Category: Kayaking

Experience the City of Angles from a whole new angle. Los Angeles is known for celebrities, shopping, and the sunny California weather, but the bustling city is full of unique and exhilarating experiences indoors and out. Explore the city’s famous parks, beaches and harbors from your kayak!

Top Rated Places to Kayak near Los Angeles

From yacht-filled harbors and the open ocean to rapids and calm canals and lakes, LA is filled with excellent kayaking spots. Check out a few top-rated kayaking destinations in the LA area.

Huntington Harbor

Huntington Beach, CA

Great for new kayakers with a weak current and generally calm waters, the famous Huntington Harbor is an excellent kayaking destination just 35 miles south of LA. Right on the ocean, you can escape the bustling boardwalk with a leisurely paddle. Have fun exploring the calm canals and relaxing waterways lined with elegant waterside homes and boat docks.

LA River

Los Angeles, CA

The LA River runs for over 45 miles, offering lots of excellent sections to kayak. If you are looking for an exhilarating LA kayaking adventure, check out the Elysian Valley, also known as the Glendale Narrows. This two-mile section of the LA River offers an urban LA experience with a bit of Class I rapids. You’ll be in for a workout with the fast-flowing waters and rocky sections you may need to portage.

Marina del Rey Harbor

Marina Del Rey, CA

Marina del Rey offers a lively beach atmosphere with canals and the open ocean to explore. It’s North America’s largest man-made marina. Located close to the LA airport, if offers easy access with several launch points throughout the harbor as well as from the beach’s shoreline. For an easy paddle away from the boat traffic, explore any of the harbor’s eight canals or head out into the open waters of the pacific if you are feeling adventurous. Along with extravagant yachts and sea lions, you may even spot a leopard shark.

Catalina Island

Los Angeles County, CA

It’s a short ferry ride away, but with its beautiful coves and abundant wildlife Catalina Island is one of the most picturesque places to kayak in California. It has over 50 miles of coastline to explore, giving you ample opportunity to spot fish, dolphins, and leopard sharks. Venture out into the open water for a more challenging paddle with stronger currents.

Castaic Lake

Santa Clarita, CA

Less than an hour from LA, Castaic Lake has 29 miles of shoreline, two bodies of water and a dam to explore. The man-made lake offers mountain views dotted with pines and dry brush, warm temperatures and laid-back California vibes. Paddle around the Castaic Lake Lagoon or to the Castaic Dam, which stands over 400 feet tall.

Los Angeles Kayak Storage Racks

One of the best ways to explore LA and the surrounding waters is by kayak. Make sure your kayak is ready for the open ocean, river rapids and calm lakes and canals of Los Angeles with a kayak storage rack. Log Kayak Rack offers cedar log kayak and canoe storage racks that are as beautiful as they are practical. They safely store kayaks, keeping them high and dry, and neatly organize shorelines, backyards, beach-front properties, parks and rental facilities. Shop our kayak racks online now or contact us for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your Los Angeles kayak storage needs.

Austin is the state capital of Texas. An inland city that borders the Hill Country region, it’s known for its eclectic live music as much as its parks and lakes. The city’s warm climate makes it a year-round destination for kayakers and other water lovers.

Best Kayaking Destinations in Austin, Texas

Grab your kayak, canoe or standup paddle board! It’s time to get out and enjoy the sparkling waters surrounding Austin with these top kayaking destinations near the Texas capital.

Lady Bird Lake

Austin, Texas

Perhaps the most popular spot to kayak in Austin, Lake Bird Lake offers a calm, motor-free paddle with stunning city views on one side and the greenery of Zilker Park on the other. Lady Bird Lake is a 416-acre reservoir on the Colorado River that was created by the damming of the river in 1960. The lake offers plenty of launch points and an easy, peaceful paddle. Popular paddles include Barton Creek, Red Bud Isle and Festival Beach.

Lake Austin

Austin, Texas

Less crowded, but with the addition of motorboat traffic, Lake Austin is another popular kayaking destination within the city limits. It’s another lake created by the damming of the Colorado River and is the best place in Austin for paddling if you are looking for natural scenery. Grand homes line sections of the lake, but for the most part you’ll find tranquil, secluded water surrounded by old trees and natural beauty.

Lake Travis

Austin, Texas

Escape the city and head into Hill Country. Lake Travis is just 30 minutes from downtown Austin and a popular summertime destination for live music, dining, parties and, of course, water sports. The lake is 30 square miles, offering plenty of space for paddlers. The lake offers hidden coves as well as a handful of small islands, perfect for exploring.

