The best place to paddle board in Naples for beginners is Clam Pass Park, where a small launch puts you straight onto the flat, shallow water of the bay behind the beach. For the most scenic paddle, launch at the Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park and explore the mangrove islands of Rookery Bay, or paddle Water Turkey Bay at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.
Naples works for paddling because most of its water is sheltered. Behind the Gulf beaches are mangrove-lined bays, rivers and passes where the water is warm, shallow and usually calm. You’ll often see dolphins, manatees and wading birds. The Gulf itself is calm on many days too, but it’s open water, and the passes between the bays and the Gulf have strong tidal currents.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Clam Pass Park, on the flat water of Outer Clam Pass Bay.
- Most scenic: the Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park, a paddle-only launch a short paddle from Rookery Bay’s mangroves.
- Beach and backwater in one trip: Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, launching into Water Turkey Bay.
- Wilder and farther: Caxambas Park on Marco Island, the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands.
- Rentals: Naples Paddleboard delivers boards to you for free; Rookery Bay Reserve’s rental partner delivers to the Isles of Capri launch.
The best places to paddle board in Naples
Clam Pass Park
Directions
Best for: beginners, families. Flat, shallow bay water.
Clam Pass Park is a 35-acre Collier County park in North Naples, about 6 miles north of downtown. Most visitors take the three-quarter-mile boardwalk through the mangroves to the beach, but paddlers can launch from a small ramp next to the parking lot onto Outer Clam Pass Bay, which is flat, open and shallow.
Where to launch: The small launch ramp beside the main parking lot (465 Seagate Drive). Parking is paid, by credit card at the meters, and the park has 171 spaces, so arrive early in season. There’s a life jacket loaner program and restrooms.
What to avoid: Clam Pass itself, which connects the bay to the Gulf. Experienced paddlers go out through the pass to paddle along Vanderbilt Beach, but the current through it can be strong on a running tide. Stay in the bay until you’re confident.
Good to know: You can also paddle the neighborhood canals off the bay. Watch for manatees in the shallows and give them room.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Directions
Best for: combining a calm backwater with a famous beach. Sheltered bay, plus open Gulf.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is a mile-long barrier island at the north end of Naples, about 12 miles from downtown. Its Gulf beach is one of the area’s best, but for paddling the draw is the inland boat ramp, which puts you on placid Water Turkey Bay and the Cocohatchee River backwaters.
Where to launch: The launch area into Water Turkey Bay (park address: 11135 Gulfshore Drive). State park entrance fees apply.
What to avoid: Wiggins Pass, at the north end of the park, connects the river to the Gulf and is busy with boats from the Cocohatchee River Park boat ramps nearby. The park designates the area past the double red flags toward the pass for fishing. Don’t paddle into the pass on a strong tide.
Good to know: The park offers beach wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis and follows a “pack it in, pack it out” policy.
Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park and Rookery Bay
Directions
Best for: mangrove tunnels, birds and wildlife. Sheltered mangrove backwater.
The Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park is about 15 miles south of downtown Naples. It’s the only public launch on the Paradise Coast reserved for paddle craft, with no motorboats, and it’s a short paddle from Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, a 110,000-acre protected estuary with some of the area’s best mangrove tunnels.
Where to launch: The paddlecraft park’s ramp. It has picnic pavilions, restrooms and a wash rack, and there’s a small launch fee ($4 at the time of writing).
Rentals and lessons: Rookery Bay Reserve offers kayak tours and rentals through its booking site, with rentals delivered to Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park, south Naples and Marco Island. The reserve’s Environmental Learning Center (300 Tower Road) is a good first stop to learn the area.
Good to know: Some of Rookery Bay’s islands close to camping from April 1 to October 31 for nesting sea turtles and shorebirds. Day use is still allowed, but stay off posted nesting areas. Mangrove channels look alike; take a map or GPS and note the tide.
Caxambas Park (Marco Island)
DirectionsBest for: experienced paddlers heading into the Ten Thousand Islands. Sheltered channels, open bays.
Caxambas Park is a 4-acre public boat park at the southern end of Marco Island. From here, you can explore the winding channels around Caxambas and Barfield bays, or paddle south toward the northern edge of the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands.
Where to launch: The park’s launch area. Pay the small launch fee at The Ship Store on site. Parking is free.
What to avoid: Boat traffic in the main channels, and getting lost in the islands. Plan your route around the tide, carry water and a phone in a dry bag, and tell someone your plan.
When to go
Naples is a year-round paddling spot, with some of the warmest water in the country. NOAA’s long-term averages for Naples put the Gulf at about 67–70°F from December to February, 77°F in April and 86–88°F from June to September.
- Winter and spring (December–April): the most comfortable time. Cooler, drier weather and fewer storms. Busy in peak season.
- Summer (June–September): bath-warm water, but frequent afternoon thunderstorms and lightning. Paddle early and be off the water before the storms build.
- Hurricane season: June 1 to November 30. Watch the forecast.
- What to wear: sun protection more than a wetsuit. On a cool winter morning, our wetsuit check will tell you if you need a layer.
Planning a longer paddle through the mangroves? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long a route will take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Naples
In Florida, a paddle board counts as a vessel when you’re outside a swimming, surfing or bathing area. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC):
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved wearable life jacket for each person. Children under 6 must wear one. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle, horn or bell.
- After dark: have a white light, such as a flashlight, ready to show from sunset to sunrise.
Local rules and habits on top of that:
- Respect the passes. Clam Pass, Wiggins Pass and the passes around Marco Island have strong tidal currents and boat traffic.
- Give wildlife space. Don’t chase, touch or feed manatees or dolphins. Stay off posted bird and turtle nesting areas.
- Stay out of swim areas on the Gulf beaches.
- Check for red tide on FWC’s status map before a Gulf paddle, and check the weather. Small craft advisories mean the Gulf is too rough for a board.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in Naples?
Clam Pass Park. Launch from the small ramp by the parking lot onto Outer Clam Pass Bay, which is flat and shallow, and stay away from the pass itself.
Where can I rent a paddle board in Naples?
Naples Paddleboard (620 Tamiami Trail North) rents boards, runs lessons and eco tours, and delivers rentals free to your location. Rookery Bay Reserve’s rental partner delivers to the Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park, south Naples and Marco Island.
Can you see manatees while paddle boarding in Naples?
Often, especially in sheltered bays and canals. Watch from a distance, and never touch, feed or chase them.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in Naples?
No. You’ll pay parking at Clam Pass Park, the entrance fee at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, and small launch fees at the Isles of Capri Paddlecraft Park and Caxambas Park.
Can I paddle board with my dog in Naples?
Check each park’s pet rules before you go. Read how to paddle board with a dog before your first trip together, and bring plenty of water in the summer heat.
More paddling near Naples
Not sure which board to rent or buy? Our Board Fitter suggests a size for your weight and the water you’ll paddle. Heading across the state or south? See our guides to where to paddle board in Miami and where to paddle board in the Florida Keys.
