Best Places to Paddleboard in the United States – Massachusetts 2021
1: Mystic River
There are many great paddleboarding options in Boston, and if you want to stay away from the harbor to paddle somewhere calmer, go on the Mystic River. The 7-mile long river cuts through the heart of the city, with quite a few restaurants and shops that you can pull your paddleboard up to and visit.
Fishing is a common sport for those both in and on the shore of the river, with local paddleboard vendors happy to rent out the gear you need to catch Bluefish, Bass, and more. Multiple beaches line the Mystic River and other sports and recreational spots that you can pull to shore to try out with friends as part of the Mystic River Reservation.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 200
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Boston
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Limited
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
2: Charles River
The Charles River is one of the most popular waterfronts in Boston due to a mixture of its calm rivers to the cityscape that you can get a great view of once you’re out on the water. Depending on when you visit, the Charles River can be even easier to paddle than the Mystic River. Those wanting to do some paddleboard sailing still prefer the Charles River when the wind picks up.
Many of Boston’s famous landmarks, such as the Zakim Bridge, the John W. Weeks Bridge, and the Museum of Science, can be seen when you’re paddling the Charles River. If you prefer to get out of Boston, the Charles River is eighty miles long and stretches through 23 other towns and cities as you head deeper and deeper into Massachusetts.
Outside of retail vendors, many paddling, sailing, and other water sports clubs and enthusiasts can be found on the Charles River, such as Community Rowing, Inc. So, if you’re visiting Boston and are interested in making new paddling friends, you should take the time to check out the Charles River.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 200
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Boston
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Yes
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
3: Walden Pond
One of the most famous lakes in all of America, Walden Pond is a 61-acre kettle hole (formed by retreating glaciers) memorialized by Henry David Thoreau’s writings. While Thoreau was captivated by the lake’s beauty, it is now a popular tourist and recreation spot and becoming an increasingly popular place for paddleboarders.
Given the beauty of the landscape, it’s a fairly common to see paddleboarders practicing yoga on the water, many of them even listening to Thoreau’s writings as they meditate on the water. Bluegill, Trout, and Bullhead are a few of the catches you can reel in at the lake, though if you want something more intense, you won’t have to paddle far to find someone to challenge in a race.
Due to the lake’s fame, you can paddle around and see several historical sights, even from the water, such as a replica of the cabin Henry David Thoreau once lived in. If you’re in Massachusetts, you should make an effort to paddle on one of America’s most cherished landmarks by navigating Walden Pond.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 200
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Boston
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Limited
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Nearby
4: Chatham Harbor
You can get some good surfing in Boston Harbor. Still, for more dedicated paddleboarding enthusiasts, we recommend going down south and to Chatham Harbor for the best experience. At Chatham Harbor, you won’t find as many surfers to compete with once you spot a great wave that you want to ride.
You can stick near the shore or Tern Island if you’re learning to surf or paddle on out past the barrier beach for the best, most advanced surfing experience. Outside of the waves, the Chatham Keegan Lighthouse is fantastic to see, along with the seals that like to come right up to paddleboarders.
If you find yourself on the southern shores of Massachusetts or want to avoid the crowds, you’ll have a fun time paddleboarding around Chatham Harbor.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 201
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Chatham
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Yes
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
5: Pavilion Beach
If you’re in northern Massachusetts and are looking for a place to paddleboard without having to drive down and into Boston, you’ll want to consider going to Pavilion Beach. This is a fun paddleboarding spot for beginners and advanced paddlers alike, with calmer waves near the shore for learners and larger waves past Harbor cove for surfers.
There are a couple of paddleboarding rental companies right on the sand, allowing you to rent the gear you need or hire someone for a lesson if you’re new and trying to get into the sport. Pavilion Beach is a popular year-round dock for many Massachusetts residents, so if you have a camera, you can take some pictures of a wide variety of boats, yachts, and even large commercial ships.
With plenty of local businesses that dot the shoreline, there’s plenty of things to see and try out while you’re visiting Pavilion Beach.
Average Clear Weather Days per Year: 201
Distance to Major Cities: Direct Access to Gloucester
Motor Vehicles Allowed: Yes
Paddleboard Rentals Available: Yes
Conclusion: Plan Your Paddle Board Trip and Have Fun!
Thank you for visiting our top recommended paddleboarding destinations for the state of Massachusetts! We’ve had the pleasure of visiting a couple of places on our list, but a few of them were included based upon the recommendations and reviews of other paddleboarders.
If you have your own opinion of these locations or have a place of your own you would like to recommend, be sure to leave a comment below or send us an email with your thoughts. We are hard at work developing recommendations for other states as well, including Michigan, but until then, we suggest checking out our list of top 15 paddleboarding destinations in the US!
Here at SUPBoardGuide.com we also publish paddleboard reviews, instructional tips and guides, and in-depth video breakdowns of the latest paddleboards. So let us know what you think and help us to become the best paddleboarding resource on the internet.
Thank you again for reading, and we hope you have a fun time paddleboarding as you visit the lakes, bays, and beaches of Massachusetts!
SupBoardGuide
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