With its beautiful forests, pristine sparkling lakes, and the mesmerizing Puget Sound, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to paddleboard than Washington State! It really doesn’t get better than this. Whether you’re experienced or you’re just getting started, you’ll find an excellent place to get your feet wet with these five great paddleboarding spots in Washington.
-Perfect Paddles Travel Brief-
Best Time of Year to Visit:
July and August are the most reliably rainless months, and consequently, this is the most popular time to visit. It is during these months that the sun is seen most often and rain is almost unheard of (though not unknown). (www.frommers.com)
Average Temperature:
Summers in western Washington are fresh and relatively dry, while they are warmer in the east. The average high temperatures peak at 78°F (25.6°C) in July, while day temperatures reach 105°F (40.6°C) to 115°F (46.1°C) in many places in the east. (www.weather-us.com)
SUP Environments to Paddle In
Rivers
Lakes
Bay
Ocean
SUP Activity Highlights:
Excursions
Tours
White-water River SUP
SUP Yoga
Wildlife Paddles:
Washington is truly a wild place. And one of the best ways to experience the vast array of wildlife is on an eco-tour or excursion! On any given day, paddlers can spot grizzly bears, deer, black bears, raccoons, and all types of birds including eagles. To get in on a wildlife paddle, use our Locations/Activities guide HERE!
River Paddles:
One of the best ways to see the beauty of Washington is by gliding along its many rivers! See the lush forests from the water. To get in on this experience, we suggest checking out our great friends at Wildwater River Guides!
Perfect Paddles Gear We Like to Get You Ready for Your Trip:
Mustang Beltpack PFD - An essential piece of gear for any paddler. But especially important for anyone paddle boarding swift currents found in and around NYC.
Insta 360 Camera - Capture every moment on the water with the brand-new, fully waterproof, easily transportable Insta Camera!
Interested in any of these extra activities? Be sure to head HERE to find a list of paddle pros in the area and what they offer!
Additional Attractions:
Washington State is known for its lush green forests. It's the perfect place to explore the natural world!
Olympic National Park: Olympic National Park is on Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest. The park sprawls across several different ecosystems, from the dramatic peaks of the Olympic Mountains to old-growth forests. The summit of glacier-clad Mt. Olympus is popular with climbers, and hiking and backpacking trails cut through the park's rainforests and along its Pacific coastline.
Space Needle: Iconic, 605-ft.-tall spire at the Seattle Center, with an observation deck & a rotating restaurant.
Mount Rainier: Mount Rainier, also known as Tahoma or Tacoma, is a large active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest, located in Mount Rainier National Park about 59 miles south-southeast of Seattle.
Pike Place Market: Pike Place Market—the 108-year-old farmers' market and Seattle tourist attraction which draws in more than 10 million visitors annually—is justly famous for its fishmongers, produce stalls, craft stands and specialty food shops, but there's so much more to the Market than meets the eye.
Chihuly Garden and Glass: Chihuly Garden and Glass is an exhibit in the Seattle Center showcasing the studio glass of Dale Chihuly. It opened in May 2012 at the former site of the defunct Fun Forest amusement park.
Museum of Pop Culture: The Museum of Pop Culture or MoPOP is a nonprofit museum in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to contemporary popular culture. It was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000 as the Experience Music ProjectFor reference, be sure to check out our Perfect Paddles Activities map! For Washington, you will find it below:
Perfect Paddles Shops/Outfitters Near the Locations:
1. Wildwater River Guides, Peshastin
2. Sojen Yoga, Lake Stevens
3. What's SUP, Bothell
4. Northwest Paddle Surfers, Kirkland
5. Salmon Bay Paddle, Seattle (Member Deal)
Member Deals: Don’t forget to take advantage of our fantastic Buddy Deals for exclusive discounts for our members! To become a member head HERE.1. JUANITA BEACH PARK AND MARINA PARK, KIRKLAND, WA
Juanita Beach Park is a great spot to get started on a paddleboard. Northwest Paddle Surfers is situated on Lake Washington at both Juanita Beach Park and Marina Park. Northwest Paddle Surfers offers lessons, tours, and rentals. For experienced paddlers, try out PaddleFlow Yoga—held Monday-Thursday, combining yoga with stand-up paddleboarding to give you an even more satisfying workout. The company can accommodate up to 30 people for parties, corporate outings, team building events, and more. At the SUP Shack, you’ll find snacks and cold beverages available after a long day on the water!
2. SHILSHOLE BAY MARINA, SEATTLE, WA
With Ballard Kayak, you can rent a stand-up paddleboard for $20 an hour or $150 a day. Ballard boasts that there is, “No better way to see Seattle and get a workout at the same time.” This is an excellent way to see Shilshole Bay Marina. Each rental with Ballard Kayak includes the required paddle, personal flotation device, a safety demonstration, and basic paddling instruction. Guests can choose between two tours, as well. There is the 90-minute beginner tour and the two-hour Ballard Junction tour. The 90-minute tour is ideal for those just starting out. A brief, on-shore lesson is given to get paddlers started. You’ll learn different strokes, how to turn, how to stay balanced, and more importantly, how to remain safe! Paddlers then set out onto the stunning waters of Shilshole Bay—one of the biggest in the state. Watch out for seals!
3. SAMMAMISH RIVER AND LAKE WASHINGTON
Start your paddleboarding journey with WhatsSup Stand-Up Paddle & Surf. Rates go as so: The first hour is $18 and every additional hour is $12. The SUPSQUATCH Paddleboard, which accommodates eight people, goes at $70 per hour. Paddlers can take a 60-minute lesson to learn the following: how to stand up on your board, paddling techniques, tips on turning, and safety information. Enjoy the immaculate Sammamish River, where WhatsSup has two locations, or explore their single location on Lake Washington.
4. LAKE UNION, SEATTLE, WA
At Moss Bay Kayak, Paddle Board and Sail Center, you’ll find paddleboards for all ages, sizes, and levels of experience. This is a very safe place to get your bearings on a paddleboard if you don’t have much experience. For a single paddleboard, rates go at $18 per hour. Make sure to bring a valid ID, weather-appropriate clothing, a water bottle, and plenty of sunscreen in case the sun is blaring! If you sign up early, your child can even participate in the week-long Kids Camp, where children explore Seattle’s Lake Union through kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing. This is open to kids age 6-12. According to Moss Bay’s website, this is a place where children will “build skills, friendships, and confidence all week long.”
5. VASHON ISLAND
If you find yourself in the Vashon area, give Fat Cat Paddle Boarding a try. This is Vashon Island’s only mobile rental, class, and tour stand-up paddleboarding company. Vashon Island is also the largest island in the picturesque Puget Sound. Fat Cat is the real deal as they know how to properly equip guests with the right board for them. Beginners can try out the durable, 11-foot Imagine Fit—a wide board made to be tossed around a bit. Intermediate to advanced-level paddlers can try the 11-foot Slingshot Crossbreed which is light and easier to maneuver if you have proper experience. Fat Cat offers classes, too. There is the 45-minute quick class which teaches safety and board techniques, how to sit, stand, and paddle, as well as remain balanced on the board. There is a private class option which goes at $65 per hour. It is a one-on-one class with a personal trainer. Tours with Fat Cat include a two-hour Quartermaster tour, a four-hour Point Robinson tour, a full-day Blake Island Tour, and a beautiful moonlight tour.
