Paddleboarding in the PNW! Washington was made for paddle boarding. We have endless bodies of water to cruise around in! We have
- Lakes
- Puget Sound
- Salish Sea
- Hood canal
- rivers
My board- The inflatable ROC brand
The ROC brand had great reviews and had been around for a while. I reached out to some of the other #ROC users on IG and asked them questions about their boards, and they were so accommodating and helpful with my many questions. There were a ton of people in the Pacific Northwest riding on these paddle boards, so I bought a couple, and after 4 years, I am still a big fan!
Quick notes
- Most lakes are easygoing and are safer than rivers.
- I avoid rivers… they can be more dangerous unless you are next to a dam.
- I like places with fewer boaters or jet skis. The water can get a little rocky.
- Most lakes require a Discover pass or a Fish & Wildlife pass (one or another).
- The Discover pass costs $30 annually and can be used for two cars, so we always have one. You can find more information on the Discover pass here.
Washington State Parks
Any state park is an easy and fun place to paddleboard. Most are on lakes and have boat launches, making launching and heading out easy. Some are on the Salish Sea, like Sequim Bay and Fort Warden, but the water is still calm and safe for the most part. Just be cautioned about the wind. It is the ocean, with loads of ocean life, so keep an eye out for curious visitors.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park , Lake Crescent, is also a fabulous place to paddle from. It is in my top 5! The water is clear, and the view is pretty dreamy. The lake is very sandy and easy to walk on. I caution about checking the wind conditions. If it is breezy, go against the wind and let the wind carry you back when you are tired.
Point Defiance Park – Tacoma or West Seattle
This is a fun place to go and cruise around. Once again, they have a boat launch, which can be pretty crowded in warmer months. I love paddle boarding around Puget Sound. You may be stalked by seals or seal lions; if you are lucky or unlucky (depending on how you look at it), you can see an orca. 🙂 Just be aware that when the ferry crosses, it kicks up the waves. Just ride them and enjoy.
Wherever you live, I am sure there are local lakes. As long as there is public access and boat launches, these are good options to check out and paddle.
Caution about Paddle Boarding on Rivers
I try to avoid large rivers because the current can be hard to go up against, and you don’t want to end up in shallow water. The boards have a pretty large fin (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, I got caught in the Columbia River’s current by Wenatchee, and I got stuck a couple of times. The current took me towards the Wenatchee River, and it almost sucked me in. After that, I avoided them; I lived and learned the hard way, lol.
Paddleboarding clothing for cold cold water
Click the photo below for direct links
Additional Security items
Click the photo below for direct links
Paddleboarding in the PNW! Washington was made for paddle boarding. We have endless bodies of water to cruise around in! We have
- Lakes
- Puget Sound
- Salish Sea
- Hood canal
- rivers
My board- The inflatable ROC brand
The ROC brand had great reviews and had been around for a while. I reached out to some of the other #ROC users on IG and asked them questions about their boards, and they were so accommodating and helpful with my many questions. There were a ton of people in the Pacific Northwest riding on these paddle boards, so I bought a couple, and after 4 years, I am still a big fan!
Quick notes
- Most lakes are easygoing and are safer than rivers.
- I avoid rivers… they can be more dangerous unless you are next to a dam.
- I like places with fewer boaters or jet skis. The water can get a little rocky.
- Most lakes require a Discover pass or a Fish & Wildlife pass (one or another).
- The Discover pass costs $30 annually and can be used for two cars, so we always have one. You can find more information on the Discover pass here.
Washington State Parks
Any state park is an easy and fun place to paddleboard. Most are on lakes and have boat launches, making launching and heading out easy. Some are on the Salish Sea, like Sequim Bay and Fort Warden, but the water is still calm and safe for the most part. Just be cautioned about the wind. It is the ocean, with loads of ocean life, so keep an eye out for curious visitors.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park , Lake Crescent, is also a fabulous place to paddle from. It is in my top 5! The water is clear, and the view is pretty dreamy. The lake is very sandy and easy to walk on. I caution about checking the wind conditions. If it is breezy, go against the wind and let the wind carry you back when you are tired.
Point Defiance Park – Tacoma or West Seattle
This is a fun place to go and cruise around. Once again, they have a boat launch, which can be pretty crowded in warmer months. I love paddle boarding around Puget Sound. You may be stalked by seals or seal lions; if you are lucky or unlucky (depending on how you look at it), you can see an orca. 🙂 Just be aware that when the ferry crosses, it kicks up the waves. Just ride them and enjoy.
Wherever you live, I am sure there are local lakes. As long as there is public access and boat launches, these are good options to check out and paddle.
Caution about Paddle Boarding on Rivers
I try to avoid large rivers because the current can be hard to go up against, and you don’t want to end up in shallow water. The boards have a pretty large fin (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, I got caught in the Columbia River’s current by Wenatchee, and I got stuck a couple of times. The current took me towards the Wenatchee River, and it almost sucked me in. After that, I avoided them; I lived and learned the hard way, lol.
Paddleboarding clothing for cold cold water
Click the photo below for direct links
Additional Security items
Click the photo below for direct links
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