
  • 15-19 miles $115
  • 20-24 miles $130
  • 25-29 miles $145
  • 30 miles $160
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    Example Locations:
  • Auburndale Cove $50
  • Lake Cochituate $65
  • Walden Pond $75
  • Charles River at South Natick $75
  • Sudbury River $75
  • Charles River at Route 109/27 $95
  • Over 30 miles: $160 plus $3 per additional mile
    • Payment & Cancellation Policy
    Pre-payment is required for Peak-Hour reservations (reservation fee plus one hour of rental), custom sea kayak trips, food orders, boat deliveries, and guides/instructors. A deposit of $50 is required for on-site rentals of 20 or more boats during non-peak hours; on-site rentals of fewer than 20 boats during non-peak hours do not require any pre-payment.
  • Reservations cancelled by the following deadlines receive either a refund of the deposit less a 10% registration fee, or a full credit to a store account. This credit does not expire and may be used for instruction, rentals, or purchases at Charles River Canoe & Kayak or Weston Ski Track.
  • Prepaid Group Reservations and Private Instruction at our locations must be cancelled by 5pm the night before the event (except custom trips, deliveries, and catering orders). Cancellations due to weather must be made at least 2 hours before the event.
  • Off-Site Guiding/Instruction must be cancelled at least 7 days before the event. Cancellations due to weather must be made by 5pm the night before the event.
  • Boat Deliveries must be cancelled 24 hours prior to the event. Cancellations due to weather must be made by 5pm the night before the event.
  • Catering Orders must be cancelled at least 7 days before the event.
  • For all cancellations made after these deadlines, no refunds or credits will be issued.
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        Charles River Canoe & Kayak
    2401 Commonwealth Avenue
    Newton, Massachusetts 02466
    (617) 965-5110    		 Paddling Store
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