Southern California, the Golden State is renowned for its picturesque coastline and year-round sunshine, making it an ideal destination for paddling enthusiasts. With a diverse range of locations such as Dana Point, San Clemente, and San Diego, paddlers can explore sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, and vibrant marine life. The region’s mild climate allows for paddling adventures throughout the year, whether gliding along calm bays or catching waves in the Pacific Ocean. Southern California’s vibrant beach culture and laid-back atmosphere create the perfect backdrop for both seasoned paddlers and beginners looking to experience the exhilaration of stand-up paddle racing, touring, and surfing in this iconic region. Here is a list of recommended places you need to check out paddling in SoCal brought to you by Paddle Logger!
San O State Beach at sunset
Dana Point is a stand-up paddling paradise characterized by its stunning cliffs, and abundant marine life such as dolphins, seals, sea lions, pelicans and more. Paddlers can glide along the calm waters of the Dana Point Harbor, where you may encounter playful dolphins or majestic whales. For those seeking a bit more of a SUP surfing vibe, the nearby Doheny State Beach offers excellent waves for paddle surfing. The town’s laid-back atmosphere and scenic beauty make it a favorite destination for stand-up paddling enthusiasts of all skill levels. Dana Point definitely promises an unforgettable stand-up paddling experience, especially if you choose to join the local Performance Paddling group for a lesson, or technical racing session. The famous Infinity Surf Co shop is also located in Dana Point along the main strip where you can rent equipment and try out multiple boards if your paddling heart desires!
A birds eye view of the Dana Point Harbour and Doheny State Beach
Nestled along the stunning coast just south of Dana Point, San Clemente offers stand-up paddling enthusiasts a unique and unforgettable experience. Known for its consistent waves, p​​addlers can enjoy exploring the coastline while catching waves or peacefully cruising along the shoreline. The San Clemente Peir, San O, and Trails are a few of famous SUP-surf spots in San Clemente, that provide an excellent setting for those looking to challenge their skills or simply enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Ocean. With its laid-back beach town vibe and beautiful scenery, San Clemente is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to improve their SUP surfing skills.
Newport Beach, situated in the heart of Orange County, is a stand-up paddling haven offering a diverse range of experiences for paddlers of all levels. With its calm bays, scenic harbor, and renowned surf breaks like the Wedge, Newport Beach provides a perfect setting for both leisurely paddling and adventurous wave riding. Paddlers can enjoy panoramic views of luxurious waterfront homes, and picturesque cliffs. The consistent beach culture and range of rental shops and lessons available make Newport Beach an ideal destination for anyone looking to explore the beauty of coastal California from any sort of paddling craft.
San Diego, known for its sunny weather offers an exceptional stand-up paddling experience for many. Paddlers can explore the calm waters of Mission Bay, where the annual Hanohano race takes place every year, paddle alongside sea lions in La Jolla Cove, or catch waves at popular surf spots like Pacific Beach. The city’s mild climate ensures year-round paddling opportunities, making it a favorite destination for both locals and visitors. With its picturesque beaches, scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, and lively beach communities, San Diego provides the perfect backdrop for a memorable stand-up paddling adventure in Southern California.
We hope that you check out some of these unique paddling destinations if you get the chance to visit the Golden State! SoCal stands out as a premier stand-up paddling destination with its stunning coastal landscape, ideal weather conditions, and a plethora of paddling spots to explore. The vibrant beach communities and surf culture add an extra layer of charm to the stand-up paddling experience in SoCal. With its balanced blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure opportunities, Southern California truly shines as a must-visit destination for anyone passionate about stand-up paddling.
Sunset over Catalina Island
6 Oct 2024
I have written a few articles this year about paddling in beautiful destinations like Southern California, and Florida. Paddling on the Great Lakes offers a unique blend of adventure, tranquility, and stunning natural beauty. I have grown up in between the Great Lakes my entire life (specifically Erie, and Ontario), and I am stoked to […]
10 Sep 2024
Today on TotalSUP we are stoked to be the first to share the exciting news from our favourite GPS paddle tracking app! Paddle Logger is excited to announce the launch of PaddlePLAN, a game-changing new feature for iPhone and Apple Watch that helps paddlers to explore and plan routes, navigate while on the water, and […]
28 Aug 2024
We cannot believe it has been ten years since the launch of one of the most used paddling tracking apps known as Paddle Logger. Today we welcome David Walker, the co-founder of Paddle Logger to TotalSUP. As a passionate paddler himself, Dave shares insights about the innovative app designed specifically for paddlesport enthusiasts, including stand-up […]
29 May 2024
From Fort Lauderdale Florida, Cheryl Goldstein is a passionate SUP racer. When she’s not on the water she is the Chief Firestarter at Campfire Creative Marketing. This year Cheryl was very excited to compete in the money island race at the 2024 Carolina Cup festival. In preparation for this years event Cheryl was able to […]
5 Mar 2024
From the very beginning Ethan Huff was hooked on the sport of SUP and dove head first into trying to learn everything he could right away. From becoming an ASI (Academy of Surf Instructors) certified SUP instructor and developing his own skills, Ethan has carved out his own path in the world of SUP instruction […]
13 Feb 2024
In the heart of Cornwall, Clair Connibeer has been a passionate stand-up paddler and instructor based in the United Kingdom. She is the founder of Paddle Cornwall SUP and is very excited to be heading into the 2024 season, especially with Paddle Logger at her fingertips! Hi there Clair! Welcome to TotalSUP! How are you […]
31 Jan 2024
Paddle Logger is one of the leading apps for tracking your paddle activities when you are on the water, in the summer of 2023 they teamed up with Save The Waves, an organisation working to protect surf ecosystems. This is an incredibly important mission and something that David Walker from Paddle Logger and Diego Sancho […]
26 Nov 2023
Welcome back to the second part of the TotalSUP look back at the Paddle Logger Rise and Glide Podcast. In the first part of this feature, Chris from TotalSUP sat down with his headphones on and enjoyed the first 5 episodes with Maddie and Holly and now he is back with episodes 6 through 11. […]
2 Nov 2023
Holly Pye is one of the top female SUP racers in the UK and an ambassador for Paddle Logger, after a break from paddling due to injury she’s back on the start line. Fresh from a successful European championships she sat down with one of her old club mates to talk SUP and her road […]
