From our friends at www.sup-pacific.com
Stand up paddleboarding is a great way to explore & discover the golden coast. Even if you’re a native, going paddling on the water gives you a new perspective of places. This list is for anybody looking for the best places to paddleboard in Southern California.
Whether you’re a local to SoCal or making a short visiting, finding the absolute best places to paddleboard in Southern California can be difficult. This list compiles my top 6 favorite spots to go SUP in Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, & Santa Barbara Counties. For each paddle on the list, learn more about each paddle by visiting their page. Each page is a guide to help give important information about conditions, cautions, & even parking for each place.
-Perfect Paddles Travel Brief-
Best Time of Year to Visit:
The best travel time for California is from May to September. In these months it is sunny, warm and the likelihood of rain is very low. April and October are also good months for a Californian getaway! For holidaymakers who can't stand high temperatures, I would recommend avoiding the period from July to August. (www.holidayguru.ie)
Average Temperature:
Much of California has a Mediterranean-like climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. On the coast, the average daily high temperature hovers around 70°F and up, but can occasionally spike to 80°F or more on hottest summer days; freezing temperatures are rare, even in winter. (www.visitcalifornia.com)
SUP Environments to Paddle In
Rivers
Lakes
Marinas
Bay
Ocean
SUP Activity Highlights:
Excursions
Tours
Wildlife Tours
Eco-Tours
Glow Paddles
SUP Yoga
Wildlife Paddles:
Orange County is truly a beautiful place. And easily one of the best places to experience all types of marine wildlife including dolphins, seals, whales, manta rays, and more! To get in on a wildlife paddle, use our Locations/Activities guide HERE!
SUP Surf Spots (source here)
Before heading out, please be honest with your skills and surfing abilities. These breaks are often crowded and need proper care before heading into the lineup!
Trestle Beach: Located at the southern tip of Orange County, Trestles is home to some of the best surf spots around. Upper, Lower, and Middle Trestles are frequently visited by experienced surfers who enjoy hollow, powerful waves. With its world-class wave quality, Lower Trestles (Lowers) holds a professional surfing contest every year along with NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) Nationals. As a local favorite, Trestles can be a little crowded, but if you are courteous and respectful to other surfers, you will definitely enjoy your time on these waves.
T-Street Beach: Just south of the San Clemente Pier, T-Street is friendly to surfers of all levels. T-Street gets its name from a “T” shaped pedestrian overpass that allows foot traffic to safely cross the railroad tracks. The San Clemente High School Surf Team is no stranger to T-Street, as they practice there during winter months to maintain their position as one of the best high school surf teams in the nation. Because surfing is so popular here, T-Street is “blackballed” between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM in the summer, meaning only swimming and boogie boarding is allowed at that time. T-Street’s distant reef produces a consistent frequency that is enjoyable for all levels of surfing.
Doheny Beach: Located in Dana Point, Doheny Beach offers great surfing at its northern end. Doheny is the prime spot for beginner surfers or for those who are looking to catch a less powerful wave. This surf spot is best for longboarding and promises to give some of the longest rides in Orange County.
Laguna Beach, Brooks Street: One of the biggest breaks in Laguna Beach, Brooks Street is a local favorite. South swells attract many experienced surfers and provide long, powerful waves that start breaking out at the reef. Low tides can expose sharp rocks and surfers should use caution when paddling out and know how to surf a rocky bottom. Brooks Street is home to the oldest surf contest in the world. The Brooks Street Surfing Classic was started in 1955 and holds the title of the world’s longest-running surf contest.
The Wedge: Located at the east end of the Balboa Peninsula, The Wedge is a local favorite for surfing, skimboarding, bodyboarding, and bodysurfing. The wedge-shaped waves are a result of the rock jetty that lies on the west side of Newport Harbor. The hollow, fast waves can be very large and unpredictable, even for experienced surfers. Waves reflected off the jetty meet up with incoming waves, making them several feet larger than those in surrounding surf areas. The Wedge is blackballed between the hours of 10 AM and 5 PM from May through October, making it a bodyboarding hotspot during the summer months.
Newport Beach, 56th Street: One of the most popular surf spots in Newport Beach, 56th Street is great for pro and amateur surfers alike. Stable wave sections and line-ups add to the overall quality of the surf spot. Hollow waves and a sandy bottom make 56th Street one of the best spots in Newport to catch a wave when surf conditions are good.
Huntington Beach Pier: One of the world’s most iconic surf spots, Huntington Beach offers miles of beach break waves. Located at PCH and Main St, the Huntington Beach Pier area is a classic every surfer should experience. Known as “Surf City, ” Huntington Beach annually holds one of the largest surf competitions in the world, the U.S. Open of Surfing, on the south side of the pier. From beginner surfers to experienced professionals, Huntington Beach Pier is a favorite spot among Orange County surfers.
