San Diego Paddle Boarding
Paddle boarding is a great recreation activity for all ages and fitness levels. San Diego is a great place for paddle boarding. This is our guide to San Diego Paddle Boarding.
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Overview
Paddle boarding is a water activity that of course uses a paddle board. A paddle board looks like a surfboard but is larger and more stable. Many people stand on a paddle board which is why the activity is often known as stand-up paddle boarding or SUP. However, standing up on a paddle board is optional. You can kneel or sit on the board and never stand up.
In San Diego paddle boarding can be done in the ocean or the calmer inland areas, most notably Mission Bay and San Diego Bay. Almost every area that is popular for paddle boarding will have several rental options. Generally renting a paddle board costs about $25 a day or $10 an hour. Generally, the more convenient a location is to a launch spot the more expensive the rental.
This regularly updated guide looks at popular San Diego paddle boarding spots for all levels. Locations focus mainly on the calmer bay side. Paddle boards can be used at most beaches, but this is for more experienced users tackling waves.
Many of our visitors are intimidated by paddle boarding so we have a brief overview of getting started. There is also a guide to buying a paddle board.
Getting Started with Paddle Boarding
The idea of stand-up paddle boarding scares many people. However, standing up is optional. A paddle board can be used either sitting or kneeling.
Most beginners will paddle around sitting for awhile, then they will try kneeling and finally standing up. Standing up on a paddle board is not that difficult, especially in calm water areas.
The first few seconds of standing up is the hardest part. Once you are up and have your balance it becomes pretty stable. The main point to note is to you should look forward, not down. REI has a good intro instructional video. There is a more detailed guide from Blue Planet surf.
Most paddles for paddle boarding are adjustable. When you are standing up you want the length of the paddle to be about a foot taller than your height. Obviously when sitting or kneeling you adjust it to a shorter length.
Most paddle boards will have a leash that attaches around your ankle. This is a safety feature in case you fall off the board. This is essential for rough water, but not as crucial for calm areas.
In practice one of the hardest things we see for users is knowing which way the paddle should be facing. I have found the easiest way to tell people is that the logo on the paddle faces forward.
If you don’t want to stand up you can have a great time sitting or kneeling on the paddle board. Many paddle boards can support 300 pounds or more so two adults or an adult and a couple kids can go out together on one board. However, standing up when you have passengers is more difficult.
The U.S. Coast Guard classifies a paddle board as a vessel. This means a life jacket is required, but only if you go outside of designated surfing, swimming or bathing areas. For San Diego paddle boarding a life jacket is required if you go 200 yards beyond the beach or are in the boating areas of Mission Bay or San Diego Bay. You don’t have to wear it but need to at least have a life jacket with you.
You can see our overview of life jackets here.
As you start standing, falling off will be part of the deal. However, it is easy to get back on board. The main thing is to make sure all you gear is secure. If you don’t want to get wet just don’t try and stand.
Once you learn to stand up and paddle you can venture further out into the water. Once you start reaching waves and boat wakes things can get more challenging. However, one of the beauties of paddle boarding is if the water gets rough you simply sit down.
Where to Paddle Board
This regularly updated list of paddle boarding places in San Diego is listed from easiest to most advanced. Obviously paddle boarding in the ocean is more challenging. The focus of this list is on the beaches where the waves are more tame.
Mission Bay: South Mission Beach
The start of Mission Bay is located on a peninsula at the south end of Mission Beach. This is where the Pacific Ocean meets the San Diego River and Mission Bay. On the west side there is a full beach area. The east end is called Mission Point Park and this is the best place for calm paddle boarding.
The area around Mission Point Park sits on the Mariners Basin area of Mission Bay. This is a very calm area with sandy beaches. It is also a great area for beginner snorkeling. We often combine snorkeling with paddle boarding.
Mission Point Park is the number one place to take visitors and beginners and is especially good for young children. The major downside is there are no rental facilities and the parking lot is fairly small. As a local with our own equipment we don’t really have to worry about those issues. However, we tend to stay away on busy summer weekends.
