UPPER NEWPORT BAY (Newport Back Bay)

UPPER NEWPORT BAY (Newport Back Bay) Kayak, Canoe and Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Guide

Orange County, California

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.

The best place to launch is North Star Beach by the Newport Aquatic Center which has free parking and free launching from the beach. Kayaks , canoes and stand up paddle boards (SUPS) can also be rented at the Newport Aquatic Center.

Other spots to launch nearby are the Newport Dunes (fee for parking and rental kayaks available) and off of back bay drive (free parking but only good to launch at a fairly high tide). Scroll down the page and keep reading for more information about paddling Upper Newport Bay.

UPPER NEWPORT BAY MAPS

UPPER NEWPORT BAY TIDES

VIDEO of Upper Newport Bay

Go to my blog page for UPPER NEWPORT BAY

Go to our ORANGE COUNTY paddling page - more places to paddle in Orange County

The afternoon onshore sea breeze blows up the bay and normally calms down in the evening so I like to paddle here starting at North Star Beach in the late afternoon and head up the bay (heading Northeast / to the left from North Star Beach) with the wind at my back and then paddle back in the evening around sunset when the wind has died down and the water has glassed off. The current from the tides normally isn't as big of a factor in paddling here as the wind is, but if you can time the incoming tide with your trip up the bay and the out flowing tide with your trip back, it makes the paddle that much easier. Paddling up the bay you see extensive wetlands. This is an excellent trip for bird watching.

Another paddling option is to head Southwest towards lower Newport Bay/Newport Harbor. This is a good paddling option if you are here mid morning or early afternoon because you will normally have the wind at your back when coming back in the afternoon. Heading Southwest, you pass some wetlands and some scenic cliffs.

--A campground is located at Newport Dunes.

Here is a map to Newport Dunes

https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&q=newport+dunes+waterfront+resort&fb=1&gl=us&hq=newport+dunes+waterfront+resort&hnear=newport+dunes+waterfront+resort&cid=0,0,13109554540669366538&ei=B__DUdi3JM3ligLJr4GgAQ&sqi=2&ved=0CEIQrwswAA

I have a web page for Newport Dunes

Here is a map to North Star Beach:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=north+star+beach+newport+ca+map&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x80dcdfdbd7f46b87:0x20af87a913981a0a,North+Star+Beach&gl=us&ei=j43DUcb9GOLgiAK8-oDAAw&sqi=2&ved=0CDwQ8gEwAA

I have a web page for North Star Beach and the Newport Aquatic Center

My hand drawn map of Upper Newport Bay

Click here to view my hand drawn map

(c) Copyright 2011 and 2013 by Mister Dave KayakDave.blogspot.com

Looking at Upper Newport Bay from the cliffs in Newport Beach:

Snowy Egrets in Upper Newport Bay. The Back Bay is an excellent place for bird watching ( birding)

North Star Beach Kayak Launch:

Stand up paddle boards and kayaks by North Star Beach Kayak Launch:

North Star Beach by the Newport Aquatic Center

Beautiful colors in the evening in Upper Newport Bay:

See more pictures of Upper Newport Bay on my Back Bay picture page

VIDEO of UPPER NEWPORT BAY (Newport Back Bay) Newport Beach, California