Los Angeles might not be the first place you have in mind for stand-up paddleboarding, but the busy city and its surroundings hide a remarkable range of water - sheltered marinas, quirky canals, alpine lakes, and world-famous surf breaks, all within a short drive of the city. Whether you’re a first-timer looking for calm, flat water or an experienced paddler chasing down a point break, there’s a spot with your name on it.

This is our round-up of the ten best places to paddle board in Los Angeles and Southern California, with the details you actually need: where to launch, where to park, what it costs, and what to expect on the water. Wondering where to paddle board around LA this weekend? Start here.

Our Favourite Places to Paddle in the City

Jump to a spot: 1. Marina del Rey · 2. Malibu Surfrider Beach · 3. Venice Canals · 4. Latigo Beach, Malibu · 5. Big Bear Lake · 6. Abalone Cove Beach · 7. Pyramid Lake · 8. Newport Bay · 9. Dana Point · 10. Channel Islands

1. Marina del Rey

Address: Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292 · Open Map
Parking: Lot 1 at Fisherman's Village (13723 Fiji Way) is tiered, not hourly — $2 up to 2 hours, $4 up to 4 hours, $8 all day, $20 on major holidays. Day parking only, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
Fees: No fees for launching your own board. Rental prices vary by vendor.
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic areas, and nearby rental shops.

The calm, sheltered waters of Marina del Rey are the perfect place to develop your paddleboard skills and get the whole family out on the water. The man-made beach in the marina makes a nice picnic spot if not everyone in the family is keen to get wet, and with no waves hitting the shore, getting on and off your board is super easy. The marina is a hive of activity on any given day, and you’ll weave past kayaks, boats, and plenty of like-minded paddlers as you explore the marina. Keep an eye out for the sea lions lounging on the expensive yachts - and if you’re lucky, the dolphins that occasionally cruise through. Access is simple: you can drive right up to the beach to offload your gear, and you’ll be close to town for a post-paddle espresso.

Calm water like this is ideal for learning, so a wide, stable all-around board is your friend here - the Oahu and the Big EZ Hawaiian are both forgiving and easy to balance on.

2. Malibu Surfrider Beach

Address: Cross Creek Pl, Malibu, CA 90265 · Open Map
Parking: Paid parking is available on-site.
Fees: No fees for launching your own paddleboard.
Amenities: Restrooms, showers, fishing pier, lifeguards, and volleyball courts.

Surfrider Beach in Malibu is a sandy beach thats popular among surfers for its long right-hand break - in fact, it’s one of the birthplaces of American surf culture, and the Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum sit there. The beach offers consistent waves and is usually packed with surfers. If you’re just learning to SUP surf, this isn’t the place to start, but if you’re somewhat experienced you’ll love what the Malibu break has to offer. Malibu Farm has a restaurant at the end of the pier overlooking the break for a post-surf feed, and the spot is excellent for bird watching.

Chasing waves here calls for a dedicated surf shape rather than a big all-around board - something nimble like the Carve holds a line far better in the pocket. See the full surf SUP range if you’re building a quiver.

3. Venice Canals

📍 Address: End of Grand Canal, near Venice Blvd & Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291 · Open Map
🚗 Parking: Paid lots at Venice Blvd & Pacific Ave ($15/day); limited free street parking along Venice Blvd, Washington Blvd, or Pacific Ave.
💲 Fees: Free access.
🚻 Amenities: Year-round restrooms, a launch ramp for non-motorized boats (max 18 ft), and scenic walking paths with historic bridges.

Weave your way through the Venice Canals by paddleboard and soak up the calming vibes, it genuinely feels like you’ve escaped the busy city streets. You’ll need to bring your own board, as there are no rental shops nearby, but access is easy at the Venice Boulevard launch ramp. The houses lining the canals are quirky and fun to look at, and the sheltered water makes for an easy, relaxed paddling. Honestly, paddleboarding is the best way to see the canals - you’ll feel like you’re exploring a little corner of Italy. Afterward, you’re a short walk from Salt & Straw for ice cream on Abbot Kinney.