Inks Lake

Burnet, Texas

Inks Lake State Park is an hour and a half northwest of Austin, and an excellent option for outdoor fun. The lake is great for kayaking, fishing, swimming and even cliff jumping. It’s a fun, 800-acre horseshoe shaped lake that’s 4.2 miles long. Kayakers will enjoy the hilly landscape with jutting pink limestone outcrops, as well as Texas’s beautiful mix of forest trees, grasses, wildflowers and cacti. The state park also offers hiking trails and a campground.

Pedernales River

Johnson City, Texas

Flowing over and around huge slabs of limestone, the Pedernales River can offer a fast and challenging paddle with whitewater rapids and waterfalls. It’s a spring-fed, free-flowing and extremely scenic river that cuts through the heart of former President, Lyndon B. Johnson’s part of Texas. The river flows for 106 miles through rocky and rugged land with stands of Cedar trees, limestone bluffs and cliffs. Paddlers often put in at Johnson City, take out at Pedernales Falls State Park. The river varies between 30 to 60 feet wide and is usually shallow. However, when the river rises 1 to 2 feet above normal, it becomes a breathtaking playground for experience kayakers.

Austin Kayak Storage Racks

One of the best ways to explore the Hill Country region surrounding Austin, Texas is by kayak. Make sure your kayak is ready for the sparkling lakes and rivers near Austin with a proper place to store it. Log Kayak Rack offers cedar log kayak and canoe storage racks that are as beautiful as they are practical. They safely store kayaks, keeping them high and dry, and neatly organize shorelines, backyards, parks and rental facilities. Shop our kayak racks online now or contact us for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your Austin kayak storage needs.

South Carolina is home to some truly spectacular kayaking. With so many rivers, lakes, creeks and coastal inlets, it brings kayakers in from all over the world. At the heart of it all is Charleston.

Charleston Kayaking Destinations

You can’t go wrong no matter where you kayak in Charleston. The coastal city is surrounded by ocean, marshlands, creeks and rivers. Check out the list below for a few of the best places to kayak in Charleston, South Carolina. 

Shem Creek

This famous waterway is one of the best and easiest to access kayaking spots in the Charleston area. Just a few minutes from downtown, the creek is always bustling with kayaks, paddleboards and shrimp boats. A quick paddle from the Charleston Harbor, you’ll enjoy views of the city’s most famous landmarks or venture inland toward the marsh lands and a chance to spot wildlife in the warm calm waters. You may even spot a few dolphins.

Folly Beach

Just south of Charleston, you’ll find Folly Island and Folly Beach, one of Charleston’s most popular beaches and kayaking spots. You can enjoy a scenic paddle exploring the marshes, creeks, tidal flats and barrier islands where you might spot dolphins, osprey, wading birds and sea turtles. Or you can paddle out to Morris Island with its famous lighthouse. The paddle is long, four miles each way, but mostly sheltered making it suitable for beginners.

Isle of Palms

Isle of Palms is a unique coastal barrier island just a few minutes’ drive from Charleston. It offers an incredible kayaking experience with many small coves and a marshy coastline to explore as well as six miles of white, sandy beaches. It has one of the most diverse coastal ecosystems plus an abundance of wildlife including crabs, seagulls, a variety of fish and even possible dolphin sightings.  

Capers Island

Capers Island also know known as Capers Island Heritage Preserve, is an amazing destination for nature loving paddlers. It’s just off the coast north of Charleston and is home to a variety of animals including alligators, sea turtles and a variety of birds. The island is four miles off the shore and only accessible by boat or kayak. You’ll need a permit from the Department of Natural Resources, but the island has oyster beds, salt marshes, maritime uplands, and even a boneyard beach of dead, salt bleached trees that were eroded by the ocean.

Lake Moultrie

Off the coast, about 40 miles north of Charleston, is Lake Moultrie. The huge lake covers 60,000 acres, with paddling options for every level of kayaker. Beginners may want to stay near the shore where more advanced kayakers may want to venture out on the Jungle paddling trail. Part of the Berkeley Blueways, this trail cuts through shallow, swampy waters that are too narrow for larger vessels. Its home to unique flora and fauna as well as alligators, massive clusters of water lilies, wading birds and fish.

Charleston Kayak Racks & Storage

Make sure your kayak is always ready for adventure with Log Kayak Rack and our 100% cedar log kayak storage racks. As beautiful as they are practical, our log kayak racks safely store kayaks high and dry, neatly organizing shorelines, backyards, parks and rental facilities while protecting your kayak. Shop our kayak racks online now or contact us for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your Charleston, SC  kayak storage needs.

