We recently published an article on the Best Places to Paddle Board in Orange County, CA, but now it’s time to head further south to the last frontier before the USA becomes Mexico. From a coastal perspective, San Diego County runs from San Onofre State Beach to the border by Tijuana Beach Promenade. Between those 82 miles is a bounty of coastline and interconnected waterways that beckon paddle boarders from all over America.
Below is a breakdown of five of our favorite spots that we recommend based on varying skill levels, accessibility, adventure, and nearby amenities for apres-SUP fun. If you’ve got stand up paddleboarding (SUPing) on the mind and you live in (or are visiting) SD, be sure to bring your Sea Gods ISUP to enjoy one or all of the following best places to paddle board in San Diego County.
Top 5 Paddle Boarding Destinations to Bring Your Sea Gods ISUP to When in San Diego County California
Mission Bay
Skill Level: Beginner
From a bird’s eye view, the Mission Bay waterway in San Diego looks like a jigsaw puzzle, with several coves, beach parks with facilities), small islands, and hotel properties in addition to boasting (or bemoaning) Sea World in its embrace. It’s protected by a large Mission Beach sandbar, which keeps the water calm all year long, no matter how strong onshore winds may be. With so much to see and do within Mission Bay, you could easily spend an entire day or even a week exploring its expanse by paddle board and never get bored. That being said, others in your party may not feel the same, so be sure to take them over to Belmont Park (5 minutes away) to ride the rollercoaster. Meanwhile, you can kick back on the sands of Mission Beach and bask in the delight of a day well spent paddling Mission Bay.
San Diego Bay
Skill Level: Beginner and up
San Diego Bay is a natural harbor and deepwater port which is so close to Tijuana that you can smell the tequila. The bay is bookended to the north by Coronado - a resort city on a peninsula in San Diego Bay - and Imperial Beach beyond the southern edge of the peninsula. The thin peninsula (Silver Strand BLVD) provides moderate protection from onshore winds, but it can get choppy on especially windy days, which is why it’s good to check the weather before paddling out. You may need to bring your touring ISUP for such occasions.
Otherwise, San Diego Bay is the bee's knees for beginners and intermediates alike. The inland side features a series of piers, sandy beaches, green parks, and even an In-N-Out Burger. On the coastal side, your SUPing view will spy on the Coronado Municipal Golf Course, the Coronado Cays Yacht Club, the Naval Amphibious Base, and a personal favorite place to stay - the Kona Kai San Diego Resort. Like with Mission Bay above, the SUPing experience is laid back and loaded with seaside community things to see and do during your intermissions and, when done paddling for the day.
La Jolla Cove
Skill Level: Intermediate and up
While the water in this north-facing cove is relatively calm in the summer, we deem this SUPing spot to be for intermediates and up because it can be intimidating to have an 11-foot long and 2,500-pound sea lion pull up beside you and bark. That’s right, La Jolla Cove is loaded with sea lions to the point that it’s almost comical. But that’s also a significant part of the attraction, as are the rock formations and sea caves that line the cliffs.
There are a couple of places to launch from, including the shore at La Jolla Cove beach at Avenida De La Playa or in front of The Marine Room restaurant, which has a beach access walkway. Sure-footed adventurers (and experienced paddlers) can shimmy down the cliffside access point by The Cave Store. La Jolla Cove can be an intense but incredible place to paddle board in San Diego County. We recommend our Diatom stable SUP featured above, or our our Carta Marina touring SUP for his particular adventure.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad
Skill Level: Beginner
Carlsbad is one of the most idyllic beach towns in San Diego County. In addition to a beautiful coastline and rows of boutique shops and eateries, Carlsbad has three inter-connected lagoons that are divided by the I-5 freeway and a railroad bridge. Of the three lagoons is Agua Hedionda, which is adjacent to the ocean and between Tamarack Avenue and Cannon Road. On a bright and sunny day, the 66-acre outer lagoon is enjoyed for boating, water-skiing, wake-boarding, and for the intents and purposes of this article - stand up paddleboarding.
Carlsbad is also home to the incredible team at SUPBOARDGUIDE.COM, where you can find product reviews for many of our boards.
The lagoon is best suited to beginners and those who enjoy being surrounded by lush landscapes instead of yacht clubs or resort marinas. The only caveat is that as a lagoon, water quality may be compromised on rare occasions (not uncommon in California). Check the City of Carlsbad website for updates on water quality before paddling out on your Diatom Ten6 CX.
San Onofre State Beach
Skill Level: Beginner and up
If you want to get your SUP surf game on, the place is San Onofre State Beach. It has a beautiful long surf break and a designated place for Paddleboarders to SUP surf, and that is a fantastic SUP culture to play nice with the surfers. Paddlers go all the way to the far end of the beach, closest to the old nuclear plant and can back their van right on the beach. When the waves are small, it’s a great place to get the kids started out with their SUP surf skills. Featured above with our Kids SUP is the Elemental Wave - an awesome all-around boards for beginners.
Clean change room, washrooms, and the nicest folks you will ever meet down on this friendly beach where the local rules of Surfers North and Paddlers South leave loads of room for everyone to have a great time. Just mind the beach access stops just North of the Nuclear plant; there is a sign on the beach to warn you that’s the end of your walk. Be prepared to arrive early and stay all day in this little piece of paradise!
Make sure you pack your new Sea Gods inflatable stand-up paddle board and essential accessories before your next excursion to enjoy the best SUPing spots detailed above. If you have any questions about our products, shipping, and warranties, feel free to contact Sea Gods USA at any time.