Kayaking is one of the easiest ways to get out on the water, and the USA has some of the best places to try it. Kayaking also offers the opportunity to see famous destinations from a different perspective. No matter the experience level, travellers just need to find the best places to kayak, because it is easy enough to learn.
READ MORE: Here is the Travel Wanderlust list of best places to visit in the US
Choose a guided tour or kayak rental, and paddle around protected waters or venture out sea kayaking on open water. Here are just 10 of the best places to kayak in the USA – from California to Florida, Colorado to Washington, D.C.
Mammoth Lakes, California
With a name like Mammoth Lakes, you are bound to find some beautiful kayaking spots as this little mountain town has no shortage of pristine lakes to choose from!
Located in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, Mary, Mamie, George, and Horsehoe each offer a spectacular alpine lake setting. But for a truly unique kayaking experience, you can’t go past Mono Lake!
With its tufa towers and turquoise water, Mono Lake is a place unlike anywhere else in California. The highly alkaline (salty) waters of the lake combined with the high-altitude desert climate provide rare habitat for a diverse collection of birds, mammals, and some rather strange invertebrates — which makes it an amazing place to explore by kayak or canoe.
Desert Lake in Arizona
Sign up for a guided kayak tour to explore Lake Powell in northern Arizona and meander through deep slot canyons, including flooded portions of the famous Antelope Canyon. Marvel at towering sandstone cliffs, and camp under the stars on an overnight kayaking trip. While you’re there, why not consider a road trip through Arizona’s desert and mountain towns.
Spring-Fed River in Florida
Ninety minutes north of Tampa, Florida, in Rainbow Springs State Park, kayak on the Rainbow River, which is fed by a first-magnitude spring. Float past shores lined with towering cypress trees, sunning turtles, and showy shorebirds. The water – a refreshing 22 degrees Celsius year-round – is so clear, that you’ll feel like you’re suspended in midair.
The Ghost Ships of Kiptopeke in Virginia
Plan a paddle in Kiptopeke State Park, where you can kayak out to the Ghost Fleet of Kiptopeke—nine partially sunken, concrete WWII ships lined up end-to-end just offshore as a breakwater. Named after pioneers in the science and development of concrete, these ships have withstood surges from many a storm, and over time, have become an ideal habitat for marine and avian life of all shapes and sizes.
Mountain Lake in Colorado
Paddle on Lake Estes in the town of Estes Park, Colorado, adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park. See spectacular views of snow-capped mountains reflected in the lake’s pristine blue water. Pull your kayak up on shore to enjoy a picnic and snap some photos.
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Iconic Pacific Coastline in California
Kayak in Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco, to enjoy views of Cannery Row, made famous by author John Steinbeck. Watch for abundant wildlife – sea lions, seals, and otters entertain, and humpbacks and other whales may swim past offshore.
Urban River in Washington, D.C.
See the nation’s capital from the water – kayak down the Potomac River around Theodore Roosevelt Island and past the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. See the Georgetown waterfront, D.C. skyline, and cityscape of Arlington, Virginia.
Bioluminescent Bays in Puerto Rico
Paddle under a new moon through seemingly magical bioluminescence in Laguna Grande in Fajardo, near the east end of the island. The calm water glows when microorganisms are stirred up by kayaks or paddles. You can also kayak on two other bioluminescent bays in Puerto Rico, including Mosquito Bay on the nearby island of Vieques and La Parguera in Lajas on the island’s southwest coast.
Harbor Islands in Massachusetts
Go sea kayaking among the history-filled Boston Harbor Islands, which are near the city but feel remote. In the inner harbor, find more historical sites and calmer waters; the outer islands offer privacy and untouched landscapes. Tour lighthouses and ruins of forts, and spend the night in a yurt.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota
Join a guided tour in Ely, Minnesota, and go kayaking in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Deer, moose, otters, bald eagles and loons live in the dense pine forests and network of glacial lakes and streams that make up this huge wilderness area.
Tropical Bay in Hawaii
Paddle in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, a sheltered bay and one of Hawaii’s calmer places and on most of our lists of best places to kayak in the US.
Spot parrotfish and mahi-mahi on the two barrier reefs, wander the sandbar that’s exposed at low tide, and pull the kayak up on the white-sand beach with views of Pyramid Rock.
San Juan Islands
Go sea kayaking around rocky outcroppings in the San Juan Islands and into open water in search of orcas. Sightings of this largest member of the dolphin family peak in July and August. Take the family kayaking in protected waters to check out the tide pools and watch for bald eagles and harbor seals.
How to decide the best places to kayak?
When choosing your kayaking location, it has to suit what you need. Whether it is a large body of water that offers a serene trip for you and your friends, or something a bit more adventurous, there are options all over the US.
The decision has to be based on what you’re looking to experience. Why don’t you drop us your choices for the best places to kayak and we’ll be sure to update this list.
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