Free Canoeing on the Gowanus Canal

Hop into a Gowanus Dredgers canoe and paddle at your own pace inside the protected Gowanus Canal. Enjoy discovering the canal’s unique mix of wildlife and urban waterway infrastructure, practice your paddling skills, or take a guided audio tour and learn more about the history, cleanup and revitalization of our favorite urban waterway.

We'll outfit you with a life jacket (which must be worn at all times) and paddle, offer some basic instruction on how to paddle and safety tips on how to use a canoe, and help you set off on your own self-guided journey. Trips may be limited to 20 minutes if there’s a crowd — but usually we just expect you to return to the dock 15 min. prior to closing.

Who can participate? Paddling is for everyone! Free walk-up canoeing is open to all ages. Groups, families, solo paddlers, and intrepid first dates are all welcome! Minors require a guardian's signature to participate, and all participants must sign a waiver

What should I wear? Dress for the weather: wear sunscreen, hats, and bring a water bottle — and bring layers if there's a breeze! Close-toed shoes are recommended, and wear clothing you don’t mind potentially being splashed.

Can I volunteer? Yes! Select a "Volunteer" ticket at check-out. All walk-up paddle events are 4 hours long. We have two volunteer shifts per scheduled event. The first runs from 30-minutes before the start of the program through the first two hours. The second shift begins at the middle of the program through 30 minutes after the end of the scheduled time.

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Host or Publisher Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club