The 8 Best Places to Paddle Board in San Diego

Long an outdoor lover’s dream, America’s Finest City boasts 70 miles of dramatic coastline, with sunny, palm-lined beaches and harbors. And with a mild Mediterranean climate, it’s easy to kayak or paddle board in San Diego year-round.

Having grown up here, we’ve explored nearly every body of water in San Diego County over the years. Below, we rank our favorite places to paddle board or kayak, in ascending order.

Jump to:

• #8. Lake San Marcos
• #7. Oceanside Harbor
• #6. Agua Hedionda
• #5. Liberty Station and Shelter Island
• #4. La Jolla Cove
• #3. Mission Bay
• #2. Coronado Ferry Landing
• #1. Glorietta Bay
• Where Can You NOT Paddle Board in San Diego?

#8. Lake San Marcos

Town: San Marcos
Type of Paddle: out-and-back
Rentals: mandatory (at Sail Club)
Where to Launch: Sail Club marina (directions)

Because of its small size, Lake San Marcos is a more contained adventure. But that should by no means diminish the enjoyment of cruising this lake’s multiple inlets. Once you pass the waterfront homes, there is a long “tail” along the south side of the lake for more open-air paddling.  

Note: you cannot bring your own boards, even if you own. You must rent from Sail Club marina for $30/hour. You’ll also need to purchase a $15 day pass. The costs are comparable for anyone needing to rent anyway, but not ideal for those who have their own boards, hence the lower ranking on our list.

#7. Oceanside Harbor

Town: Oceanside Harbor
Type of Paddle: out-and-back
Rentals: available at Oceanside Boat Rental
Where to Launch: either the boat launch connected to the main parking lot, or a shore launch along the beach

Oceanside Harbor is a smaller marina, but still creates an enjoyable atmosphere as you wind between North Harbor and South Harbor. There are multiple waterfront restaurants if you want to dock for a bite to eat, and for the more adventurous, you can follow the jetty out to the ocean. You’ll invariably see some marine life too, especially at the aptly named Sea Lion Island.

#6. Agua Hedionda

Town: Carlsbad
Type of Paddle: out-and-back
Rentals: California Watersports
Where to Launch: shore launch from either Agua Hedionda lagoon or beach

While not extensive, Agua Hedionda provides a sunny outing in one of the few North County paddle boarding spots that isn’t open ocean. The tranquil waters of the protected lagoon are suited for all levels, and the small beach is a great spot to post up post-paddle. You can complete the full circle in under 1 hour, or cross the connected waterway beneath the 5 freeway to the west side for a little extra exercise.

#5. Liberty Station and Shelter Island

Town: San Diego and Point Loma
Type of Paddle: out-and-back
Rentals: West Coast Paddle Rentals, Disco’s Paddle Surf, Action Sport Rentals
Where to Launch: either boat launch at Liberty Station and Shelter Island, or shore launch at various beaches like Kellogg Beach or Grace Beach (Shelter Island)

Situated along the north shores of San Diego Bay, the narrow inlet of Liberty Station spits paddlers out to the main waterway, connecting to Americas Cup Harbor and Shelter Island. Beginners can cruise among the protected harbors of either Liberty Station or Shelter Island, while more advanced paddlers can venture into the main channel that connects the two. Just be careful to stay close to the shoreline, as the open waters of San Diego Bay bring lots of sailboats, ships, and stronger currents.

#4. La Jolla Cove

Town: La Jolla
Type of Paddle: out-and-back or point-to-point
Rentals: La Jolla Caves Snorkel and Paddleboard Rental if launching from La Jolla Cove beach. Available at Everyday California, La Jolla Surf Systems, La Jolla Kayak and more if launching from La Jolla Shores.
Where to Launch: either La Jolla Shores boat launch or La Jolla Cove beach

Abutting the open ocean, La Jolla Cove is not for first-time paddle boarders. But for those comfortable navigating some swells and currents, it’s an unforgettable experience to get up close to the coastline’s famous sea caves. The waters of La Jolla Cove are often crystal clear, with visibility up to 30 feet on good days, and are rife with marine life. Among the vibrant kelp forests swim bright garibaldi (the state fish of California), sea lions, (harmless) leopard sharks, sea turtles, and plenty of other brightly colored fish.

