Any kayaking fans out there? My husband and I have been kayaking together since our 4th date. At the time, we lived in Southern CA and would rent kayaks by the hour in Long Beach. Over the years, we have sought out kayaking (or other boating) adventures every time we traveled. We have kayaked with alligators in the Pearl River in Mississippi and in the Pacific Ocean under Coronado Bridge in San Diego. We’ve rowed in a beautiful Victorian-style wooden boat in the Avon River (in Bath, England) and paddled our way through the Wailua River (in Kauai). I could go on, but I think you get the point…my husband and I LOVE to kayak (and canoe, etc.).
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Fast-forward a little bit…and we now own a kayak! We live in Sonoma County, California, and have the flexibility of kayaking (almost) as often as we would like. We live within a mile of a couple lakes and just a short drive from the river and the ocean. We now have toddler (just over a year old) and take her out with us almost every weekend. Our kayaking experiences have changed a lot since our 4th date (I now sit in the front seat of our 2 person kayak with our baby girl on my lap, while my husband does 100% of the paddling from the back seat). It is not as simple as it once was, but we absolutely love our adventures as a family of 3.
We own the Airhead Montana 2 Person Kayak. We LOVE it! My husband did a lot of research before buying this kayak. We had planned on buying a hard-shell (it was all we had ever used) but realized this inflatable kayak was perfect for us and our needs. People are always commenting on how great it looks when we take it out. It’s really sturdy, great quality, and lightweight. It’s compact and really easy to inflate (my husband pumps it up in just a few quick minutes with this pump). It holds up to 500 pounds and has stainless steel and nylon hardware (rather than cheap plastic). We went with this kayak for its versatility, but it’s also less expensive than hard-shell kayaks. It is incredibly easy to travel with, so we never have to leave it behind!
I’m excited to share info on some of our favorite places to kayak in Sonoma County, California. We love where we live and so do tourists! So whether you are a local or someone planning a trip to Wine Country, this list is for you! You do not have to own your own kayak to enjoy water adventures in Sonoma County, and I’ll include info on rentals if they are available.
Note that small parking fees are required at each of these locations. If you are a Sonoma County resident and plan to take advantage of these places often, I highly recommend investing in a Sonoma County Regional Parks Membership (it will get you into 4 of these locations, as well as several other beautiful parks in the area).
Looking for a great guided kayaking tour in Sonoma County?
5 Places to Kayak in Sonoma County, California
I’ll start with my favorite- the Russian River! It’s approximately 110 miles long, so there are several options for hopping in and out with a kayak. I’ll focus on my favorite part of the river in Healdsburg, because it is where I am most familiar with (I grew up just 10 minutes away!). The Russian River is incredibly relaxing and peaceful. It is slow moving during the summer months, so no need to worry about white water if you’re inexperienced (it also great for tubing). A lot of people like to hop in along Fitch Mountain (Del Rio is our favorite spot) and kayak a couple hours to Veterans Memorial Beach. You’ll need to park a vehicle at your end location, unless you want to paddle your way back up river.
If you don’t own your own kayak or canoe, I recommend River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe Trips. They offer self-guided rentals and guided tour options. They’re located near Veterans Memorial Beach (a really convenient location), right next to the super popular Wicked Slush (you must end your river day by getting yourself a treat here!).
*Keep an eye out on Sonoma County’s website for the “Blue-Green Algae Warning” if you plan to enjoy the water with your kids and/or pets. It usually pops up in the later summer months, after the dam has been up for awhile.
Spring Lake is another one of my personal favorites because you can make a day of it or easily make it a short trip. This lake is a 72 acre reservoir with a beautiful view in Santa Rosa.
You can rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and pedal boats for a hourly rate between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day Weekend. You cannot hop into the water, but there is a swimming lagoon right next to it (with a huge floating, inflatable play zone!). The lake is great for walking, picnicking, and camping as well.
Riverfront is located right along the Russian River and has two beautiful lakes for kayaking. It is located in Healdsburg (very close to Windsor). At the park entrance, you’ll be greeted by a gorgeous redwood forest and beautiful vineyards. Enjoy a picnic in the grove before or after your day on the lake. It is a great place to experience Sonoma County’s unique beauty.
You’ll need to bring your own boat to this park!
*Keep an eye out on Sonoma County’s website for the “Blue-Green Algae Warning” if you plan to enjoy the water with your kids and/or pets. It usually pops up in the later summer months, after the dam has been up for awhile.
