Paddleboarding is an amazing way to enjoy the water. Unlike other water activities such as kayaking, standup paddleboarding is less strenuous and a lot more relaxing. It’s also a lot easier to learn than most people think. Once you get the hang of it, stand-up paddleboarding is great exercise and an excellent way to explore the local waterways. Fortunately, California is home to some truly beautiful waterways that are perfect for standup paddleboarding. The state also has many places with ideal conditions for paddling your board at different times of day and tide. With so many awesome locations for paddleboarding in California, here are our top 12 picks.
Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt is a 100-year-old freshwater lake situated in downtown Oakland, California. It is one of the largest lakes in the San Francisco Bay Area and a popular spot for paddleboarding in the area. This calm lake is the perfect place to relax on your paddleboard while enjoying the city’s famous views. Lake Merritt is very shallow, making it an ideal place for beginners. Plus, the lake is located near public transportation, so it’s easy to get there and back. Since Lake Merritt is an inland lake with no ocean swell, the paddleboarding season there lasts year-round.
Pacifica and the San Francisco Bay Area
The Pacifica Beach is located in the San Francisco suburbs and is a great place to paddleboard during low tide when you can paddle right around the point. This beach also has lots of interesting wildlife, so you can look out for migratory birds and seals. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can paddle to another nearby beach where you can watch surfers catch some waves. If you’re looking for a calmer paddleboarding experience, you can head over to the Sunnyvale Baylands. This river delta, which is the largest freshwater marsh in California, is perfect for beginner paddleboarders. If you’re looking for sunnier weather, you can paddleboard at the Belmont Pier where you can enjoy a stunning view of San Francisco Bay.
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is a popular place for paddleboarding in the area and has a dedicated paddleboard launch where you can park your car right by the water. The best time to paddleboard at this bay is at low tide when the water is calmest. Enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Coast while paddling along the coastline and be on the lookout for marine life such as sea lions, seals, and otters. If you’re looking for a more challenging paddleboarding experience, you can paddle at high tide to the Surf Boat Channel. This channel is a popular spot among paddleboarders and surfers alike, and you can see some amazing water sports while enjoying the view.
Santa Cruz and Monterey
Santa Cruz Beach is a popular spot for paddleboarding in the area and is a great place to enjoy the ocean scenery from your paddleboard. Santa Cruz is a great place to paddleboard in the morning when the water is calmest. You can enjoy a view of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk from the water and can even catch some of the rides and activities there with your paddle board. When the sun sets, you can enjoy an incredible view of Santa Cruz Beach from the water. Monterey Bay is an amazing place for paddleboarding, especially when the tide is low. At low tide, you can paddle right up to the dunes at the edge of the beach, which is a truly unique experience. You can also paddleboard at high tide to see some marine wildlife, such as seals and otters.
Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is a beautiful lake in Southern California that can be enjoyed by paddleboarders all year long. Big Bear Lake is surrounded by many mountains and is a great place for paddleboarding in the morning when the water is calmest. When paddleboarding at Big Bear Lake, you can enjoy stunning views of the water and nearby mountains. You can also paddleboard during the evening to see a stunning sunset over the water. You can also paddleboard at Big Bear Lake during high tide when the water is a little choppier. This is a great time to paddleboard to see some marine wildlife such as otters, birds, and maybe even dolphins.
Channel Islands National Park
The Channel Islands National Park is a stunning place to paddleboard and a great place to paddleboard at different times of day and tide. You can either paddleboard at low tide to explore the kelp forests that surround the islands or paddleboard at high tide to see some marine wildlife such as dolphins and sea lions. Paddleboarding at the Channel Islands National Park is truly an amazing experience and is a must-do for paddleboarders in California. If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, you can paddleboard on the island closest to the mainland, called Santa Barbara Island. This island is home to some old military buildings, where you can explore unique architecture and history from the past.
Los Angeles and Orange County Beaches
The Los Angeles and Orange County Beaches are great places for paddleboarding in the area, especially when the tide is low. You can paddleboard right in the middle of the beach and enjoy stunning views of the beaches and the iconic buildings that surround the area. If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, you can paddleboard at Alamitos Beach during high tide, where you can see some amazing water sports, such as surfers and standup paddleboarders. You can also paddleboard at the nearby Seal Beach, where you can enjoy stunning views of the coastline.
San Diego Beaches
The San Diego Beaches are great places for paddleboarding in the area, especially when the tide is low. You can paddleboard right in the middle of the beaches and enjoy stunning views of the nearby buildings, such as the famous Hotel del Coronado. You can also paddleboard during high tide at the nearby Pacific Beach where you can see some amazing water sports, such as surfers and standup paddleboarders. If you’re looking for a more challenging paddleboarding experience, you can paddleboard at Torrey Pines Beach during low tide when the water is calmest. This beach is home to beautiful trees and plants that have been around for hundreds of years.
Conclusion
Standup paddleboarding is an amazing sport that is suitable for all ages and skill levels. It is a great way to enjoy the water, exercise and explore the local waterways. The best time to paddleboard is at low tide, when the water is calmest. If you’re new to paddleboarding, you can start with low tides to ensure your experience is as easy and fun as possible. If you want to experience the beautiful California waterways and enjoy stunning views, then you should try standup paddleboarding. With so many awesome locations for paddleboarding in California, there is no excuse not to try it.
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