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With its beautiful forests, pristine sparkling lakes, and the mesmerizing Puget Sound, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to paddleboard than Washington State! It really doesn’t get better than this. Whether you’re experienced or you’re just getting started, you’ll find an excellent place to get your feet wet with these five great paddleboarding spots in Washington.
Juanita Beach Park is a great spot to get started on a paddleboard. Northwest Paddle Surfers is situated on Lake Washington at both Juanita Beach Park and Marina Park. Northwest Paddle Surfers offers lessons, tours, and rentals. For experienced paddlers, try out PaddleFlow Yoga—held Monday-Thursday, combining yoga with stand-up paddleboarding to give you an even more satisfying workout. The company can accommodate up to 30 people for parties, corporate outings, team building events, and more. At the SUP Shack, you’ll find snacks and cold beverages available after a long day on the water!
With Ballard Kayak, you can rent a stand-up paddleboard for $20 an hour or $150 a day. Ballard boasts that there is, “No better way to see Seattle and get a workout at the same time.” This is an excellent way to see Shilshole Bay Marina. Each rental with Ballard Kayak includes the required paddle, personal flotation device, a safety demonstration, and basic paddling instruction. Guests can choose between two tours, as well. There is the 90-minute beginner tour and the two-hour Ballard Junction tour. The 90-minute tour is ideal for those just starting out. A brief, on-shore lesson is given to get paddlers started. You’ll learn different strokes, how to turn, how to stay balanced, and more importantly, how to remain safe! Paddlers then set out onto the stunning waters of Shilshole Bay—one of the biggest in the state. Watch out for seals!
Start your paddleboarding journey with WhatsSup Stand-Up Paddle & Surf. Rates go as so: The first hour is $18 and every additional hour is $12. The SUPSQUATCH Paddleboard, which accommodates eight people, goes at $70 per hour. Paddlers can take a 60-minute lesson to learn the following: how to stand up on your board, paddling techniques, tips on turning, and safety information. Enjoy the immaculate Sammamish River, where WhatsSup has two locations, or explore their single location on Lake Washington.
At Moss Bay Kayak, Paddle Board and Sail Center, you’ll find paddleboards for all ages, sizes, and levels of experience. This is a very safe place to get your bearings on a paddleboard if you don’t have much experience. For a single paddleboard, rates go at $18 per hour. Make sure to bring a valid ID, weather-appropriate clothing, a water bottle, and plenty of sunscreen in case the sun is blaring! If you sign up early, your child can even participate in the week-long Kids Camp, where children explore Seattle’s Lake Union through kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing. This is open to kids age 6-12. According to Moss Bay’s website, this is a place where children will “build skills, friendships, and confidence all week long.”
If you find yourself in the Vashon area, give Fat Cat Paddle Boarding a try. This is Vashon Island’s only mobile rental, class, and tour stand-up paddleboarding company. Vashon Island is also the largest island in the picturesque Puget Sound. Fat Cat is the real deal as they know how to properly equip guests with the right board for them. Beginners can try out the durable, 11-foot Imagine Fit—a wide board made to be tossed around a bit. Intermediate to advanced-level paddlers can try the 11-foot Slingshot Crossbreed which is light and easier to maneuver if you have proper experience. Fat Cat offers classes, too. There is the 45-minute quick class which teaches safety and board techniques, how to sit, stand, and paddle, as well as remain balanced on the board. There is a private class option which goes at $65 per hour. It is a one-on-one class with a personal trainer. Tours with Fat Cat include a two-hour Quartermaster tour, a four-hour Point Robinson tour, a full-day Blake Island Tour, and a beautiful moonlight tour.
