Best Spots to Paddle Board on the West Coast

Here are three unique and unforgettable paddle boarding destinations around the West Coast for explorers and nature lovers.

2021-10-07

Although the summer is over, you can still pack up your paddle board and hit the road in search of blue water and beautiful views.

Here are three unique and unforgettable paddle-boarding destinations around the West Coast for explorers and nature lovers. Since no list of the best places to paddle board would be complete without Florida, we’ve included a bonus destination that is one of a kind.

Island paddle boarding in Washington

Ready for an adventure? The San Juan Islands in northwestern Washington should be on your SUP bucket list for its beauty and marine wildlife.

An archipelago made up of hundreds of islands, the San Juans have four main islands you can visit—San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, or Shaw Island. To get there, take a seaplane or charter boat or hop a ferry from Seattle.

Once you arrive at this destination, you can cruise one of the San Juans’ many placid bays, explore rocky coastlines, and hope to catch a glimpse of sea lions, porpoises, and even orca whales.

For a versatile and durable paddle board that cuts smoothly through chop and provides a stable ride, we recommend the Versa 10'6.

Brown Boardworks Versa 10'6 All-Around Paddle Board

Picturesque paddle boarding in California

Are you interested in towering cliffs and rich marine life? La Jolla Cove in San Diego is the place to go.

As part of an ecological reserve, La Jolla is well-known among divers and snorkelers because of the stunning marine life that can be found there. It’s also a great place to paddle board with calm, clear water as well as beautiful sandstone cliffs and caves.

Wildlife lovers should keep an eye out for seals sunning themselves on the rocks, in addition to bat rays, leopard sharks, and sea turtles in the water.

If you’re headed to California, you want a travel-friendly, all-around SUP like the SHUBU Kraken —the perfect choice when you need a “do everything” board.

Blue Boardworks SHUBU Kraken Recreational Inflatable Paddle Board

Paddle boarding in Bend, Oregon

Bend is the place to paddleboard in Oregon because of two geographical features: a wealth of high alpine lakes and the wild and scenic Deschutes River, which threads from the Cascade Mountains and ends 252 miles north in the Columbia River.

If you prefer flatwater to a river, hop on the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, a historic highway with beautiful views and 14 different alpine lakes along the way. If you’d rather cruise the current, you can’t go wrong with the Deschutes. Rafting, fishing, and paddle boarding on the Deschutes River in Bend is a popular pastime for both locals and visitors.

If you are looking for an option that makes transporting your board to the lakes and river seamless, we recommend the SHUBU Lūnr 10'4 or the Boracay NXT 10.4. These inflatable paddle boards are convenient to carry along on all your Bend adventures.

Blue Pelican Boracay NXT 10.4 Inflatable Recreational Paddle Board

Bonus! Unique paddle board spot in Florida

Blue Boardworks SHUBU Lūnr Inflatable Recreational Paddle Board

In a state full of sandy beaches, Blowing Rocks Preserve stands out with its unique shoreline of Anastasia limestone. This 73-acre environmental preserve is located on Jupiter Island in the Hobe Sound.

Hike, explore the rocks along the beach, and paddle board around the preserve. You’ll be able to take in Jupiter Island from many angles and can even see erosion holes where waves have worn away the limestone.

Bring snorkeling gear if you have it; this is a great spot to spend a little time underwater. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a rare loggerhead, leatherback, or green sea turtle.

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