Hackensack Riverkeeper Paddling Center

Interesting area — good to see that wildlife and water activities are making a comeback.
Price is right for kayaking. Guided tour is 3 hours long — depending on marine conditions the paddle can be difficult for the inexperienced paddler. An earlier poster mentioned that there is no accommodation for kayakers with different skill levels during the guided tour — that is absolutely true. You will be required to keep up with the group. If you can’t keep up you may be encouraged to return to the dock. If you are a novice paddler skip the guided tour, instead bring a friend with kayaking experience and go on a calm weather day during a slack tide and you will have a good time.

$ 25 per person for the whole day is a very good deal! For $ 30 and an advance reservation you can get a guided tour for 2.5 hours to use as a warmer-​upper. The water was very calm when I went last week so it was very pleasant. I went again today at a location in Bayonne and the water of Newark Bay was much choppier so of course it took a lot of extra effort. One note: the tour guide is fussy about keeping the group together which can be difficult if the group has kayakers of different skill levels. Try to go with just a friend if you can.

Not only is Hackensack Riverkeeper the closest place to NYC to kayak but it’s also the cheapest place within at least 1 ½ hours to kayak. The Hackensack Riverkeeper paddling center is by the Laurel Hill County Park, a quick 1 mile walk from the Secaucus Junction train station (one stop on the NJ transit from Penn Station).
My only piece of advice is to call ahead and ask for the water conditions. The day I went the water was extremely choppy and hard to get anywhere. Luckily there was a maze of waterways around a marsh area with calm water that you could paddle through instead of going down the river. This is a very cool place to go on a nice day and go outdoors for a little exercise and outdoor activity without having to travel far or pay much (think it was like $ 20 to go out as long as you want and they give you the kayak/​paddle/​waterproof bag/​map/​safety whistle/​life jacket)