Places To Paddle And Launch A Kayak And Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) In Orange County California
Ocean Kayaking / Sea Kayaking / SUP Stand Up Paddle Boarding Places To Paddle And Launch A Kayak And Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) In Orange County California
Listed from north to south, the following areas to kayak and stand up paddle board and canoe are located in Orange County California:
Huntington Harbor in Huntington Beach has several convenient places to launch. Paddle by the yachts and in canals between the large houses, Not much of the nearby large wetland reserve is accessible for exploration because it is part of the seal beach naval weapons station. (You are not allowed to access the open ocean from Huntington Harbor when you are paddling a kayak, standup paddleboard, canoe, or other personal watercraft. The access to the open ocean passes through the Naval Weapons Center.)
Pictures of Huntington Harbor:
Huntington Beach on the open ocean tends to have VERY LARGE SURF and a long paddle out through the surf. In the summer, the surf at Bolsa Chica State Beach tends to be a little bit smaller and less powerful than the rest of Huntington Beach. Very experienced SUP surfers, kayakers, and surf ski enthusiast may enjoy the surf - be careful!
Upper Newport Bay is a protected wetland which is an excellent area to paddle for canoe, stand up paddle board (SUP) and kayak. Upper Newport Bay is sometimes called the Back Bay.
Paddling is an excellent way to bird watch in the Back Bay. Gliding along on the water here it's possible to get within a few feet of many of the wide variety of birds that live here. (More information about Upper Newport Bay is at this link)
Pictures of Upper Newport Bay:
Newport Harbor in Newport Beach, has many places where it's fairly easy to launch a SUP, canoe or kayak. The parking at many spots is free. However, sometimes it's hard to find an available spot so you may need to drop off your canoe or kayak and park a ways from where you launch.
You can either stay within the harbor or paddle outside the harbor. (More information about Newport Harbor / Corona Del Mar / Crystal Cove is at this link)
Pictures of Newport Beach / Newport Harbor / Corona Del Mar / Crystal Cove:
NEWPORT SHORES and BANNING RANCH
Newport Shores has a protected wetland that has very easy launch spots. The wetland is an area that was previously part of the Santa Ana River that used to empty into Newport Bay. Now the Santa Ana River has been redirected and enters directly into the Pacific Ocean on the North West end of Newport Beach.
Laguna Beach has many coves and wonderful rock formations which are beautiful to paddle by. Normally the surf is smaller in Laguna than at other surrounding areas which makes the beach entries required here fairly easy on a day with no major swell.
You can paddle along the rocky coast and land in a secluded cove for lunch. The City of Laguna Beach is kayak friendly, it's legal to launch and land on any of the beaches.
The diving and snorkeling can also be excellent in Laguna, I often snorkel from a kayak here. (More information about Laguna Beach is at this link)
Pictures of Laguna Beach:
From Salt Creek Beach Park, you can either paddle north past Three Arch Bay in Laguna Beach or South around Dana Point. Both directions have beautiful scenery and are worthwhile.
The surf here usually breaks a little ways from shore and when no major swell is present usually isn't too powerful.
Salt Creek Beach Park has meter parking and a fairly long ramp down to the beach. A bit far to carry a kayak but not to bad for a SUP.
Dana Point Harbor has a very easy launch spot from a sandy beach where there is free and pay parking. You can paddle around the scenic harbor with it's pretty cliffs and also paddle out of the harbor around Dana Point. You can also launch from Doheny Beach.
Pictures of Dana Point:
See detailed launch and trip descriptions with maps and pictures and read more about Kayaking and Stand up Paddle Boarding in DANA POINT HARBOR / DOHENY BEACH / DANA POINT on my web page
Items discussed on this web page include the following:
Ocean Kayaking / Sea Kayaking / SUP Stand Up Paddle Boarding - Places to kayak in Orange County California - Places to go kayaking In Orange County California - Places To Launch A Kayak In Orange County California - Places to SUP Stand Up Paddle board in Orange County California - Places to go Stand Up Paddle Boarding In Orange County California - Places To Launch a SUP Stand Up Paddle Board In Orange County California - Places to kayak in Southern California - Places to go kayaking In Southern California - Places To Launch A Kayak In Southern California - Places to SUP Stand Up Paddle Board in Southern California - Places to go Stand Up Paddle Boarding In Southern California - Places To Launch a SUP Stand Up Paddle Board In Southern California
DISCLAIMER and WARNING! BE SAFE!!
The Pacific Ocean along with it's bays and estuary's have constantly changing conditions which at times can be extremely dangerous. A website and guidebook cannot substitute for your own good judgement, knowledge, and common sense. Hazards may be present that aren't mentioned in this book/website. Wind, tide, temperature, surf, and currents change throughout the day and from day to day. We don't guarantee your safety.
We were actually out paddling on the day we took the giant wave picture shown below - we stayed in the harbor. On this day we launched from K street in Newport Harbor but stopped at kid beach which is near to the wedge but inside the harbor - the little dot is a person in the water. Use your common sense and be safe! See an amazing giant surf Newport Wedge video we took and listen to some of our original surf music at SurfRocking.tumblr.com
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