Since you have to bring your own board and parking is tight, a packable inflatable is a good call here - the Moon Mist TPU rolls into a backpack, then inflates rock-solid for the canals.

4. Latigo Beach, Malibu

Address: Latigo Shore Dr, Malibu, CA 90265 · Open Map
Parking: Limited street parking along Pacific Coast Highway; beach access via a public stairway at Latigo Shore Drive.
Fees: Free access.
Amenities: None on-site.

About three miles north of Malibu Pier, Latigo Beach is best reached by parking on the Pacific Coast Highway and walking down the tight staircases to the sand. Avoid parking on Latigo Shore Drive, as the locals are vigilant and you could end up with an unexpected ticket. The beach gets a good swell off the point break at certain times of year and tends to be less crowded than Surfrider. The waves here are gentle and rolling and can offer some nice long rides, which makes it a great place to work on your skills. The point also shelters the beach from wind coming up the coast. When there’s no swell, take your board out and enjoy the scenic shoreline, marvel at the luxury beachfront homes, spot the occasional wildlife, and paddle to the west end at low tide to check out the tide pools.

5. Big Bear Lake

Address: Big Bear Lake, CA 92315 · Open Map
Parking: Free parking at Boulder Bay Park (39166 Big Bear Blvd).
Fees: A Lake Use Permit is required for all vessels, including paddleboards — $29 for one day, $40 for two, and $51 for three.
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic areas, and nearby rental shops.

A short drive east of Los Angeles and nestled in the mountains, Big Bear Lake sees all four seasons, and is a welcome change from the city’s consistent heat. There are rentals available, or you can bring your own board, but be aware you’ll need to buy a permit before paddling, and your board must be inspected to confirm it hasn’t been in other water systems in the week leading. Big Bear is perfect for a weekend getaway with family or friends, with acres of lake to explore and plenty to do off the water as well as on it. Pack a fishign rod and reel in a freshwater catch, or simply cruise around the mountain shoreline. Eitherway you’ll head back to the city relaxed and reset.

For a big lake like this, a board that tracks straight and covers distance turns exploring into a pleasure - the Endurance touring board is built exactly for that kind of day.

6. Abalone Cove Beach

Address: 5970 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 · Open Map
Parking: On-site lot open 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Fees: Parking fees apply; credit/debit only.
Amenities: Restrooms, drinking fountains, picnic areas, and a staffed facility.

Reach Abalone Cove Beach from the parking at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park. From there you can paddle around Portuguese Point and Inspiration Point to Portuguese Bend, passing through gorgeous coves along the way. You’ll get a great view of Santa Catalina Island and the caves at the base of Portuguese Point at low tide. The water at Abalone is beautiful and clear, with tide pools to explore around the points too. Paddleboarding is the best way to take in this stretch of coast - you’ll leave the crowds on the trails behind. After your session, explore the Abalone Cove Reserve.

7. Pyramid Lake

Address: Smokey Bear Rd, Lebec, CA 93243 (25 mins from Santa Clarita) · Open Map
Parking: Free at the Vista del Lago Visitor Center.
Fees: Entrance and parking fees are required.
Amenities: Restrooms, shaded picnic areas, boat rentals, and a visitor center.

Pyramid Lake is a reservoir near Santa Clarita, named after the pyramid-shaped rock carved out by the engineers who built it. It’s a large lake set between towering mountains, with plenty of shoreline to explore. The water is usually fairly quiet, and it’s known for good fishing and picnicking, including the five picnic areas accessible only by boat or paddleboard. You can easily spend a whole day here getting lost among the lake’s different forks and eating a sandwich at every picnic area.

If fishing is the plan, a purpose-built angler board gives you the stability and deck space to work from - take a look at the Big EZ Angler.