Arizona may be a desert state, but that doesn’t keep it from also being an excellent destination for water recreation. There’s an abundance of lakes and rivers scattered across the state, from the lakes of the Mogollon Rim to the Colorado River, that make it a great state for kayaking and canoeing.

Top Arizona Kayaking Destinations

Take in the beautiful sights of Arizona with these top kayaking destinations.

Lake Pleasant

Morristown, AZ

Forty-five minutes northwest of Phoenix is Lake Pleasant, one of the best places to kayak in Arizona. Surrounded by the Sonoran Desert, Lake Pleasant Regional Park is a scenic desert oasis. It has more than 23,000 acres of water and beautiful, unblemished desert landscape. Canyons and cliffs tower the sides of the lake that’s dotted with islands. It is one of the most scenic areas in the state and offers a lot of unique landscapes to explore by kayak.

Watson Lake

Prescott, AZ

Four miles from the town of Prescott, Arizona, lies the beautiful desert oasis, Watson Lake.  It’s a bright blue lake with calm waters and 1.4-billion-year-old, rippled granite boulders rising from the water to line the lake’s shore. Kayakers enjoy navigating these rock formations. There are also hiking trails, rock climbing and camping, although swimming is prohibited.

Colorado River

Lees Ferry, AZ

Arizona is famously known for its canyons, the most popular being the Grand Canyon, but that’s not the only one along the Colorado River. One of the most stunning ways to experience Arizona’s epic canyons is from the Colorado River and a favorite spot for kayakers is Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It’s located about 10 minutes from the town of Page, Arizona. It’s fantastic viewed from above, but a whole other experience when kayaked. You’ll want to put in a Lees Ferry, and paddle upstream. It’s hard work, but the stunning vistas, shifting colors of the sandstone walls and crystal clear waters are worth it.

Big Lake

Springerville, Arizona

Twenty-five miles from Springerville and at an elevation of 9,000 feet, Big Lake Recreation Area is a bit of a hidden gem, but another top-rated kayaking destination. It’s tucked away in the White Mountains and offers a sprawling 450 acres of serene waters. It’s tranquil waters and scenic vistas are perfect for anyone looking for a remote kayak as well as anglers with its plentiful supply of rainbow, brook and cutthroat trout.

Lake Powell

Page, Arizona

Beautiful and massive, at 186 miles long Lake Powell is the second-largest manmade lake in the United States. It offers nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline, rivaling that of the Pacific Coast states. Deep blue waters, rose-colored sandy beaches and more than 90 side canyons make it exciting for kayakers to explore. Many are more than 25 miles deep. Favorites include Antelope Canyon, Labyrinth Canyon and Lone Star Canyon.

Arizona Kayak Storage Racks

Despite being a desert state, Arizona offers a surprising amount of wonderful kayaking destinations with rivers, lakes and beautiful oases. Make sure your kayak is at the ready for your next Arizona adventure with proper kayak storage from Log Kayak Rack. Our exquisitely crafted, 100% cedar log kayak racks are as beautiful as they are practical. They safely store and neatly organize shorelines, parks, resorts and more, holding up to eight kayaks on their durable, naturally weather-resistant frames. Shop our kayak racks online now or contact us for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your Arizona kayak storage needs.

One of the most popular activities in Virginia is kayaking. Virginia Beach offers a lot of opportunities for easy and scenic flatwater kayaking. It’s a fantastic way to get close to some of the area’s best wildlife while getting out and enjoying the water. Here are a few of the best places to kayak in Virginia Beach.

Scenic & Serene Places to Kayak in Virginia Beach

Paddle past dolphins and spot wild birds. Kayaking in the ocean, salt marshes and many inland bays of Virginia Beach is one of the best ways to experience Virginia Beach.

Atlantic Ocean

The vast and majestic waters of the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach offer a fun yet challenging paddle for experienced kayakers. Take on the waves, explore the coast, reel in a fish or try to spot a pod of dolphins where the ocean meets up with Chesapeake Bay. Launch from either the Rudee Inlet Marina or Little Island Park in Sandbridge and make your way to the Atlantic Ocean for an exciting excursion.

Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay is an excellent place for kayakers of all skill levels. You’ll find launch points near Chic’s Beach and First Landing State Park as well as plenty of friendly animals and wildlife, including dolphins who also seem to enjoy the calmer inland waters. Paddle out to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel for some spectacular sightseeing or stay close to shore and enjoy the beach.

Lynnhaven River 

The Lynnhaven River, along with the many other inland bays, offer access to a different, luxurious side of Virginia Bay. Enjoy the gorgeous natural sights that are the area’s Tidewater region as well as a few historical landmarks. Lynnhaven River offers nearly 150 miles of lush shoreline and serene waters to explore.

