Pacific Northwest paddle boarding
First off , when I started researching paddleboards, I was not familiar with the inflatable ones. What I did know if we didn’t really 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 really had great reviews, and they had been around a while. I reached out to some of the other #ROC users on IG and hit them up with questions about their boards, and they were so accommodating and helpful with my many questions. There was a ton of people in the Pacific Northwest riding on these paddleboards, so I asked around and bought one!
They are amazing. Like 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 and what that means is we are surrounded by water. I am not sure any other state has more water.
Lakes a few miles apart, Puget Sound, the ocean, Hood canal, rivers and creeks. It only makes sense 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 pretty easy going and are just safer than rivers. I like to go to smaller likes with fewer people, and I prefer a place that does not have a ton of boaters or jet skis. The water can get a little 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, but 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 pass 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 try to 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 a pretty large fin (mine has two small fins and one large fin), and I get concerned about the fin getting broke 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. 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 next to a Dam on the Columbia River, it was nice and easy to paddle around, so we already made reservations for next year. At that part of the Columbia, the water was calm and was a perfect place to paddle around. 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 if you do not have your own you can still try it out.
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 up with some 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 paddleboarding, 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 lots of sea creatures and otters who kept popping their heads out of the water to look at me.
What I could not get over was the tiny fish jumping out of the water all around me. Time flew by and I stay out there for a long time, and before I knew it – 4 hours went by. 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 🙂
Check out links to our paddleboards and gear.
This is my brand Paddleboard, ROC!
Paddleboarding clothing for cold cold water
Click the photo below for direct links
Additional Security items
Click the photo below for direct links
The Electric Pump
I will not lie; pumping up the paddleboard can be pretty challenging, especially toward the end, but it is doable. If you don’t want the additional work out, you can buy an electronic pump does into the cigarette lighter. It works amazing. 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 it is pretty much impossible for my teen girls to finish.
Pacific Northwest paddle boarding
First off , when I started researching paddleboards, I was not familiar with the inflatable ones. What I did know if we didn’t really 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 really had great reviews, and they had been around a while. I reached out to some of the other #ROC users on IG and hit them up with questions about their boards, and they were so accommodating and helpful with my many questions. There was a ton of people in the Pacific Northwest riding on these paddleboards, so I asked around and bought one!
They are amazing. Like 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 and what that means is we are surrounded by water. I am not sure any other state has more water.
Lakes a few miles apart, Puget Sound, the ocean, Hood canal, rivers and creeks. It only makes sense 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 pretty easy going and are just safer than rivers. I like to go to smaller likes with fewer people, and I prefer a place that does not have a ton of boaters or jet skis. The water can get a little 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, but 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 pass 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 try to 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 a pretty large fin (mine has two small fins and one large fin), and I get concerned about the fin getting broke 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. 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 next to a Dam on the Columbia River, it was nice and easy to paddle around, so we already made reservations for next year. At that part of the Columbia, the water was calm and was a perfect place to paddle around. 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 if you do not have your own you can still try it out.
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 up with some 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 paddleboarding, 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 lots of sea creatures and otters who kept popping their heads out of the water to look at me.
What I could not get over was the tiny fish jumping out of the water all around me. Time flew by and I stay out there for a long time, and before I knew it – 4 hours went by. 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 🙂
Check out links to our paddleboards and gear.
This is my brand Paddleboard, ROC!
Paddleboarding clothing for cold cold water
Click the photo below for direct links
Additional Security items
Click the photo below for direct links
The Electric Pump
I will not lie; pumping up the paddleboard can be pretty challenging, especially toward the end, but it is doable. If you don’t want the additional work out, you can buy an electronic pump does into the cigarette lighter. It works amazing. 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 it is pretty much impossible for my teen girls to finish.
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Fabulous blog! Do you pay for your blig site or is it free? I have so many questions!
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[…] Pacific Northwest Paddleboarding – aimeedanielson.com says: January 27, 2021 at 11:34 pm […]
[…] I took up my inflatable Paddleboard because it was a great place to cruise around in the island. If you go swimming -I got a good tip from a local – Eagle Cove Beach. If you feel inclined to jump on the paddleboarding train here is the Paddleboard we use (which right now as of April 2021 are on deep discount). Check out my bog below for the essentials. Here is my PNW Guide for Paddleboarding! […]
[…] I took up my inflatable Paddleboard because it was a great place to cruise around in the island. If you go swimming -I got a good tip from a local – Eagle Cove Beach. If you feel inclined to jump on the paddleboarding train here is the Paddleboard we use (which right now as of April 2021 are on deep discount). Check out my blog below for the essentials. Here is my PNW Guide for Paddleboarding! […]