The Best Places to Paddleboard in the United States

Paddleboarding is a fast-growing water sport that combines the thrills of surfing and the serenity of canoeing. The sport’s popularity has grown in recent years, particularly among millennials, and that trend is expected to continue. This list identifies the best places to paddleboard in the United States based on availability of places to practice the sport, quality of water conditions, access to paddleboarder-friendly businesses (such as hotels or restaurants), and other necessary amenities like public parking and restrooms.

California

The state of California is known for its beautiful weather and pristine waters. In fact, California has the most beaches of any state in the country. Whether you live in the San Francisco Bay Area or the Los Angeles area, you’ll find many great places to paddleboard. Aptly named “the Bay,” San Francisco offers a number of great spots for paddleboarding, including Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Fort Point, and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also paddleboard in Half Moon Bay (about an hour south of San Francisco), where the Pacific Coast is a bit more secluded and private. If you’re in Orange County, look to Seal Beach Pier or Huntington Beach Pier for paddleboarding locations. You can also enjoy paddleboarding in Laguna Beach, near the famous “oil rigs” that poke out of the water. In Southern California, you can paddleboard in Santa Barbara (near University of California-Santa Barbara), Newport Beach, or Malibu.

Florida

Florida is most famous for its tropical weather. The state has some of the warmest waters in all of the United States, which means you can paddleboard all year long. If you live in Florida, you can enjoy paddleboarding almost anywhere. You can paddleboard in Miami, where the water is both warm and clear. To the north, you can paddleboard in Fort Lauderdale, just off the Intracoastal Waterway. And if you’re in the Orlando area, you can paddleboard in Lake Eola or Lake Toho near Disney World. If you’re in the Tampa Bay area, you can paddleboard at Clearwater Beach, Honeymoon Island, or Caladesi Island. In the Jacksonville area, you can paddleboard in St. Johns River. And in the Gainesville area, you can paddleboard in Paynes Creek.

Hawaii

Hawaii is another tropical weather state where you can paddleboard all year long. In fact, the warm waters of Hawaii are among the best paddleboarding waters in the country. You can find many great places to paddleboard on the islands of Hawaii. On the island of Oahu, you can paddleboard in Waikiki Beach or near Diamond Head or the famous “Boys’ Rock,” a large rock formation that’s popular with surfers and paddleboarders alike. In the Hilo area, you can paddleboard near Wailuku River, just north of town. In the Kona area on the west side of the Big Island, you can paddleboard near Kailua Bay, a large inlet and home to “Kailua Beach,” one of the best known and most popular spots in the state. On Maui, you can paddleboard near Ma’alaea Harbor, La Pérouse Bay, or Kihei Beach. In the Kauai area, you can paddleboard in Poipu Beach or the famous “Spouting Horn.”

Texas

Texas is another warm weather state where you can paddleboard year-round. In fact, Texas’s warm waters are among the best places to paddleboard, particularly on the coast near Corpus Christi. You can paddleboard all along the Texas coast, but the best places for paddleboarding in Texas are on the northern coast near Corpus Christi. In the Corpus Christi area, you can paddleboard in Aransas Bay, where the city’s famous “spouting horn” is located. You can also paddleboard near the Twin Sisters (a pair of small, rocky islands near the city), or the nearby “coyote brush” (a large abundance of flowering cacti). In the Galveston area, you can paddleboard near the famous “piers” (a series of wooden pylons that jut out into the water). You can also paddleboard in the Port Isabel or South Padre Island area.

Colorado

Colorado’s mild weather means you can paddleboard year-round, though you’ll find the best conditions in the late spring and early summer. You can paddleboard in Colorado’s rivers and on the state’s many lakes. To the north, you can paddleboard in Fort Collins, where the Cache la Poudre River flows. In the Boulder area, you can paddleboard in Boulder Creek. In the Denver area, you can paddleboard in the Cherry Creek Reservoir. In the Durango area, you can paddleboard in the Colorado River. And in the Fort Morgan area, you can paddleboard in the Pueblo Reservoir. To the south, you can paddleboard in Lake City (near the famous “Fly Fishing Capital of the World”) or Lake George (in the city of the same name). In the Pueblo area, you can paddleboard in the Arkansas River. In the Colorado Springs area, you can paddleboard in the Fountain Creek or the Pueblo Reservoir.

Washington State

Washington State’s mild weather means you can paddleboard year-round. Washington has many lakes that are perfect for paddleboarding, as well as a few rivers. In the Seattle area, you can paddleboard in Lake Union. In the Tacoma area, you can paddleboard in the Steilacoom or Union Rivers. In the Olympia area, you can paddleboard in the Capitol Lake. And in the Walla Walla area, you can paddleboard in the Walla Walla River. To the north, you can paddleboard in Lake Washington or Lake Sammamish, both near the city of the same name. In the Spokane area, you can paddleboard in the Spokane River. And in the Vancouver area, you can paddleboard in the Columbia River.

Conclusion

The best places to paddleboard in the United States are California, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Colorado, Washington State, and a few other tropical or warm weather states. If you want to try the sport, look for a college or university near these areas. If you prefer to paddleboard in cooler weather, you can also find many great places to paddleboard in states with temperate climates, such as Vermont and Massachusetts.