First Landing State Park

Paddle the serene and historically significant waters of First Landing State Park located between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Launch at Broad Bay and paddle a three-mile route to Linkhorn Bay as you explore the natural surroundings and abundant wildlife, possibly including kingfishers, ospreys, blue herons, bald eagles, egrets, cow nose rays and even dolphins.

Back Bay Wildlife Refuge

Another great place for a calm paddle in Virginia Beach with plenty of opportunities for spotting local wildlife is Back Bay. Located near Virginia’s Outer Banks in Sandbridge, Back Bay Wildlife Refuge offers 8,000 acres of freshwater surrounded by breathtaking nature to explore. You can launch at Horn Point freshwater creek and enjoy a peaceful kayak through freshwater swamps, tree tunnels and brackish waters.

Virginia Beach Kayak Storage Racks

With so many kayaking destinations right in Virginia Beach you’ll want to make sure your kayak is at the ready with a proper place to keep and store it. Log Kayak Rack’s hand-crafted kayak, canoe and SUP storage racks are made from durable, naturally weather-resistant norther cedar logs. Their natural beauty will add to the appeal of your property while keeping your boats protected and your shoreline neat and orderly.   Shop our kayak racks online now and enjoy free shipping to Virginia or contact us online for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your exact storage needs.

Washington State is a kayaker’s dream. It has the Pacific coast, the Puget Sound, mountains and thick forests filled with glacier-fed lakes and rushing rivers. It is an extremely popular and beautiful place to kayak.

Washington’s Most Stunning Kayaking Destinations

Explore the wildlife and take in incredible views with these five stunningly beautiful places to kayak in Washington State.

Point Doughty

Orcas Island, WA

The San Juan Islands are home to some of the best kayaking Washington State has to offer as well as some of the best whale watching. Point Doughty is one of the beaches at the southern end of Marine Cascadia trail. With its remote location, you’ll have unobstructed views of the mountains and up-close personal encounters with the marine life at low tide.

Lake Crescent

Olympic National Park, WA

Lake Crescent is a deep, glacier-fed lake located entirely within Olympic National Park. Its crystal-clear waters perfectly reflect the Olympic Mountains and forest that surround it. Enjoy panoramic, mirror-image lake-surface views as you kayak the beautiful calm waters.  Stretch your legs for a short trail walk to Marymere Falls, an incredible waterfall right near the lake.

Lake Wenatchee

Lake Wenatchee State Park, WA

Lake Wenatchee is a glacier- and snowmelt-fed lake on the eastern slopes of the Cascades Mountain Range in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Kayakers will feel as though they are kayaking through the ski with its panoramic views of the forest-covered mountains that are beautifully mirrored in the calm, clear lake.

Blake Island Marine State Park

Kitsap County, WA

Only accessible by boat, Blake Island is a quiet 475-acre marine camping park in the Puget Sound. It offers five miles of saltwater beach shoreline to kayak with magnificent views of the city and Mount Rainer. It offers a great change of pace from the city with nature trails, beaches and activities like fishing, scuba diving, clamming, crabbing and birdwatching.

Horseshoe Lake

Near Deer Park in Pend Oreille County, WA

With a 5 mph speed limit, Horseshoe Lake is a great place for kayakers looking for a relaxing paddle with a lot to explore. There’s Exley Falls, a waterfall with several pools on the northeast side as well as Devil’s Well. Devil’s Well is a hole in a rock created by circulating water. You can watch the water swirl around before seeping into the well’s walls. The lake is also very popular for fishing.

Washington Kayak Storage Racks

You won’t be disappointed exploring the state of Washington by kayak, unless your kayak is out of commission. Keep your kayak at the ready and protect it from damage caused by improper storage with Log Kayak Rack. Our cedar log kayak and canoe storage racks are as beautiful as they are practical. They safely store kayaks, keeping them high and dry, and neatly organize shorelines, backyards, parks and rental facilities. Shop our kayak racks online now or contact us for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your Washington kayak storage needs.

San Francisco is hot spot for kayaking, attracting locals and tourists alike with its urban settings and scenic coves. It’s simply one of the most beautiful places to canoe and kayak. With no shortage of water, the hardest part is deciding where to start.

Best Places to Kayak near San Francisco, California

From leisurely rides and views of the Golden Gate Bridge to challenging ocean waves and wildlife filled bays, here are a few must kayak destinations in and around the San Francisco area.

Horseshoe Cove

Sausalito, CA

Get a unique look at San Francisco’s most well-known landmarks with a paddle under the Golden Gate Bridge. Horseshoe Cove is on the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge and a launch from Fort Baker gives you several options for kayaking routes. Explore the rocky coasts of the Pacific Ocean or kayak into Sausalito. For more experienced kayakers, take on the current and paddle to Alcatraz, Angle Island or Yellow Bluff.