Perfect Paddles Deals to Get Your Ready for Your Trip:
RHEOS (Floating) Sunglasses- 15% off with Member Benefits
Duk Gear- 20% off a waterproof cell phone case with Member Benefits
Check out more of our gear options HERE!
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 (source here):
Southern California is home to some of the best places to visit on the coast including Hollywood and countless beaches! Let’s discover some more!
Disneyland Resort: The Disneyland Resort, commonly known as Disneyland, is an entertainment resort in Anaheim, California.Disney California Adventure Park: Disney California Adventure Park, commonly referred to as Disney California Adventure, California Adventure, or DCA, is a theme park located in Anaheim, California. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division.
Newport Beach: Newport Beach, a coastal city in southern California, is known for its large, boat-filled harbor. Balboa Peninsula has 2 piers, Newport Beach Pier and Balboa Pier, plus the Balboa Fun Zone, an old-school amusement park with a Ferris wheel and ocean views. Local beaches include the Wedge, known for its big waves, and Corona del Mar State Beach. The Orange County Museum of Art exhibits modern and contemporary works.
Heisler Park: This beach area offers artsy park benches, sculptures, ocean views, rocky shores & tide pools.
Balboa Island Ferry: The Balboa Island Car Ferry is a ferry service in Newport Beach, California. The ferry boats travel under 1,000 feet from Balboa Island to the Balboa Peninsula and vice versa, reaching a top speed of four miles per hour.
Huntington Beach Pier: The Huntington Beach Pier is a municipal pier located in Huntington Beach, California, at the west end of Main Street and west of Pacific Coast Highway. At 1,850 feet in length, it is one of the longest public piers on the West Coast.
For reference, be sure to check out our Perfect Paddles Activities map! For Southern California, you will find it below:
Perfect Paddles Shops/Outfitters Near the Locations:
1. Paddle Method: Marina Del Rey (Buddy Deal)
2. Goff Tours: Laguna Beach (Buddy Deal)
3. Bliss Paddle Yoga: Newport Beach (Buddy Deal)
4. Paddle Sports Center: Santa Barbara (Buddy Deal)
5. Sunset Standup Paddle: Laguna Beach (Buddy Deal)
6. SUP with Wade: San Pedro
Buddy 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. Mondo’s Beach Paddle – Ventura, Ventura County
Mondo’s SUP Paddle is my favorite place to go paddling in all of SoCal because of its natural, seclusive beauty, which makes it the poster child for the idyllic golden coast.
It’s an open ocean paddle located a few miles north of Ventura, but before Carpinteria.
It’s a great place to go paddling, surfing, or just for spending the day at the beach watching the waves roll in.
2. Terranea Paddle – Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County
The Terranea SUP paddle is one of the most difficult to get to. But, the magnificence of spotting fishies through the kelp forests or the chance of getting to paddle with dolphins easily makes this paddle a must for any local or visitor.
With steep yellow-sanded cliffs down to some of the clearest water in SoCal, the Terranea Paddle is something of a pilgrimage for paddlers.
3. Point Dume Paddle – Malibu, Los Angeles County
The Point Dume SUP paddle will always have a special place in my heart because it was one of the first paddles I got to paddle with migrating gray whales.
Also, I love this paddle because you can easily paddle around the Point Dume & get access to a private beach that is ocean access only. That’s a rarity in Southern California!
4. Marina Del Rey Paddle – Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles County
The Marina Del Rey SUP Paddle is one of my favorite early morning paddles to do when the marine layer is thick in summer. Although, this paddle is a nice close one for LA natives no matter the time of year.
This paddle is great whether you just want dip your paddle in the water for a workout or if you just want a nice leisurely mid-day paddle. You can listen to the sea lions or gaze upon the boats as you cruise along the marina.
To check it out & get more detailed information about the Marina Del Rey paddle click here!
5. Newport Bay Paddle – Newport Beach, Orange County
The Newport Bay SUP Paddle is perfect for beginners looking for an incredibly beautiful view of Newport Beach & Balboa Island.
My favorite thing about this paddle is that it gives you a new perspective of Newport Beach, Balboa Island, & Lido Island.
6. Lake Piru Paddle – Piru, Ventura County
The Lake Piru SUP Paddle is great if you’re looking to get away from the hustle & bustle of Southern California. Or, you just want to paddle at a nice leisurely lake lake.
Also, this is a great lake if you’re interested in learning how to fish & has amazing rock formations that go right into the water.
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- Location Info Guide