8. Newport Bay

Address: Newport Beach, CA 92660 · Open Map
Parking: Various lots and metered spaces; rates and hours vary.
Fees: No fees for launching your own paddleboard.
Amenities: Restrooms, showers, and rental facilities.

Newport Bay was formed by the ocean currents pushing sand toward the land while the Santa Ana River pushes it back out. This created a unique offshore beach and estuary. The harbor is packed with expensive boats and yachts and offers a good sheltered place to paddle. You can circumnavigate Lido and Balboa Island, or head up the estuary to the Newport Bay State Marine Conservation Area, where you might spot some of the 200 endangered bird species that make their home in the wetlands. There’s genuinely something for everyone here, and afterward you’ll find a range of local restaurants serving some of the best seafood around town.

The distances here - circling the islands or heading up the estuary - reward an efficient board. The Endurance or the Malibu Tour both glide and hold their line beautifully.

9. Dana Point

Address: Dana Point Harbor, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point, CA 92629 · Open Map
Parking: Free and paid options throughout Dana Point Harbor.
Fees: No fees for launching your own paddleboard.
Amenities: Restrooms, showers, picnic areas, rental shops, and dining.

Dana Point sits along the Orange County coast with easy access via State Route 1. Known as the whale-watching capital of the West, it’s a place to keep your eyes peeled for a lucky sighting. Head out toward sunset to watch the sun drop behind the iconic Southern California cliffs. There’s a relaxed SoCal spirit here, and nearby Strands Beach draws surfers looking to sharpen their skills on perfectly formed rolling waves. Head over to the harbor for a spot of paddleboard yoga, or explore the coastline and the Dana Point caves. Fun fact: California’s first surf shop opened at Dana Point in 1954, and the famous surf film The Endless Summer was produced there.

10. Channel Islands

Address: Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, CA 93001 · Open Map
Parking: Available at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard and Ventura, where ferries depart for the islands.
Fees: No entrance fee for the national park, but transportation fees via park concessionaires apply.
Amenities: Restrooms and picnic areas on the islands.

The Channel Islands consist of five islands: Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara, and San Miguel. Don't try and paddle from the mainland. You can take a boat over or catch a half-hour flight, and once there you’re greeted by untouched national park. The best way to explore is by paddleboard or kayak. Make it an adventure and pack overnight gear to camp at the designated coastal camp sites. There are hiking trails to access and caves to explore. Do some research before you go to confirm where camping is allowed. Experienced paddlers may want to cross between the islands; if that’s you, make sure you are equipped with a VHF marine radio.

This is expedition territory, so you want a board that carries gear and covers open water with confidence - the Endurance XL is built for exactly this kind of loaded, long-distance paddling.

What Board Should You Bring?

The right board depends on where you’re headed in and around LA:

• Beginners & calm water (Marina del Rey, Venice Canals): a wide, stable all-around like the Oahu or Big EZ Hawaiian.
• Surf (Malibu, Latigo): a dedicated surf shape like the Carve - browse the surf range.
• Distance & exploring (Big Bear, Newport Bay, the Channel Islands): a touring board like the Endurance or Endurance XL.
• Travel & tight parking (Venice Canals, road trips): a packable inflatable like the Moon Mist TPU or Stowaway Lite.

Not sure which is right for you? Try our board finder, or browse the full paddleboard collection.

Before You Go: LA SUP Safety & Tips

• Carry a life jacket. Outside designated swim and surf zones, your SUP is legally a vessel, so you must carry a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD; add a whistle and a light for low-visibility conditions.
• Wear a leash so your board stays with you if you fall.
• Go early. Mornings are calmest across LA, before the afternoon sea breeze fills in.
• Check the rules for your spot - permits and inspections at Big Bear, parking hours at Abalone Cove, no rentals at the Venice Canals.

New to the sport? Start with our beginner’s guide to SUP and our essential gear & safety guide, or book a lesson through a local SUP school.