The best places to paddle board around Ogunquit and Kennebunkport are the tidal rivers behind the beaches. For a first paddle, go up the Kennebunk River from the Grist Mill on a rising tide, or explore the marsh on the Ogunquit River at high tide. On a calm summer morning, Goose Rocks Beach is the prettiest spot for paddling along the open coast.
This stretch of southern Maine works for paddling because every beach town has a salt-marsh river behind it, sheltered from ocean swell. The catch is the tide: Maine’s tides here are big, and the rivers turn into mudflats and fast channels as the water drops. Plan every paddle around high tide, and dress for cold water even in August.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: the Kennebunk River from the Grist Mill Property, launching halfway through a rising tide.
- Salt marsh: the Ogunquit River at high tide, from the Footbridge Beach ramp.
- Rent and go: Kayak Excursions delivers boards to Goose Rocks Beach, Wells Harbor or the Kennebunk River. Aquaholics and Coastal Maine Outdoors are in Kennebunk’s Lower Village.
- Open-coast scenery: Goose Rocks Beach on a calm, flat morning.
- Quieter option: the Webhannet River behind Wells Harbor.
The best places to paddle board in Ogunquit and Kennebunkport
Ogunquit River
Directions
Best for: salt-marsh exploring at high tide. Tidal river; strong current mid-tide.
The Ogunquit River runs behind Ogunquit’s long barrier beach, through salt marsh, to the sea near the town center. At high tide it’s a calm, wide channel among the marsh grass. Halfway between high and low tide, the water pours out toward the Atlantic fast enough that people ride it on inner tubes, which tells you what it would do to a paddle board.
Where to launch: The Footbridge Beach area has a small paved ramp for small boats on the upstream side of a low bridge, according to Maine’s coastal public access guide. It only works around high tide: at low tide the ramp is unusable, and at high tide there’s little room to pass under the bridge downstream. Parking at the lot is paid, and there’s a seasonal restroom nearby.
Rentals and lessons: Liquid Dreams Surf Shop, which has shops in Ogunquit and York (171 Long Beach Avenue), rents stand-up paddle boards and offers flatwater SUP lessons.
Good to know: Go at high slack and turn back as soon as the tide starts to fall. Don’t let the outgoing current carry you toward the river mouth; it ends in surf on the open beach.
Webhannet River (Wells Harbor)
DirectionsBest for: a quieter marsh paddle. Tidal river and harbor.
Wells Harbor sits at the mouth of the Webhannet River, a few miles north of Ogunquit. From the harbor you can paddle up into the river and tidal creeks such as Depot Brook and Blacksmith Brook through the salt marsh.
Where to launch: The public small-boat ramp at the end of Harbor Road (362 Harbor Road, off Route 1), on the west side of the harbor. Restrooms are close by. The Wells harbormaster (207-646-9649) can tell you about current conditions and parking.
Good to know: The harbor is used by lobster and fishing boats, so keep out of the channel. Tidal currents run hard in the harbor and at the inlet; stay inside and plan to come back before the tide drains the creeks. Kayak Excursions will deliver a board here.
Kennebunk River
Directions
Best for: beginners and families. Tidal river, calm near high tide.
The Kennebunk River divides Kennebunk from Kennebunkport, flowing past Dock Square to the sea. Above the town, it’s a quiet tidal river lined with tall marsh grass, herons and ducks. On a high tide you can paddle up to about three miles inland, past old pilings from 1800s shipyards and out into farmland.
Where to launch: The Grist Mill Property, a Kennebunkport Conservation Trust site just above the Taintown Bridge on Route 9. Launch about halfway through a rising tide, ride the flood upriver and come back while there’s still water under you.
Rentals and lessons: Aquaholics (166 Port Road, Kennebunk Lower Village) rents SUPs and kayaks daily. Coastal Maine Outdoors (8 Western Avenue, Kennebunk), next to the river in Lower Village, runs guided kayak tours with Registered Maine Guides. Kayak Excursions (207-204-8888) rents SUPs from about $50 for a half day at the time of writing and delivers free to local launches, with start times set around the tides.
