Lower Castaways Park in Newport Beach by the intersection of Pacific Cost Highway and Dover Drive is a very easy place to launch your kayak, canoe or SUP. There is lots of free parking here.
This seldom used area is almost a secret spot. You can park within about 6 feet of the water in the free dirt parking lot. It is a little tricky to find the entrance to the parking lot - You can only enter from the northbound side of Dover Drive.
UPDATE 10/19/2024: This spot is used much more now - outrigger canoes are stored here and outrigger and other paddling groups meet here. Occasionally, the parking lot fills up on the weekend.
The best spot to launch from is the south side of the dirt parking lot right under the Pacific Cost Highway Bridge. There are very few improvements in the Lower Castaways Park. There are porta porta potties available here for use. Part of the area is used a city maintenance yard. There is a stairway connecting Lower Castaways Park with Upper Castaways Park.
From the launch spot in Lower Castaways Park, you can paddle north east along the cliffs of Dover towards Upper Newport Bay. Another option from this launch spot is to paddle under the Pacific Cost Highway Bridge into Lower Newport Bay (Newport Harbor)