15 of the Best Kayaking Spots in the U.S.
Kayaking is one of the easiest ways to get around on the water—and it’s becoming a rather trendy sport in recent years.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, this list has some of the most beautiful places to kayak in the U.S.
Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. with a total acreage of 1,509,000 acres.
It’s located in Miami Dade County, Monroe County and Collier County.
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is known for its amazing kayaking spots.
From the idyllic Nobile Hammock, complete with picturesque mangroves, to the volatile Nine Mile Pond, there’s a kayaking trail for everyone at the Everglades.
Lake Powell, Arizona
Lake Powell is arguably the most scenic lake in America, situated in some of Southern Utah’s finest red-rock desert country.
Bernard Spragg, Wikimedia Commons
Lake Powell
Kayakers and travelers of any experience level will enjoy the picturesque setting of deep slot canyons and towering sandstone cliffs.
Travelers can rent a kayak nearby and camp under the stars.
The Rainbow River, Florida
The Rainbow River is located in Rainbow Springs State Park, about 90 minutes north of Tampa, Florida.
Florida Fish and Wildlife, Flickr
The Rainbow River
This 70-foot deep spring is a hidden gem with crystal-clear water and an abundance of fish, wildlife and vegetation. Visitors can kayak, canoe, swim, snorkel and scuba dive.
Lake Estes, Colorado
Lake Estes is a reservoir located in the town of Estes Park in Colorado.
Here, you’ll find spectacular views of snow-capped mountains reflected in the lake’s pristine blue water.
Lake Estes
Visitors can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and various hiking trails and camping spots, but swimming in the lake is not permitted.
Travelers should also note that there is a small day-use fee and a parking fee.
Monterey Bay, California
Monterey Bay is just south of San Francisco and offers several opportunities for scenic kayaking, including the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve.
Monterey Bay
Here, you can paddle the Cannery Row shoreline with sea otters, seals, sealions, kelp beds, and possibly dolphins.
Potomac River, Washington, D.C.
The Potomac River is a major river that flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland—offering stunning urban views along the way.
Chesapeake Bay Program, Flickr
Potomac River
Aside from views of the Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, kayakers can choose to experience whitewater paddling in some of the river’s rapids.
Laguna Grande, Puerto Rico
Paddle under the stars through the magical bioluminescence bay in Laguna Grande, located in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.
Laguna Grande
Here, visitors can experience the calm water glowing as microorganisms are stirred up by kayaks or paddles.
Boston Harbor Islands, Massachusetts
The Boston Harbor Islands may be near the city, but it feels remote.
Made up of 34 islands and peninsulas, Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is known as an urban oasis—and a popular spot for kayaking.
Massachusetts Office Of Travel & Tourism, Flickr
Boston Harbor Islands
In the inner harbor, kayakers will find more historical sites and calmer waters. The outer islands offer solitude and untouched landscapes.
You can also tour lighthouses and ruins of old forts, and spend the night in a yurt.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
Located entirely within the state of Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness comprises 1,090,000 acres of pristine forests, glacial lakes, and streams in the Superior National Forest.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Kayakers can join a guided tour (or go solo) where they’ll be taken to the best spots to see deer, moose, otters, bald eagles and loons.
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Kaneohe Bay is a sheltered bay located in Oahu, and is said to be one of Hawaii’s more calmer places to kayak.
Kaneohe Bay
While paddling the crystal-clear waters of Kaneohe Bay, you’ll likely spot parrotfish and mahi-mahi on the two barrier reefs.
You can also get out and wander the sandbar or rest on the white-sandy beach with views of Pyramid Rock.
San Juan Islands, Washington
The San Juan Islands is an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest of the United States between the U.S. state of Washington and Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, Flickr
San Juan Islands
This popular kayaking destination is a fan favorite for those hoping to see orcas. Kayakers can stay close to the islands, or venture into open water for a greater chance at getting close to marine life.
Edmund Lowe Photography, Shutterstock
Blue Heart Springs, Idaho
Blue Heart Springs is a natural spring that is located along the Snake River near the Thousand Springs State Park in Hagerman, Idaho.
It is the 13th largest freshwater spring in North America, and is only accessible by water.
Blue Heart Springs
The springs are made of a heart-shaped cove filled with crystal blue water—hence the name. This serene oasis offers spectacular views and is often dubbed, “Idaho’s best-kept secret.”
Summersville Lake, West Virginia
Summersville Lake is a reservoir—formed by a rock-fill dam—located in West Virginia. It is the largest lake in West Virginia, with 2,700 acres of water and over 60 miles of shoreline.
Jarek Tuszyński, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Summersville Lake
Beginner kayakers will enjoy the ease of flatwater paddling, and visitors of all experience levels will marvel in the stunning views of sheer cliffs and West Virginia’s only lighthouse.
Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
Lake Tahoe is a freshwater lake straddling the border between California and Nevada. It’s the second deepest lake in the U.S. and is a major tourist attraction.
Christian Abend, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lake Tahoe
With pristine blue waters and 61-foot-deep visibility, this lake offers some of the best water conditions for kayaking. With various areas catering to different experience levels, visitors can feel comfortable on the water while checking out spectacular views.
Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia and Florida
The Okefenokee Swamp is a shallow, peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida line. It is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia and is the largest "blackwater" swamp in North America.
Okefenokee Swamp
Here, kayakers will be given a different experience. Instead of clear-blue water, you’ll find a mysterious and murky aquatic oasis.
Surrounded by tall trees and lush green foliage, the views are beautiful and the wildlife is abundant.
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