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.

Know The Local Hazards
  • Check navigation charts before you launch.
  • Check with those who have local knowledge of man-made and natural hazards, e.g. low-head dams; sweepers, strainers and undercuts; tides and currents; and rocks and shoals.

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

California

Colorado

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Kentucky

Maine

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

New York

Nevada

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Check The Weather
  • Plan for changing weather conditions. Prepare for the worst case.
  • Don’t forget to check tide, currents, or river levels.

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Canada

Alberta

British Columbia

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Quebec

International

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.

one solo kayak and one tandem kayak paddling on flat water 6 Questions To Ask Before Your Next Kayak Rental

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:

[ View all kayak tours in our Paddling Trip Guide ]

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

7 Essentials For Long Kayak Trips

5 Underrated Kayak Safety Skills

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.

Education: Get Some!
  • Take a paddling safety course from the American Canoe Association (ACA), your local paddling shop or outfitter, or other reputable source.
  • Take a boating safety course from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons® or your own state’s boating agency.
  • Take on-the-water skills training.

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.

people kayaking on the coast Top 10 Tips For Paddling Safety

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.

 

Marissa Evans
Marissa has been an editor at Paddling Magazine since she joined the team in 2020. With a love for storytelling and SEO, Marissa has been at home in the digital content space for almost a decade. Her offline pursuits include camping, downhill skiing, ice cream eating, and book reading.
Brenna Kelly
Brenna was a semi-pro creek boater and freestyle paddler on the Canadian National Team. She teaches all paddlesports and swift water rescue (now as a hobby) because she loves it so much. She is passionate about introducing people to paddlesports and she does this now by creating product reviews, writing inspiring destination articles and working with industry brands and paddlesports destinations to connect the dots for new and avid paddlers alike.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

2 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here