How to choose good kayaking locations.

First you will need to ask yourself a few questions:

What is your kayaking experience?

What type of water do you enjoy kayaking on? Whitewater or flat water?

Do you like calm water like a lake or pond or do you like water with a little movement like a river with class I or II rapids?

In most cases you don’t have to drive very far to reach a good kayaking location. You may not realize it, but you may have more good kayaking locations near your home than you think; you just haven’t discovered them yet.

When searching for a good kayaking location you may want to look for paddling trails called Blueways.  Blueways are becoming more and more popular and you can find them in many states all over the U.S.

What to kayak on:

Lakes or Ponds

Kayaking on a lake or pond is a little easier than kayaking on a river or stream. Generally when you kayak on a lake or a pond your put in and take out point will be the same. You will park your car in the parking lot, put your kayak in at the boat access and paddle around enjoying the wildlife and scenery.  When you’re done you take your kayak out at the same access point. This is also a great place to teach a new paddler how to kayak.

With a lake or pond you can gauge your paddle time a little more accurately. If you have an hour to kayak you can paddle around and then start heading back to the boat access when you have to leave.

Rivers or Creeks

Rivers and creeks are a little more challenging to kayak on. Generally where you put in your kayak would not be where you take out.  You will also need to have two cars, one at the put in and one at the take out. Water levels can change with rainfall making the river faster or slower. If the river is too low you may have to get out and pull your kayak through the shallow areas.

Where to kayak:

State Parks

One place to look for a good kayaking location is State Parks or National Parks.  Many parks allow kayaking on their lakes, ponds, and rivers. Some have Blueways.

State and National Parks may:

Offer guided paddles

Charge a boat or car fee

Offer kayak rentals

Not allow private boats

Have boat access ramps

County

Another place to look for a good kayaking location is your county or town in which you live. Do you have a lake or river winding through your town? You can call or check your county or town’s website to see if they have boat access ramps and parking for your car.

You may also like to search our places to paddle page to find good kayaking locations all over the United States.

BornToPaddle.com is the place to come to if you are looking for places to go kayaking and canoeing. We scour the web to find places to kayak, places to canoe as well as kayaking and canoeing events.

Weekend of Kayaking and Canoeing Events in Ocean Shores, Washington:

Below is another great weekend event that is happening in Washington State. If you live near Ocean Shores, Washington you might want to get your kayak or canoe and head over to a paddling weekend event that looks like fun for the whole family. You don’t even need a kayak or canoe to join in on the fun at this event.

The event is Paddle the Shores – September 19-20, 2009 (Saturday & Sunday) North Bay Park, Ocean Shores, Washington

Saturday is the Poker Paddle. Paddler’s leisurely paddle 9 miles on the interconnecting lakes and canals of Ocean Shores, stopping along the way (seven stops) to pick up playing cards. At the end of the paddle, prizes are awarded for the best poker hands. A shorter 6 mile poker paddle is also available. Paddlers will pick up five poker cards.  

Sunday morning is the Human Powered Boat Race.  This is 6 mile race is on Duck Lake and open to canoe, kayaks, shells and paddleboats.

Sunday afternoon is the Cardboard Boat Race This race is also on Duck Lake. Using only cardboard and packaging tape teams will have one hour to construct a boat. One person from your team will paddle your constructed boat around a buoy. The first team that gets back or stays afloat the farthest will be the winner.

If you do not own a kayak, you can find rental information on their website as well information for area hotel/motels.  

If you go, let us know. We would love to hear from you.

For more information and to register, please click here to go to our Races and Event page.

To find other places to paddle, kayak and canoe all over the USA, go to our Places to Paddle page and click on any state, or check out nationwide kayak, canoe and paddle events and races on our Paddling Events and Races page.

If you would like us to post your favorite place to paddle, kayak or canoe or your favorite paddling event or race, please use our handy contact form to send us the details