Renting a Kayak, Paddleboard or Raft for the Boise River

Floating the Boise River is free, and anybody can put in at Barber Park with their own equipment, at no cost. Renting a paddle craft — a kayak, a stand-up paddleboard, a canoe or a raft — is a different purchase from renting a tube at the park's own stand. This page covers what you can actually rent in Boise for the 2026 season, who rents it, what it costs, and the rules that apply to a non-tube craft on the 6-mile float from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park.

🧭 The short version

Put-in: Barber Park, 4049 S. Eckert Rd — free with your own craft
Float: 6 miles, 2–3 hours, take out river-left at Ann Morrison Park
Paddleboard rule: a paddleboard is a "vessel" under Idaho law — one life jacket on board per person, and it must be worn by anyone 14 or younger
Prices below are 2026 prices — the 2027 season has not been announced

What You Can Rent in Boise (and From Whom)

Two commercial Boise outfitters rent river craft, and Barber Park's own in-park stand rents tubes, rafts and a two-person inflatable kayak. The confirmed 2026 terms for each are below. Only prices an operator published in 2026 are printed here; where a shop has not published a daily rate, this page says so rather than guess.

Craft Where to rent Confirmed 2026 terms Where you collect it
2-person inflatable kayak Barber Park's in-park stand $50 + tax and deposit; includes 2 paddles and 2 vests Barber Park, 4049 S. Eckert Rd
4-person raft Barber Park's in-park stand $75 + tax and deposit; raft, 2 paddles, 4 vests Barber Park, 4049 S. Eckert Rd
6-person raft Barber Park's in-park stand $85 + tax; raft, 2 paddles, 6 vests Barber Park, 4049 S. Eckert Rd
Raft (up to 6 people) Boise River Outdoor $100 per watercraft for up to 3 hours; includes shuttle, up to 4 paddles, and PFDs for ages 14 and under Meet at 444 Parkcenter Blvd
Stand-up paddleboard or kayak Boise River Outdoor $100 per watercraft for up to 3 hours; includes shuttle, paddle, and PFDs for ages 14 and under Meet at 444 Parkcenter Blvd
Rafts, kayaks, SUPs (fleet) Idaho River Sports Rents on-site and off-site; no daily price published online — call the shop at 208-336-4844 601 N Whitewater Park Blvd, Boise
Pedal boat (lagoon, not the river) Discovery Center of Idaho, at Julia Davis Park Seasonal; Discovery Center members get 20% off. Docked for the year on October 4; expected back May 2027 Julia Davis Park lagoon

On the in-park stand, rafts and kayaks are $10 off on Wednesdays. Vests rent for $10 + tax and paddles for $10 + tax if you need spares. Boise River Outdoor's add-ons are $5 each (5L dry bag, extra paddle, extra PFD, shoes, or a parking space) and a late return runs $40 per hour. Its rental programme assumes you already know how to handle a watercraft in moving current, and it is separate from the same company's guided trips.

Barber Park's own tube stand is where most floaters start, and its tubes are cheaper than any raft or paddle craft — a deluxe tube is $19 + tax and a double deluxe is $45 + tax. If you want a tube rather than a paddle craft, our pricing guide lists the whole stand.

Is a Paddleboard or Kayak Allowed on the Boise River Float?

Yes. A kayak, canoe, raft or stand-up paddleboard may float the 6-mile stretch from Barber Park to Ann Morrison Park. What changes when you bring a paddle craft is the safety rulebook — and it applies to a paddleboard exactly as it does to a kayak:

⚠️ The rules that apply to any vessel

  • A paddleboard is a "vessel" under Idaho law. Everyone on board must have a life jacket, and children 14 and younger must wear one while the vessel is underway.
  • Glass is banned in the park and on the river.
  • The float is float-at-your-own-risk. The river is never deemed completely safe to float.
  • Three Class II rapids sit in the first half of the float — steer actively and keep your craft pointed downstream.

Idaho's life-jacket requirement is written around a "vessel", and the Float the Boise FAQ is explicit that a paddleboard counts as one. A life-jacket loaner station sits at the put-in in Barber Park, and loaners are returned to the kiosk at Ann Morrison Park when you finish. Our life vest guide and river regulations page carry the full detail.

Where You Launch and Take Out

Everybody launches at the same place: the put-in at Barber Park, 4049 S. Eckert Rd. You take out 6 miles downstream, on the river-left side of Ann Morrison Park. With your own craft, the put-in costs nothing.

Barber Park PUT-IN · 4049 S. Eckert Rd free with your own craft Ann Morrison Park TAKE-OUT · river-left 1000 S. Americana Blvd 6 miles · 2–3 hours 3 Class II rapids (first half) Boise River Outdoor Meet at 444 Parkcenter Blvd · shuttle included Idaho River Sports 601 N Whitewater Park Blvd · 208-336-4844
Boise River float at a glance: put-in at Barber Park, take-out at Ann Morrison Park, and the two commercial paddle-craft outfitter addresses used on this page.

Plan two to three hours on the water. The route is beginner-friendly — three Class II rapids are the only whitewater, all in the first half — and the rest is a gentle float past the Greenbelt, wildlife and riverfront parks. Read our complete Boise River floating guide and take-out page before you go.

Getting Your Craft Back if You Ride the Shuttle

Most floaters park at the take-out and ride the seasonal shuttle back to Barber Park, so they only need one vehicle. In 2026 the shuttle costs $5 per person and runs Monday–Friday from noon to 9 p.m., and on weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On the busiest days — Saturdays, Sundays and holidays — the bus leaves Ann Morrison Park about every 20 minutes; on weekdays it leaves hourly, on the hour.

🚌 If you bring your own craft

Ada County's own guidance is clear: if you plan to ride the shuttle from Ann Morrison Park, your vessel has to be deflated so it can load safely onto the bus. That is one reason renters often pick an operator whose rental already includes the shuttle — Boise River Outdoor's $100 rate does. See shuttle details and parking options.

What's Confirmed for 2027

The park itself is open all year, with gates running from 8 a.m. to sunset. What is seasonal is the floating infrastructure — the rental stand, the shuttle and the fee-parking booth only operate when river and weather conditions allow, typically late June through Labor Day.

For reference, the 2026 float season ran from June 20 to Labor Day, September 7, 2026. Ada County Parks & Waterways has not published 2027 float dates or 2027 rental prices, and no outfitter has announced its 2027 rates. Treat every figure on this page as a 2026 figure, and confirm the next season on FloatTheBoise.org before you plan. Questions about the park itself go to Barber Park contacts.

Boise Kayak and Paddleboard Rental FAQ

Can I rent a kayak in Boise?

Yes. Idaho River Sports rents kayaks and SUPs from its shop on Quinn's Pond, Boise River Outdoor rents rafts, kayaks and paddleboards for $100 per watercraft for up to three hours with the shuttle included, and Barber Park's own stand rents a two-person inflatable kayak for $50 + tax.

Do I need a life jacket on a paddleboard?

Yes. Under Idaho law a paddleboard is a vessel, so everyone on board must have a life jacket, and anyone 14 or younger has to wear one while underway. There is a life-jacket loaner station at the Barber Park put-in.

Where do I put in my own kayak?

At the Barber Park put-in, 4049 S. Eckert Rd. Putting in with your own equipment is free — you only pay if you rent equipment, ride the shuttle, or use the fee-parking lot during float season.

Can I rent a pedal boat in Boise?

Yes, but not for the river. The pedal boats run on the Julia Davis Park lagoon, operated by the Discovery Center of Idaho. They were docked for the winter on October 4, 2026 and are expected back on the water in May 2027.

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