Best Places to Paddleboard in the United States – Maryland 2021
1: Assateague Island State Park
Located south of Ocean City, the Assateague Island State Park is the only oceanfront state park in Maryland. Over 200 unique bird species make their home in this area, but most visitors will tell you about the wild horses that live on the marshes and beaches. With direct access to the Atlantic, you can paddle on out and get your surf on, or paddle on the other side in the Chincoteague Bay for a calmer, more relaxing paddling experience.
This is one of the best all-around waterfronts in Maryland, offering a good mixture of activities and water suitable for all skill levels, so make sure to stop by the Assateague Island State Park if you’re on the coast.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 205
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Ocean City
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Yes
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
2: Rocky Gap/Lake Habeeb
Lake Habeeb is the best beginner and family lake in Maryland, as no motor craft or boats are allowed on these waters. Located on the northern border of the state, Lake Habeeb is part of the greater Rocky Gap state park and resort, with 243 acres of water that forms part of the 3,000-acre park.
Beyond its tranquil blue waters, this is also one of the top fishing spots for the state, with species such as Redear, Bluegill, Catfish, Trout, and more. Large catches are quite common for those willing to challenge themselves, with several Largemouth Bass fishes larger than 10 lbs caught per year.
Once you’re satisfied with paddleboarding, you can rest at one of the three major beaches and other campgrounds. With plenty of other activities available on and off the water, consider visiting Lake Habeeb and the Rocky Gap Resort for your next group vacation.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 165
Distance to Major Cities: 30 Minutes to Frostburg
Motor Vehicles Allowed: No
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
3: Chesapeake Beach
You can’t visit Maryland without stopping by Chesapeake Beach. Chesapeake Bay has become one of the most popular launching spots for paddlers because of all the beautiful sights visible whether you go towards or away from the city. But if you want a good view of downtown Annapolis, head north with the shipping boats that pass through the bay. If you want to get some sailing or wind foiling in, or perhaps even surf a bit, you can head south towards and check out the coastline and other cities that dot the Chesapeake Bay.
If you have a touring board and you want to challenge yourself, you can take a few hours to paddle to Tilghman Island, a small but friendly town just 11 miles away by paddleboard. There are other places to launch from, but Chesapeake Beach is one of the best places to go in Maryland.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 208
Distance to Major Cities: 45 Minutes to Annapolis
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Yes
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
4: Jonas Green Park
If you don’t feel like leaving Annapolis, one of the best places to paddleboard in the state of Maryland is the Jonas and Anne Catharine Green Park. Often referred to as Jonas Green Park for short, the park has several paddleboard vendors to help you get set up and ready to get out and explore the water.
You can paddle up the Severn River to get close to Annapolis’s commercial district or head eastward to take photos of the long Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Staying near the land will provide a mostly calm paddling experience for those who are starting or are on a yoga board. Then, heading out towards the bridge, the wind picks up for sailing and wind foiling.
If you don’t want to leave the capital of Maryland, consider launching your paddleboard from the Jonas and Anne Catharine Green Park.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 208
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Annapolis
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Yes
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
5: Canton Waterfront Park/Patapsco River
Most visitors to Maryland are probably visiting to stop by Baltimore, at which point you can head to the Canton Waterfront Park for a great paddleboarding experience. Paddling along the waterfront will let you see sights such as Fort McHenry, the commercial hub of Locust Point, and the popular Maryland National Aquarium all from the water!
Intermediate to advanced paddlers will find the waters thrilling as they paddle near large commercial ships, though as the wind picks up, you’ll want to try sailing and surfing as well. Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, and Shad are a few of the fish you can find swimming on the waterfront, and with plenty of local vendors, you can rent paddleboard and fishing gear alike.
For paddleboarding enthusiasts who have to make a trip to Baltimore, take the time to stop by the Canton Waterfront Park for a fun diversion.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 213
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Baltimore
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Yes
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
Conclusion: Plan Your Paddle Board Trip and Have Fun!
Thank you for visiting our top paddleboarding destinations list for the state of Maryland! Since we only had the chance to see a few of these locations, we rely on other paddlers for their suggestions. We would love to know what you think about these places we’ve suggested. Feel free to leave a comment below or send us an email with your thoughts, including any other paddleboarding destinations that you’ve had the chance to visit.
As part of our fifty state series, you can expect Massachusetts and other states’ recommendations soon, or visit our top fifteen recommended destinations for the whole United States. While you’re here, we also publish in-depth reviews of the latest paddleboard releases, informational guides and quick tips to improve paddleboarding skills, and many paddleboard videos on our Youtube channel.
Thank you again for visiting SUPBoardGuide.com! Let us know what you think about paddleboarding in Maryland, and remember to stay safe while you have fun SUPing!
SupBoardGuide
Latest posts by SupBoardGuide (see all)
- RedPaddleCo 12′ Compact iSUP Review – 2024 - February 23, 2024
- Best Paddle Boards for Large Paddlers, 2024 - February 8, 2024
- ISLE Pioneer 2.0 iSUP Review – 2024 - February 6, 2024
There’s a great lake in Boyds, MD for boarding in Black Hills Regional park. You can launch from the park’s boat house or several other smaller launches on nearby streets outside the park. Clarksburg Road and Wisteria Drive have easy to access launches from street parking.