Mission Bay: Bahia and Ventura Cove
The area around the Bahia Resort is a great spot for paddle boarding. The Bahia resort is located on Bahia Point, a small pensiula in Mission Bay. On the right side of the resort is the area known as Ventura Cove. The left side of the resort is on Santa Barbara Cove. There is a parking lot in Ventura Cove and some parking on the street along the point. Santa Barbara Cove is fairly secluded so it is a great place for beginners. Ventura Cove allows paddlers to go further into Mission Bay and test paddling on the wakes created by passing boats.
There are several rental locations in nearby Mission Beach by Belmont Park. Also Action Sports Rental has a location at the Bahia Resort.
Coronado: Tidelands Park
Tidelands Park is on Coronado Island. It is located at the foot of the Coronado Bridge on San Diego Bay. There are seasonal rental facilities at the park and also nearby rentals at Coronado Ferry Landing. Note rentals in Coronado tend to be more expensive than in an area like Mission Bay.
Tidelands Park has a great view of downtown San Diego and the harbor. As you get deeper into the Bay there will be larger ships., However, if you stay close to shore the water is calm.
Shelter Island: Shoreline Park
Mission Bay Aquatic Center
The Mission Bay Aquatic Center is located on Santa Clara Point, one of several small peninsulas that stick into Mission Bay. This is right in the heart of busy Mission Beach so it can get crowded. The Aquatic Center is a hub of all kinds of water activity on Mission Bay.
Lake San Marcos
Mission Bay: Enchanted Cove
Enchanted Cove is a quiet spot of the east side of Mission Bay by Fiesta Island. We have done camping and paddle boarding at the Youth Aquatic Center on Fiesta Island. For renting a paddle board, Action Sports Rentals is located next to the San Diego Mission Bay Resort.
Carlsbad: Aqua Hedionda Lagoon (Carlsbad Lagoon)
Encinitas: San Elijo Lagoon and Cardiff Reef
Cardiff State Beach is one of our favorite beach spots. This is a great place to do paddle boarding in both the ocean and calm waters. The area by Cardiff Reef is at the entrance of San Elijo Lagoon. There is a canal running from the ocean to the lagoon. The water in the canal is calm and perfect for paddle boarding. There are several rental places in the nearby community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
La Jolla Shores
La Jolla Shores is a great place to learn how to paddle board in the ocean. Everyday California offers rentals and lessons. You don’t really need a lesson to paddle boarding in calm water. However, [addle boarding in surf is significantly more challenging.
Oceanside Harbor
La Jolla Cove
Paddle Boarding is not allowed at the official La Jolla Cove location. The big attraction at La Jolla Cove is the La Jolla Caves right next to the Cove. The options are to launch from La Jolla Shores or in rocky area near Sunny Jim’s Cave Store. The Cave Store offers rentals. There are many places to rent at La Jolla Shores but you need to paddle almost a mile from La Jolla Shores to reach the caves.
Coronado Beach
Del Mar Dog Beach
Buying a Paddle Board
If you paddle board a great deal it makes sense to buy your own board. For many years we held off on buying a board because they are big and bulky. However, we discovered inflatable paddle boards and are convinced this is the way to go.
Personally, I was very skeptical of the idea of an inflatable paddle board. We have had all types of trouble with inflatable products. It took a great deal of research, looking at many reviews and seeing these boards in action before I was convinced.
An inflatable paddle board is incredibly sturdy. With an electric pump it can be inflated in 10 minutes and deflated in about 3 minutes. This is less time than it takes to strap a board to your car.
Best of all it takes up very little space in storage and can not only be brought on car trips but even carried on a plane as luggage (ours can even fit as carry-on).
You can see an overview of our paddle board here. The one essential if you buy an inflatable board is to get an electric air pump. Paddle boards come with a manual pump, but hand pumping takes much longer and is tiring.
With our paddle board we will be venturing beyond our normal Mission Bay spots and providing more details of the San Diego paddle boarding scene. Stay tuned!
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