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Guide For Places To Paddle And Launch A Kayak And Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Along The California Central Coast
The Elkhorn Slough is a protected wetland with easy launching.
Paddling a SUP, kayak, or canoe is the ideal way to view the many varieties of birds that live and pass through here.
For detailed launch and paddling information please visit our Elkhorn Slough web page
Otter swimming in the Elkhorn Slough:
MONTEREY and PACIFIC GROVE (web link)
The area around Monterey bay has some excellent scenic kayak and standup paddle board SUP spots. You can either launch from the protected harbor or better yet from several protected spots west of the harbor.
For detailed launch and paddling information please visit our Monterey and Pacific Grove web page
Some kayaking and SUP pictures Monterey:
The name "Big Sur" is often used to refer to the rugged spectacular coast between Carmel and San Simeon. Big Sur's "greatest meeting of land and sea" provides some truly magnificent coastline for kayaking and stand up paddle boarding.
BIG SUR COAST POINT LOBOS (web link)
Point Lobos just south of carmel has wonderfully dramatic scenery. Sea otters, seals, and sea lions abound in the water here along with dramatic rocky cliffs and reefs. There is a very protected launch spot at Whalers Cove and a more exposed (often treacherous) launch spot by Monastery Beach. (more Point Lobos information)
BIG SUR COAST SOUTH (web link)
The Big Sur Coast near the Pacific Valley has some of California's most spectacular coast still in pristine natural condition. Huge cliffs plunging into the pacific, sea stacks, towering peaks, otters, and an abundance of other wildlife. The sea around here can get wild and treacherous and all the launch spots here are somewhat exposed. However, when the wind is calm and the surf/seas are small to moderate you'll be rewarded with an unforgettable paddle. There are also some wonderful hikes to do in the area when the sea/surf is too rough for paddling or you just want a break from paddling.
For detailed launch and paddling information please visit our Big Sur Coast South web page
The coast around San Simeon near Hearst Castle provides for numerous paddling opportunities where you can observe sea caves, sea stacks, and elephant seals.
MOON STONE BEACH DR/LEFFINGWELL LANDING (web link)
The rocky coast and coves around Moon Stone Beach Drive and Leffingwell Landing provides some scenic paddling oportunities.
Scenic rocks and coast for kayaking and stand up paddle boarding (SUP)
CAYUCAS STATE BEACH (web link)
Cayucas State Beach has a scenic rocky coast to the west which can be explored when the surf is small.
The protected waters by Morro Bay provide excellent paddling oportunities for canoists, kayakers and stand up paddle board paddlers. One can explore the many birds found in the marshlands of the bay or paddle out to the sandspit to look around and picnic. The large east thumb of the bay by the south end of Morro Bay State park has the largest marshland area where many different types of birds can be seen.
The waters by Montana De Oro state park often have large surf. Occasionally, when the surf is small and the sea calm, Spooners Cove provides an excellent launch spot for some outstanding kayaking.
The coast near Port San Luis and Avila Beach offers some spectacular coastline with easy launching.
As you paddle here, the rolling hills--green in the spring or late winter provide a wonderful backdrop behind the rocky shore and cliffs.
SHELL BEACH and PISMO BEACH (web link)
Paddling below the cliffs by Shell Beach there are some very nice sea stacks and rock formations / arches / sea caves. Often times, the surf is small here and you can paddle very near to the cliffs and sea stacks.
The Santa Barbara coast in Santa Barbara County is divided by Point Concepcion. The area north of Point Concepcion is very exposed to surf and winds. The area south of Point Concepcion is somewhat protected and provides numerous launch spots. In the summer, the section of the Santa Barbara coast that is south of Point Conception has almost no surf because the Channel Islands prevent the south swells of summer from reaching the coast here.
The following are some of the areas to paddle in Santa Barbara county:
SANTA MARIA RIVER MOUTH WETLANDS/NIPOMA DUNES PRESERVE (book link)
GAVIOTA STATE BEACH (web link)
California's Channel Islands are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean along the Santa Barbara Channel and San Pedro Channel. Five of the islands are part of Channel Islands National Park. Beautiful and remote - check out my Channel Islands web pages for more information
The California Central Coast is an area spanning the coastal region of California between Point Mugu and Monterey Bay. I have included the area from the Elkhorn Slough (Just North of Monterey) through the California Channel Islands (The Southern Channel Islands are South of Point Mugu). Find other places to paddle in California in the index and in my Paddle California Stand Up Paddle Board and Kayak book
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