McCovey Cove
If you’re into paddleboarding and baseball, head to City Kayak to rent a board and paddle over to McCovey Cove. This inlet sits in the shadow of the San Francisco Giant’s AT&T Park and is a great place to take in the action on a sunny day. You may not have a great view of the field, but you’ll have a great time with other boaters and kayakers that are hanging out in the cove.
City Kayak, Pier 40, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415 294 1050
Richardson Bay
The (usually) calm water in Richardson Bay makes it the perfect place for beginners to learn how to paddleboard. Either bring your own board or rent one at Sea Trek Kayak and SUP. If you don’t quite have the hang of things, take a few of Sea Trek’s classes that are offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Sea Trek Kayak and SUP, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA, USA, +1 415 332 8494
Tomales Bay
Although Tomales Bay is known for its oysters, it also has some fantastic paddleboarding spots that will fuel your thirst for adventure. For organized kayaking trips and rentals, head to Blue Waters Kayaking, an outdoor activity shop that offers tons of classes and trips. For the summer, check out the shop’s amazing moonlit bioluminescence trips to see the light show put on by local marine plankton, officially known as dinoflagellates.
Blue Waters Kayaking Inverness, 12944 Sir Francis Drive Blvd, Inverness, CA, USA, +1 415 669 2600
Shoreline Lake
The Shoreline Lake boathouse offers paddleboarding lessons as well as SUP yoga classes that encourage you to go with the flow. After working up an appetite while paddleboarding, refuel with a delicious breakfast, brunch, or lunch at the boathouse’s American Bistro.
Shoreline Lake, 3160 North Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA, USA, +1 650 965 7474
Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area
Located just one mile from Pleasanton, Shadow Cliffs is a prime location for summer fun at the lake. After exploring the lake on your board, relax with a picnic on the beach.
Rocky Mountain Recreation Company, 2500 Stanley Blvd, Pleasanton, CA, USA, +1 925 426 0197
Del Valle Regional Park
This calm and peaceful lake is around five miles long and has tons of great places to explore on a paddleboard. Feel free to bring your own board or rent one for the day at the parks’ equipment store that is located right along the beach near the main entrance.
Del Valle Regional Park, 7000 Del Valle Road, Livermore, CA, USA, +1 510 544 3139
Crown Beach
This great spot is a must-visit in the Bay Area for your paddleboarding bucket list. The beach is relatively isolated and has a scenic view of the San Francisco skyline. The water is shallow and calm, but make sure to stay closer to the coast to avoid winds and rough currents.
Crown Beach, 8th Street and Otis Drive, Alameda, CA, USA, +1 888 327 2757
Contra Loma Regional Park
With 780 acres of land and 80 acres of lake, the Contra Loma Regional Park is a great choice for tons of outdoor activities. Paddleboarding is available anywhere outside the swim lagoon.
Contra Loma Regional Park, 1200 Frederickson Lane, Antioch, CA, USA, +1 888 327 2757
Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
Farther north in Benicia, the Carquinez Strait is an awesome spot for both paddleboarding and kayaking. On a clear day, paddling along the coastline will give you beautiful views of the rolling hills on either side of the strait. For rentals and lessons, head to Benicia Kite and Paddle Sports, a shop that has been helping people get the most out of the Bay since 2012.
Benicia Kite and Paddle Sports, 12th Street Park, Benicia, CA, USA, +1 209 304 2200
By Susan Blick