You can either make your trip an out-and-back adventure, or stage two cars (one at La Jolla Shores beach, and the other at La Jolla Cove beach) and paddle the 1.5 miles in between.

#3. Mission Bay

Town: Mission Bay
Type of Paddle: out-and-back
Rentals: Available at Action Sport Rentals, Mission Bay Sport Center, Aqua Adventures, Just Kayak, and more
Where to Launch: Numerous boat ramps include De Anza, Santa Clara, Dana Landing, South Shores and more. Otherwise, you can shore launch from any parking lot.

Mission Bay is one of the original spots to paddleboard in San Diego. Before the sport was more widespread, locals were already hopping atop their boards in this vacation playground.

Mission Bay is expansive, and it’s impossible to see the whole area in one paddle. It’s best to pick a spot and dawdle around, exploring the various beaches and inlets for as long as you wish. However, you should plan to share the waterways with a variety of watersports, and stay aware of the boats, jet skis, and more.

#2. Coronado Ferry Landing

Town: Coronado
Type of Paddle: out-and-back or point-to-point
Rentals: SUP Coronado, SUP and Saddle, and Ray’s Rentals
Where to Launch: shore launch at either Coronado Ferry Landing or nearby Tidelands Park

The Ferry Landing provides a unique perspective of San Diego Bay and the downtown skyline across the water. You’ll need to stay close to the Coronado shoreline and not venture out to the main channel, which is busy with both private and commercial ships. But, hugging the eastern shore of Coronado is a perfectly safe jaunt. Still, just expect some residual currents from San Diego Bay – and if your paddleboard balance isn’t perfect, drop to your knees as needed.

You can either paddle out and back for as long as you wish, or stage a second car at Glorietta Bay (#1 below) for approximately a 1-hour point-to-point trip.

#1. Glorietta Bay

Town: Coronado
Type of Paddle: out-and-back or point-to-point
Rentals: None available. If needed, you can rent elsewhere in Coronado (see #2 above) and transport the watercraft to the launch point
Where to Launch: Glorietta Bay Park, at either the shore or the boat ramp on the north side

This is our favorite spot to paddle board in San Diego. The waters of Glorietta Bay are calm, offering an enjoyable paddle to all ability levels. You can either weave among the marina boat slips for a more relaxed outing, or if you’re looking for more adventure, hug the shoreline along the golf course out to San Diego Bay. It’s a 20 – 30 minute paddle out to the Coronado Bay Bridge, where floating underneath provides a unique perspective to this iconic San Diego landmark. Additionally, if you need a rest along the way, you can beach your board on one of the small sandy beaches lining the golf course.

You can paddle Glorietta Bay either as an out-and-back, or stage a second car at the Coronado Ferry Landing (see #2 above), for approximately a 1-hour point-to-point trip. Plentiful parking makes the logistics a breeze.

Where Can You NOT Paddle Board in San Diego?

Despite appearing well-suited to paddling, there are a few bodies of water where paddling and kayaking are prohibited. The following is a non-exhaustive list of places where you cannot paddle board in San Diego County:

• Batiquitos Lagoon (Carlsbad)
• El Capitan Reservoir (Lakeside) **
• Lake Miramar (Scripps Ranch)
• Lower Otay Reservoir (Chula Vista) **
• Murray Reservoir (La Mesa) **
• San Elijo Lagoon (Cardiff)
• San Vicente Reservoir (Lakeside) **
• Sutherland Reservoir (Ramona) **
• Upper Otay Reservoir

**note: you can kayak in these locations, but paddle boarding is prohibited.