Russian River

Sonoma County, CA

The Russian River runs through Sonoma County from Cloverdale in the north to Jenner in the west and offers a variety of kayaking. It’s known for its dynamic terrain, clear waters, wilderness and abundant wildlife. The top area is a Class I best suited for beginners, but further south the waters become more challenging, offering Class II and III rapids at times. The river offers an excellent array of wildlife from otters and turtles to ospreys, bald eagles and blue herons.

Monterey Bay

Monterey & Santa Cruz, CA

Paddle alongside sea lions, otters, loons, and even leopard sharks just south of San Francisco in the Monterey Bay. The bay is a sanctuary for wildlife and offers sheltered, calm waters for kayaking. Other activities at Monterey Bay include scuba diving, sailing and surfing.

Elkhorn Slough

Monterey, CA

Aside from the San Franscisco Bay, Elkhorn Slough is the largest tidal saltwater marsh in California. It is praised as one of the top ten wildlife viewing destinations and is a premier spot for kayakers. The marsh makes for easy paddling with six miles of navigable waterways. Get an up close look at San Francisco’s diverse ecosystems and wildlife including sea otters and migratory birds.

Tiburon

Marin County, CA

Fifteen minutes north of San Francisco is the vibrant coastal city of Tiburon, CA. A great intermediate paddle, Tiburon offers spectacular views of San Francisco, Alcatraz and Angle Island. Enjoy an adventurous paddle with rugged terrain and tons of wildlife to the Raccoon Straits or circumnavigate Tiburon for beautiful panoramic skyline views. The town itself offers quaint shops and restaurants and is full of Civil War-era history.

San Francisco Kayak Storage Racks

Exploring the many waterways surrounding San Francisco by kayak is fun and exciting. Make sure your kayak is ready for your next California adventure with a proper place to store it. Log Kayak Rack offers cedar log kayak and canoe storage racks that are as beautiful as they are practical. They safely store kayaks and neatly organize shorelines, backyards, parks and rental facilities. Shop our kayak racks online now or contact us for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your San Francisco kayak storage needs.

Home to five national parks, Utah offers a diverse and unique landscape. Filled with stunning lakes, scenic rivers, canyons and more, the state is favorite among canoers and kayakers. Experience millions of years of history and stunning scenery while kayaking Utah.

Best Destinations for Kayaking in Utah

From glass-like lakes to raging rapids, here are some of the best kayaking destinations the state of Utah has to offer.

Lake Powell 

A beautiful place for kayaking, Lake Powell is located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation area. Part of the Colorado River, the lake offers nearly 2,000 miles of stunning shoreline between Utah and Arizona. Kayaking routes down the canyons wind through some of the world’s most stunning natural rock formations, including the Rainbow Bridge and other stunning arches and caves.

Provo River

The Provo River offers a scenic paddle that will take you through canyons, past mountains and eventually through the city of Provo and into Utah Lake. There are two main forks to the river. The northern features mild rapids suitable for most skill levels and the southern has Class III and IV best left to advanced kayakers.  

The Green River

The iconic Green River is a popular kayaking destination with over 730 miles of winding river to explore. It starts in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming and flows through scenic and remote landscapes, stunning rock formations and deep sandstone canyons as it makes its way to Utah. The Green River can be a great place for kayakers of all skill levels; however, some sections can see Class III rapids so do your research before heading out.

Mirror Lake

The calm, reflective waters of Mirror Lake are perfect for kayaking. The lake is high in the Uintas, surrounded by mountains and forests and made even more peaceful by the lack of motorized boats. It’s a great lake for fishing as well with a variety of trout stocked through the summer months.

Red Fleet Reservoir

The 750-acre picturesque reservoir is located in northeastern Utah’s Red Fleet State Park. The flatwater lake offers fantastic scenery with inlets and natural sandstone rock formations to explore. However, the park’s biggest draw is probably the 200-million-year-old dinosaur tracks. You can hike the Dinosaur Trackway on the eastern shore of the lake, or kayak across the reservoir and see the footprints up close.

Utah Kayak Storage Racks

Exploring Utah by kayak can be fun and exciting. Just make sure you have a proper place to store your kayak so it will be ready for your next adventure. Our log kayak storage racks are as beautiful as they are practical, safely storing kayaks and neatly organizing shorelines, backyards, parks and rental facilities. Shop our kayak racks online now or contact us for a custom kayak storage solution to meet your Utah kayak storage needs.