Top Kayaking Destinations Across the United States
Whether you’re sea kayaking or hitting your favorite section of the river or lake, kayaking adventures are endless in the United States. Popular destinations are showered throughout North America and enjoyed for their natural beauty.
Just starting? Find a Kayak Tour.
When setting out on any new journey, it helps to tag along with an expert on your first few trips. It also makes it easier if you can bypass investing in a kayak and instead go with a kayak rental, at least until you know it’s an activity you truly love.
The great news is, there are countless tours throughout the United States. VacationIdea has a list of the 24 best Kayaking Tours in the U.S. Among these destinations are the San Juan Islands in Washington, Jenny’s Eco Everglades Wilderness Tour in Everglades City, Florida, and Rookery Bay Kayak Tours in Naples, Florida, to name a few.
To determine which of these is the best fit for your first kayak outing, you should ask yourself a few questions:
What region of the United States would you like to explore?
What sites are you hoping to see, mountains, rivers, oceans, or lakes?
Are you looking for a substantial outdoor adventure with camping and hiking included, or are you hoping for a fun day trip?
Are you kayaking solo or taking along a friend or a group?
Do you want calm waters, or are you ready for the rapids?
Answering these questions should help you narrow down your options and help you find the tour that is the best fit for you.
If you’re a more seasoned kayaker or want to skip the formalities of a tour, you might consider the abundant state parks, national parks, or many other kayaking hot spots peppered across the country.
Best State Parks for Kayaking
EZ DOCK outlines many of the state parks that are Kayaking standouts throughout the United States. The list divides these parks into regions around the country; the Northeast, The Southern states, and the Midwestern region. We took a closer look at a few of its recommendations.
Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania boasts kayaking through its lagoons. And Walden Pond State Reservation in Massachusetts offers some incredible scenery, especially if you’re looking for a firey autumn backdrop.
In the South, Falls Creek State Park in Tennessee and Merchants Millpond State Park in North Carolina take the kayaking spotlight. Falls Creek State Park has an abundance of cascades, gorges, waterfalls, and other beautiful natural attractions. For a swampier, wildlife-filled adventure, Merchants Millpond State Park is the spot.
The midwest has Rock Cut State Park nestled in Illinois and Chain O’Lakes State Park in Indiana. If you like the multitasking of fishing while kayaking, then Rock Cut State Park should be on your list of destinations.
The stocked lake is home to all sorts of fish, including largemouth bass and channel catfish. Chain O’Lakes State Park is known as “lake country and a small boater’s paradise.” It sounds like the perfect spot to launch.
Best National Forests for Kayaking
Looking for a more involved kayaking experience, try booking a trip to a national forest. Salmon-Challis National Forest in east-central Idaho is a “wild and scenic” forest and highlights its hunting, fishing, whitewater rafting.
The Pisgah National Forest website claims it’s a “land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes.” For calmer waters, check out Mark Twain National Forest and its Eleven Point Scenic River Trail. This serene body of water has camping and fishing along its 44-mile scenic river.
Other Kayak Trips to Add to Your List
While the above areas stood out in our nationwide kayaking research, there are still so many places from the east coast all the way west that should be on your kayaking bucket lists. Don’t overlook these natural gems when planning your next kayaking trip.
Lake Tahoe
It’s no secret that Lake Tahoe is one of the country’s most beautiful destinations for outdoor adventures, but how great is its kayaking game? According to The Adventure Company, Lake Tahoe does not disappoint with “kayaking tours that include lunch on the beach. The tour guides “point out ecology, geology, and natural and human history along the way.”
Chesapeake Bay
The Inn at Huntingfield Creek has an in-depth blog post that outlines all the exciting kayaking hot spots in the bay. This guide includes Bogles Wharf, Discover Ingleside, Peregrine Tower, and Hail Point as sites you need to see when hitting the Chesapeake Bay waters. Not only do each of these points have an abundance of wildlife and natural scenery, but the entire stretch is chock full of historical landmarks for all you history buffs out there.
Snake River
If you’re a little more adventurous and like to live on the wild side, then grab your whitewater kayak and enjoy the Snake River Canyon. With its class II and III rapids, you are sure to have a thrilling ride down the river. Learn more about this fast-moving river and its surrounding scenery at Jackson Hole’s informational website.
West Virginia
If you’re in the state of West Virginia, your kayaking options are endless. Sea Kayak Explorer reviews the top 10 best places to kayak in the state. Its number one pick is the Cheat River Water Trail.
This 40 mile stretch of river has nine launch places that include beginner sections and more challenging sections for the advanced kayaker. And, the wildlife and surrounding ecology do not disappoint.
Colorado River
Starting in the central Rocky Mountains in Grand Lake, Colorado, the Colorado River flows through multiple states, including Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. So your kayaking options are endless, and each of these states has its favorite spots to launch your kayak on the Colorado River.
Arizona has one spot that stands out, according to Kayak the Colorado website. Marble Canyon is a gorgeous spot where you can sit back in your kayak and enjoy the beauty around you or cast a line on a guided fishing tour.
Prince William Sound
Are you looking for more adventure? Why not hit up the “Last Frontier”? That’s right, Alaska is sure to be the kayaking adventure you’ve always desired. Prince William Sound is a great place to enjoy the incredible wildlife, and they offer guided tours to get the very most out of your trip.
Kayaking and Wildlife
One of the big attractions of kayaking is being one with nature. The idea of floating up next to a Humpback whale or spotting a Bald Eagle is thrilling. But you must appreciate nature from a safe distance. Always respect that you are in its environment when you’re enjoying the open waters.
Paddling.com reviews some encounters with wildlife while paddling. But the site also warns of the precautions needed when crossing the path of these enchanting creatures. By planning, observing, avoiding, and respecting the animals, you can stay safe while catching the animal activity.
Time to hit the water
Now that you’ve made your list of kayaking destinations, it’s time to pack and plan for the camping you plan to do during your trip. Check out our Camping Checklist before your travel. The list will help prepare you for the kayaking and camping adventure of your dreams.