Pacific Northwest paddle boarding

When I started researching paddleboards, I was unfamiliar with the inflatable ones. What I did know was that we didn’t have the room for large bulky boards, and I wanted something that I could easily transport, so when I saw the inflatable ones, I dove into research.

The ROC brand stood out with its impressive track record and positive reviews. I decided to reach out to some of the other #ROC users on IG, and their responses were overwhelmingly positive. They were not only accommodating but also eager to share their experiences with their boards. The large number of people in the Pacific Northwest using these paddleboards further solidified my decision to make a purchase.

They are amazing. It’s legit amazing! Below, I linked the ROC brand paddleboard on Amazon; they are running cheaper on Amazon than on the ROC website. :

Our motivation for Paddleboarding in the PNW

 

We live in the Pacific Northwest, which means we are surrounded by water. I don’t think any other state has more water. 

There are lakes a few miles apart, Puget Sound, the ocean, Hood Canal, rivers, and creeks. It only makes sense that while staycationing this summer, we do more water sports. This seemed like a good choice.

Places to go Paddleboarding in the PNW

Let’s talk about State Parks

Washington State Parks

Why we Paddleboard Lakes

Most lakes are easy going and are safer than rivers. I like to go to smaller places with fewer people, and I prefer a place that does not have a ton of boaters or jet skis. The water can get rocky if they are passing by you. I am a Sit the order, and I have never fallen off. I have encountered pretty big waves, but I ride the waves. when I want more “zen” time or “one it nature” time, I prefer to avoid waves.

Just a side note… in Washington, nearly all the lakes require a Discover pass or a Fish & Wildlife pass (one or another). 

Discover passes run $30 a year and can work for two cars, so we always have one. You can find more information on the Discover pass here. 

https://www.discoverpass.wa.gov

Paddleboarding Rivers… be careful

Big, wide Rivers—just avoid them! I avoid large rivers because the current can be hard to go up against, and you don’t want to be paddling through shallow water. The boards have pretty large fins (mine has two small fins and one large fin), and I get concerned about the fin getting broken or the board getting scraped up in the sudden shallow waters. 

At one point, Wenatchee caught me in the Columbia River’s current, and I got stuck a couple of times. Crazy, but at one point, the next thing I knew, the current took me towards the Wenatchee River, and it almost sucked me in, so I think I will avoid large rivers for the most part unless they are dammed up.

Lincoln Rock State Park is an exception to that stay-off-the-big-river rule. Because this Washington State park is next to a Dam on the Columbia River, it was nice and easy to paddle around, so we already made reservations for next year. The calm water was the perfect place to swim in that part of Columbia. It is next to a large damn, and t was pretty easy to get around! This state park even rents out paddle boards and kayaks on location, so you can try them out if you need to get your own. 

Puget Sound

This is Legit the best, no lie! Paddleboarding around the sound was terrific. My first time out, I started from the boat launch in West Seattle and met with other paddleboarders for the day. I really loved it. The waves could get rough from time to time, but it was nice seeing Seattle from the water and enjoying the views all over. With so many people all around us on kayaks or paddleboards, it felt like we were safe and fab to people-watch.

A few weeks later, I went to Tacoma and paddled around the sound again by Point Defiance Park. Furthermore, it was amazing and yet a whole new experience. On this trip, I saw many sea creatures and otters popping their heads out of the water to look at me.

I could not get over the tiny fish jumping out of the water all around me. Time flew by, and I stayed out there for a long time—before I knew it, four hours had passed. I’m sure that this summer, I will be spending way more time out there again! 

Pacific Northwest Paddleboarding

Essential items you need for warm and cold weather paddleboarding.

 

Why we paddleboard?

You can see things from the water, you can not see from land 🙂

Paddleboarding clothing for cold cold water

Click the photo below for direct links

Additional Security items

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The Electric Pump

I will not lie; pumping up the paddleboard can be challenging, especially toward the end, but it is doable. If you don’t want the additional workout, you can buy an electronic pump for the cigarette lighter. It works amazingly. Using the Pump still takes a few minutes, but it beats pumping it up between 10-15 PSI. It can get super tough toward the end, and my teen girls can’t finish.

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