Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, there’s almost always somewhere to go kayaking, canoeing, rafting or paddleboarding near you. Finding that perfect location can vary greatly in difficulty, depending on the waterways and popularity of paddling in your area. That’s where we can help. Below you’ll find our favorite paddling destinations and all the resources and tips you need to find more stretches, as well as people to go for a paddle, whether you’re looking for a whitewater run, canoe trip route or afternoon of kayaking.
Armed with these handy tools, you’ll not only be able to find your next place to paddle, but also where to rent, who to go with, which tours to take, where to get lessons and more.
The best kayak, canoe, raft and SUP trips near you
Our picks for paddling destinations across the U.S., Canada, and around the world:
U.S states
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
- How To Plan A Grand Canyon Trip
- The Beautiful Paddling Experiences Lake Powell Offers
- Paddle Through The Desert On The Black Canyon Water Trail
California
- The Golden State: Guide To Kayaking In California
- Guide To Kayaking In San Francisco
- Kayaking on Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada
- 10 Things To Know Before Paddling The Big Sur Coast
- The Best Places To Standup Paddleboard In San Diego
Colorado
- Kayaking In Colorado: How To Plan A Trip To Whitewater Paradise
- Where To Go Whitewater Rafting In Colorado
Florida
- How To Plan A Florida Kayaking Trip
- Kayaking Key West: Tours, Rentals, Fishing, Mangroves & Snorkeling
- Best Places To Paddle In Southern Florida
- Top Kayaking Experiences In Orlando
- Plan A Trip Down The Weeki Wachee River
- Everglades Kayak Trip
- A Guide To Southwest Florida’s Great Calusa Blueway
- The Best Places To Kayak With Manatees
- The Best Places To Paddle In Tampa
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
- Best Kayaking Spots In Michigan
- Best Rivers To Kayak In Michigan
- Paddling The Serene Waterways Of Ann Arbor, MI
- A Guide To Kayaking The Apostle Islands
Minnesota
Missouri
New York
Nevada
North Carolina
- The Best Paddling Across North Carolina
- The Best Whitewater River Trips In North Carolina
- The Roanoke River Trail
Ohio
Oregon
- Kayaking Routes In Portland
- The Best River To Kayak On Oregon’s South Coast
- How To Plan A John Day River Trip
- How To Plan A Lower Owyhee River Trip
- How To Plan A Rogue River Trip
Pennsylvania
- Paddle Pittsburgh: Tips For Kayaking The Mon, Ohio & Allegheny Rivers
- The Best Paddling Spots On The Schuylkill River
- Best Rivers In The Poconos
Tennessee
- Paddle Lazy Rivers & Serene Lakes: Guide To Kayaking In Nashville
- The Best Places To Go Whitewater Rafting In Tennessee
Texas
- Paddle Past Cityscapes & Secluded River Banks In Austin, TX
- Paddle The Bayous & Lakes Of Beautiful Houston With This Guide
Utah
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Canada
Alberta
- Your Guide To Paddling Moraine Lake In Banff
- How To Experience Banff By Canoe
- Lake & River Kayaking In Calgary
- Edmonton Canoe Guide
- Kayak Edmonton
- 3 Best Canoe Routes Near Edmonton On The North Saskatchewan River
- Paddling On Lake Louise
British Columbia
- The Best Kayaking On Vancouver Island
- Kayaking In Tofino
- Best Kayak Trips & Tours On B.C.’s Sunshine Coast
- Kayaking With The Whales In Telegraph Cove
- Kayaking Deep Cove—Just Minutes From Vancouver
- Guide To Kayaking In Vancouver
- Kayaking Victoria, British Columbia
- Kootenay Lake Trip Guide
- Where To Watch Wildlife While Paddling in B.C.
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Ontario
- 14 Best Canoe Routes Near Lake Of The Woods
- 13 Algonquin Park Canoe Routes
- Plan Your Dream Algonquin Park Backcountry Camping Trip
- 12 Best Places To Paddle In The Ottawa Valley
- Canoeing Lake Superior
- Kayaking Georgian Bay And The North Channel
- The 4 Best Places To Kayak In Toronto
- 6 Of The Best Lake Ontario Beaches For Paddling
- Trip Guide To The Thousand Islands, Ontario
- Paddling Lake Superior’s Rossport Islands
- Guide To Paddling The Grand River
Quebec
International
- The Best Places To Kayak In New Zealand
- 5 Of The Best Places In The World To Go Bioluminescent Kayaking
- Top 8 Paddling Destinations For Amazing Wildlife
- 7 Sunny Places To Paddle & Work On Your Tan
- Guide To Kayaking In Ireland
- A Guide To Kayaking In Puerto Rico
- Kayaking In Chile’s Whitewater Paradise
- Canoeing The River Wye
- Sjoa Valley Trip Guide: Norway’s Whitewater Paddling Paradise
- Whale Watching In Baja California Sur
How to finding more places to go kayaking and canoeing
The two best tools you can use to find places to paddle, tours, lessons, and rentals are the Paddling Trip Guide and Paddling Maps.
Explore the Paddling Trip Guide
Our Paddling Trip Guide provides information about kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and rafting trips. It allows you to sort and filter for adventures based on location, activity, operator, waterway, trip length, accommodation, guided or non-guided, adventure level and more.
Start using Paddling Maps
This free website will help you find the best paddling near you including launch sites, put-ins, take-outs, river classifications and more.
Kayak and canoe rentals
Are you planning an adventure but need to rent a kayak? Kayak rental shops exist near almost every major waterway in North America and the world. Maybe you want to rent a paddle or pedal kayak. Or perhaps you want a fishing kayak. On a budget? No problem, cheap rentals aren’t hard to find. Hourly, daily and weekly rentals are usually available. Find the right kayak rental near you or check our ready-made, destination-specific guides below:
Kayak and canoe launches
Enter the water easily at specified kayak launches. These places are usually free boat launches or ramps. Sometimes a permit is required. Find a place to launch your kayak near you by consulting your local tourism website or using the Paddling Maps app.
Kayak & canoe tours near you
Paddle with whales, watch the waves crash with bioluminescence or simply take the stress away with a guided kayak tour. See some of our tour round-ups below:
Top kayak and canoe spots
With thousands of places to paddle, it’s easiest to first choose what kind of kayaking you’d like to do. Then choose a lake, river, stream or coastline, pack your bags, and head to the water.
To help with your planning process, we’ve put together the following articles:
7 River Safety Essentials To Take On The River
Kayak Camping: Ultimate Accessories And Gear List
Kayak fishing
Our Paddling Trip Guide has the low down on kayak fishing adventures. Alternatively, the Kayak Angler website, our sister publication, has a kayak fishing hotspots section with hundreds of articles on where to fish and when.
Kayak and canoe clubs
Almost everywhere with a major waterway has a kayak club. Find yours by asking other paddlers around town, searching for “kayak club” on Facebook, or contacting the organizer of a local paddling event.
There are also larger social media kayak and paddling clubs. These online communities are the perfect place to share your paddling photos, meet fellow paddlers and post about your best days on the water.
Kayak and canoe lessons
Learning to kayak with a certified instructor will save you time, money and maybe your life. Sign up for an instruction or skills clinic, practice your skills on a regular basis, and surround yourself with safety-conscious paddlers.
Used kayaks for sale near you
Buying a used kayak is no easy task. Learn everything you need to know in our article: How To Buy A Used Kayak.
Kayak and canoe stores and shops near you
Whether you’re looking for a repair shop or want to buy a new kayak or canoe, there are likely many shops near you. You can also order from many brands direct online; however, we recommend test paddling a kayak before you buy.
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