You can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, swan pedal boats and water bikes on Lake Woodlands and The Woodlands Waterway. The Woodlands Township runs the rentals from three spots in Town Center: Riva Row Boat House on the lower Waterway, Lakes Edge Boat House at Hughes Landing, and Swans at the Mall. Riva Row, the main boat house, opened in 2009 and is a short walk from Town Green Park, Market Street and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
What you can rent
Kayaks
Sit-on-top single and tandem kayaks. A single kayak holds one paddler, or an adult with a small child. A tandem holds two paddlers, or two adults with a small child. A child riding along as an extra passenger has to be under 42 inches tall. Dogs ride free in the standard kayaks; if yours won’t sit in your lap, get a tandem so it has its own seat.
Stand-up paddleboards
One rider, up to 220 pounds. Boards suit a wide range of skill levels, but there’s no place to stow a bag.
Swan pedal boats
Two to four seats, 700 pounds total. From Riva Row the swans pedal along the Upper Waterway past Town Green Park to the edge of Lake Robbins and back. They’re the only watercraft allowed on that upper stretch. Swans at the Mall runs shorter 30-minute rides from the Turning Basin by The Woodlands Mall.
Water bikes
Pedal-powered bikes that float, for one rider up to 325 pounds. Riders need a leg length of at least 30 inches to reach the pedals. Riva Row and Lakes Edge both rent them. Wear fitted clothes on water bikes and swan boats, since loose clothing can catch in the pedals.
Prices
First-hour prices as of November 2026. Check the boat house website before you go.
| Rental | Price |
|---|---|
| Single kayak | $25 |
| Tandem kayak | $30 |
| Stand-up paddleboard | $25 |
| Water bike | $25 |
| Swan boat, Riva Row | $40 |
| Swan boat, Swans at the Mall (30 minutes) | $25 per swan |
Riva Row and Lakes Edge book in one- or two-hour blocks. Extra time has to be booked ahead; it can’t be added once you’re on the water.
Where to rent
Riva Row Boat House
2101 Riva Row, The Woodlands, TX 77380 · 281-210-3965
The main boat house sits on the lower Waterway across from Town Green Park, below the small dam that splits the Waterway in two. It rents kayaks, paddleboards, swan boats and water bikes. Park free in the Green Lot on Riva Row; the boat house staff may suggest other lots during big events at The Pavilion.
Lakes Edge Boat House
1970 Hughes Landing Blvd., The Woodlands, TX 77380 · 281-210-2065
A kiosk on a deck right on Lake Woodlands at Hughes Landing, open since 2016. From here you’re already on the open lake. It rents kayaks, paddleboards and water bikes. Free parking is in the Hughes Landing garage by Whole Foods.
Swans at the Mall
3421 Mall Ring Rd., The Woodlands, TX 77380 · 281-210-2066
Swan boats only, at the Turning Basin next to The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s. The Township started it in 2022 for shoppers and diners who want a quick ride on the Waterway while they wait for a table.
Before you go
- Every rider signs a liability waiver, every visit. A parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18. You can sign it online before you arrive.
- The person who made the booking leaves a photo ID at check-in until every rental is returned.
- Children under 10 ride with someone over 16. Kids 10 to 15 can take their own kayak, board or water bike if an adult is out on the water with them. Teens 16 and 17 can rent on their own with a parent’s signed waiver.
- Life jackets come in four sizes, from small children to adults, and stay on the whole time. Your own Coast Guard-approved jacket is fine.
- Coolers are OK if they fit in your watercraft. No glass and no alcohol. The boat houses sell water and Gatorade.
- Riva Row has 12 small lockers, so bring a lock. Lakes Edge has no storage.
- Neither boat house has a restroom. Riva Row’s nearest are at the front of Town Green Park; Lakes Edge’s are in the parking garage.
- There’s very little shade on the water. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water, and plan to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.
Where you can paddle
Rented kayaks, paddleboards and water bikes can go anywhere on Lake Woodlands and the lower Waterway. Don’t try to paddle up Panther Branch at the north end of the lake, and don’t carry your kayak or board out of the water to get somewhere else. Only the swan boats are allowed on the Upper Waterway, and Town Center Rangers enforce it. Fishing is allowed under Texas Parks and Wildlife rules, but not in the upper Waterway or near the docks, and the boat houses don’t rent or sell fishing gear.
For a first trip, one hour can be tight. From Riva Row you paddle the length of the lower Waterway before you reach the open lake, so beginners often book two hours.
Reservations, weather and holidays
You don’t need a reservation, but reservations get first pick, and walk-ups aren’t guaranteed, especially for swan boats. Bookings open months ahead on the boat house website, which also shows live availability. If you’re more than 15 minutes late returning a rental, you pay for another full hour. Cancel seven or more days ahead for a full refund; after that you can reschedule or take a rain check.
Hours follow the seasons and sunset. All three locations close on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and for storms, high winds or flooding. Riva Row opens every day during Conroe ISD’s spring break and summer break.
Bring your own kayak
The Riva Row docks are private. To launch your own kayak or paddleboard, use the public docks at Northshore Park (2505 Lake Woodlands Dr.), Southshore Park (Woodlands Parkway) or The Cove Park (31 Leeward Cove Dr.), all in the Village of Panther Creek.
The Township also rents yearly storage stalls at the Northshore Storage Facility, inside the boat house at Northshore Park: $180 a year for a kayak or canoe stall and $96 for a paddleboard stall, double for nonresidents. The stalls are full right now, but there’s a waitlist.
On the water for the holidays
In November and December the boat houses run evening swan rides along the lit-up Waterway and a guided holiday paddle on Lake Woodlands. Dates and prices are on the boat house events page. For the rest of the season, see Winter in The Woodlands.
More things to do in The Woodlands, the art benches along the Waterway, or read about the water taxis that used to run on the Waterway.