Good to know: Below Dock Square the river is a busy harbor full of moored and moving boats. Stay upriver unless you’re experienced.
Goose Rocks Beach and the Batson River
Directions
Best for: calm summer mornings along the coast. Open ocean, sheltered on calm days.
Goose Rocks Beach is a long, sandy beach east of Cape Porpoise in Kennebunkport, with rocky islets offshore. On a flat day you can paddle along the shore and out toward the islands. The Batson River at the west end of the beach is a tidal marsh river you can explore around high tide.
Where to launch: From the beach. From the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, you need a town parking sticker to park on the posted roads near the beach (King’s Highway, Dyke Road and New Biddeford Road) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Day and weekly stickers are sold at card-only kiosks near the beach, and seasonal stickers at Town Hall (6 Elm Street).
Good to know: This is open water. Only go when the forecast is calm and the wind is light, stay close to shore, and wear a leash. Kayak Excursions will deliver a board to the beach. Read our guide to how to paddle board in the ocean first.
When to go
The Gulf of Maine is cold. NOAA’s Portland tide station recorded monthly average water temperatures of about 62°F in August 2025 and about 34°F in February 2025. Rivers and marsh channels warm up a little on sunny summer afternoons at high tide, but they’re still cold if you fall in.
- Summer (July to early September): the only time most people paddle without a wetsuit, and the warmest water. Rental shops are open and the beaches are busy.
- June and late September: quieter and still pleasant, but plan on a wetsuit. Our wetsuit check uses water and air temperature to tell you what to wear.
- Tides first, then time of day: pick a day when high tide falls in the morning, when wind is usually lighter. Avoid paddling against a strong ebb.
- Fog: summer fog can roll in quickly on the coast. Stay close to shore and carry a phone in a waterproof case.
Planning a longer trip, like the full three miles up the Kennebunk River and back? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long it will take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Ogunquit and Kennebunkport
Maine treats paddle boards as boats. Key rules:
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person. From January 1, 2026, Maine law requires children 12 and under to wear one while underway (it used to be 10 and under). Maine Marine Patrol urges every paddler to wear one. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device and light: under Coast Guard rules for paddle boards used outside swim and surf areas, carry a whistle, and after dark have a white light ready to show.
Local advice from Maine Marine Patrol and the shops:
- Dress for the water, not the air. Marine Patrol points out that coastal water is often 30 to 40 degrees colder than the air, and recommends a wetsuit or drysuit.
- Check the tide and marine forecast before you go, and tell someone your plan.
- Label your board. Marine Patrol gives out free “IF FOUND” stickers so rescuers can call you if your board turns up empty.
- Keep clear of harbor channels in Wells and Kennebunkport, and never paddle out through the river mouths on an outgoing tide.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board near Kennebunkport?
The Kennebunk River above the Taintown Bridge. Launch from the Grist Mill Property halfway through a rising tide, paddle upriver with the flood and turn back before high tide ends.
Can you paddle board on the Ogunquit River?
Yes, around high tide. Launch from the small ramp at Footbridge Beach and stay in the marsh. Mid-tide currents are strong, and at low tide the river is mostly sand and mud.
Where can I rent a paddle board in Kennebunkport?
Aquaholics in Kennebunk’s Lower Village rents SUPs daily, and Kayak Excursions delivers boards to launches around Kennebunkport and Wells. In Ogunquit and York, try Liquid Dreams Surf Shop.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in Maine?
No. Paddle boards don’t need registering. You’ll need a parking sticker at Goose Rocks Beach in summer, and paid parking at most beach lots.
How cold is the water in Ogunquit?
Cold. Even in August, average water temperatures at NOAA’s nearby Portland station are only around 60°F, and it’s in the 30s and 40s in winter and spring. Wear a wetsuit outside midsummer.
Not sure what size board you need for cold, tidal water? Try our Board Fitter. For more on picking calm days, see the best conditions for paddle boarding.
