Monterey Harbor is the best place to paddle board in Monterey for beginners: you launch from the calm beach next to Wharf 2, rent a board right there, and paddle past sea lions and sea otters toward Cannery Row. For the best wildlife paddle, head 20 minutes north to Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing, one of the best places on the coast to see sea otters.
Monterey Bay is one of the richest stretches of ocean in the country, and almost all of it lies inside the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Paddling here means kelp forests, harbor seals, sea lions and rafts of sea otters, often within a few minutes of shore. The trade-offs are cold water all year, summer fog, and afternoon wind that can make the paddle home hard work.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Monterey Municipal Beach, next to Wharf 2, inside the harbor.
- Sea otters: Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing, with rentals on the water.
- Kelp beds and clear water: Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, on a calm morning.
- Most scenic: Whalers Cove at Point Lobos, by reservation.
- Families: the harbor beach by Wharf 2, which is sheltered by the wharf.
The best places to paddle board in Monterey
Monterey Harbor and Cannery Row
Directions
Best for: beginners, families and wildlife close to town. Flat inside the harbor; open ocean beyond.
Monterey Municipal Beach is a wide, quarter-mile beach right next to the Municipal Wharf (Wharf 2). The wharf and harbor keep the water calm, and the sand shelves gently, which makes it one of the easiest launches on the bay. From here you can paddle around the marina, past the sea lions near the harbor, and along the Cannery Row shoreline toward the kelp beds.
Where to launch: Launch from the beach beside Wharf 2. There’s a paid parking lot at the wharf.
Rentals and lessons: Monterey Bay Kayaks (693 Del Monte Avenue) works right on this beach. It rents paddle boards and kayaks, runs naturalist-led tours and classes with ACA-trained instructors, and is a certified Sea Otter Savvy wildlife steward. On Cannery Row, Adventures by the Sea (299 Cannery Row) also rents paddle boards and kayaks.
What to watch for: Stay clear of boats coming in and out of the harbor entrance. Once you’re past the breakwater along Cannery Row, you’re on the open bay, with swell, kelp and wind. Turn back before the wind picks up.
Elkhorn Slough (Moss Landing)
Directions
Best for: sea otters, seals and birds. Flat, tidal water.
Elkhorn Slough is one of California’s largest wetlands and a protected estuary that winds inland from Moss Landing Harbor. Sea otters, harbor seals and hundreds of bird species live here, and it’s one of the best places anywhere to see otters from the water. A short paddle from the launch takes you past barking sea lions and under the Highway 1 bridge into the quieter slough.
Where to launch: Paddlers commonly launch for free at the end of Jetty Road in Moss Landing, or from the rental docks on Highway 1, which charge for parking.
Rentals and lessons: Two outfitters sit side by side on Highway 1 in Moss Landing: Monterey Bay Kayaks (2390 Highway 1) and Kayak Connection (2370 Highway 1). Both rent paddle boards and kayaks and run guided trips.
Good to know: Tides rule the slough. Paddle in with the incoming tide and come back with the outgoing one, and check the tide table before you go: the current can be strong near the harbor, and side creeks drain to mud at low tide. Strong northwest wind, often 10 to 20 knots, tends to build in the afternoon. Stay in the shallows and out of the main channel, which boats use.
Lovers Point (Pacific Grove)
Directions
Best for: confident paddlers who want clear water and kelp. Open ocean, with a sheltered cove.
Lovers Point is a small, sandy cove in Pacific Grove, just west of Cannery Row. The beach is shallow and fairly protected, so kayakers, divers and paddle boarders launch here to paddle along the rocky shore and over the kelp forest.
Where to launch: Launch from the small beach in Lovers Point Park, next to the pier.
Rentals and lessons: Adventures by the Sea runs a rental and tour stand at Lovers Point, with paddle boards and kayaks.
Good to know: The water off Lovers Point is part of the Lovers Point–Julia Platt State Marine Reserve, where taking any marine life is banned; paddling and looking are fine. Outside the cove you’re on the open ocean, so only go on a calm day.
Whalers Cove, Point Lobos
Directions
Best for: experienced paddlers who want one of the prettiest coves on the coast. Sheltered ocean cove.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, just south of Carmel, protects granite headlands, kelp forest and some of the clearest water on the central coast. Whalers Cove, on its north side, has a small concrete ramp that gives paddlers and divers access to Whalers and Bluefish coves.
Where to launch: Paddle craft need a reservation to launch at Whalers Cove, and there’s a launch fee per board on top of the vehicle entrance fee. Call the reserve (831-624-4909) to book, and arrive early, as parking inside the reserve is limited.
Good to know: Point Lobos is a no-take reserve. Dogs aren’t allowed anywhere in it. There are no rentals here, so bring your own board, life jacket and leash.
When to go
You can paddle Monterey all year, but the water is always cold. NOAA’s long-term averages for Monterey put the water at about 55°F in January and 60°F in August and September. Most paddlers wear a wetsuit; our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear.
- Late summer and early fall (August–October): the warmest water of the year, though still cold by most standards.
- Summer: the busiest season at the harbor and Lovers Point. Expect crowds at the rental shops on weekends.
- Winter and spring: bigger swell on the open coast and more storms. The harbor and Elkhorn Slough are still good on calm days.
- Time of day: go in the morning. Afternoon wind is the biggest problem on the bay and in the slough.
Planning a paddle up Elkhorn Slough and back? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long it’ll take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Monterey
California treats a paddle board like any other human-powered vessel. According to the state’s Division of Boating and Waterways:
- Life jacket: every vessel must carry a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person. Children under 13 must wear one while underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle.
- After dark: have a white light, such as a bright flashlight, ready to show in time to prevent a collision.
Wildlife rules in Monterey:
- Sea otters: the US Fish and Wildlife Service asks paddlers to stay at least five kayak lengths (about 60 feet) from otters, paddle parallel to them rather than straight at them, and keep moving. Sea otters are protected by federal law.
- Seals and sea lions: keep your distance, especially from animals hauled out on rocks or docks.
- Marine protected areas: Lovers Point and Point Lobos are no-take reserves.
And a few habits worth keeping:
- Wear a leash and a wetsuit outside the harbor.
- Know the tides before paddling Elkhorn Slough.
- Check the wind forecast, and plan your route so the wind helps you home.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in Monterey?
The beach by Wharf 2 in Monterey Harbor. It’s calm and shallow, and Monterey Bay Kayaks rents boards right on the sand. Stay inside the harbor until you’re steady.
Where can you paddle board with sea otters in Monterey?
Elkhorn Slough in Moss Landing is the best bet, and otters are also common along Cannery Row and in the kelp off Lovers Point. Stay at least 60 feet away and never paddle straight at them. A guided tour is a good way to see them without disturbing them.
Do you need a wetsuit to paddle board in Monterey?
Usually, yes. The water averages about 55–60°F all year, so a wetsuit makes a fall much safer, especially outside the harbor.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in Monterey?
Not for the harbor, Lovers Point or Elkhorn Slough. Whalers Cove at Point Lobos needs a launch reservation and fee.
Is there anywhere similar nearby?
Heading south down the coast? See our guide to where to paddle board in San Diego, or read how to paddle board in the ocean before you head out of the harbor. Our Board Fitter suggests a board size for cold, choppy water like Monterey’s.