Pro Tip: Riverfront doesn’t have a boat ramp, and its access points aren’t very easy to find or get to. If you are willing to walk a bit with your kayak, it is well worth it for a peaceful experience on the lake. We carry our kayak from the parking lot to Lake Wilson (which is the lake you will see to your right as you enter the Redwood Grove area from your car). You can carry your kayak down to the lake wherever you would like. As you walk along the gravel path, you will see a couple wooden platforms. To the right of the first platform, you’ll see a bench. This area has always been the easiest for us to access the water. The walk isn’t far but may be tiring if you aren’t used to carrying your kayak far. We will often use our wagon to make the trip a little easier.
Lake Sonoma is located in Geyserville. It is much larger than the smaller lakes I’ve recommended (it has around 50 miles of shoreline). I grew up enjoying this lake on my Grandpa’s pontoon and bass boats, but it is also great for paddling around in a kayak or canoe. You can make it an even bigger adventure by boating into a campsite (which I’ve done and loved!).
If you don’t have your own boat, I recommend checking out the Lake Sonoma Resort Area. They rent everything from canoes to water skis to ski boats.
Want to experience the Pacific Ocean in a safe, beautiful space? Doran Beach is the perfect choice. It is located in Bodega Bay and is a local favorite for safe beach play (several other beaches in Sonoma County are not safe for swimming). Kayakers are welcome to use the boat launch. Make a weekend out of it and enjoy a beach campsite. This is a special place in Sonoma County for my family, and I highly recommend it (stop at The Boat House after if you want to try local, fried seafood or Spud Point for award-winning clam chowder!).
If you don’t have your own boat, you can rent one in Bodega Bay (but not inside the Regional Park). There are several options, but Bodega Bay Surf Shack/Bodega Bay Kayak has great reviews.
Are you visiting from out of town? Here are places to stay in Sonoma County, CA:
Hotels (Check out Expedia or Hotels.com for more amazing options):
- Vintner’s Resort in Santa Rosa
- Hyatt Regency Sonoma County in Santa Rosa
- Hotel Healdsburg
- Hampton Inn & Suites in Windsor
- Inn at the Tides in Bodega Bay
Vacation Rentals (Check out VRBO for more wonderful options):
- Cozy Home on Historic Cherry Street in Santa Rosa- sleeps 4
- Charming Sebastopol Home near Downtown- sleeps 6
- Healdsburg Cottage Near the Plaza- sleeps 4
- Healdsburg Hilltop Retreat with Beautiful Views- sleeps 6
- House with Stunning Views of the Sonoma Coast in Bodega Bay- sleeps 5
- Bungalow with River Access and a Hot Tub in Guerneville– sleeps 4
- Occidental Cabin Getaway in the Forest- sleeps 4
Whether you’re from Sonoma County and looking for ways to enjoy our beautiful home or an out-of-towner looking for ways to make the most of your trip, I hope you enjoyed this list of options. Enjoy your adventure!
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32 Comments
Ladonna
sonoma county is beautiful. I have been to all these parks and they are all great. riverfront regional is a hidden gem with redwoods, 3 lakes, and a river hike.
Leah
I agree! Riverfront is beautiful! 🙂
Emman Damian
I haven’t been to Sonoma County in California yet. I hope I can do kayak at Lake Sonoma. It looks so pretty in photos. My friends also told me great stories about the place. I find it romantic too.
Leah
It is a very beautiful destination!
Maggie
So funny, we were just talking about taking a road trip up to Northern CA and doing some kayaking! Sonoma County is awesome, I had no idea they had so many places to kayak. Pinning this to refer back to it later!
Leah
I’m so glad that this post was helpful! Northern CA is truly beautiful, and I’m sure you’ll love kayaking up here! 🙂
Lisa
How lucky you are to live so close to nature and continue your favourite hobby! I’ve not been to Sonoma when in California, but am so convinced to visit, and I don’t own a kayak! Russian River is very pretty as is Lake Sonoma too. I love that you’re also taking your baby girl on the kayak too, starting her off early!
Leah
Yes- we feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful place! We love these kayaking destinations, and there are so many rentals companies for travelers!
Vanessa
Still to make it to CA but I love kayaking so maybe it’s time to start planning a trip. Lake Sonoma and Spring Lake look stunning. I think id prefer to make a weekend of it and stay at The Boat House you recommend!
Leah
It’s beautiful here- the perfect place to spend a fun weekend!
Becki
You’ve had so many Kayaking adventures, in particular the Victorian wooden boat on the Avon River near to Bath, that’s pretty much my hometown, I didn’t even know I could do that right on my doorstep so thanks for the tip-off there. I’ve never visited California but so many people keep telling me amazing things about it and some of these Kayak spots look sweet, the Russian River one looks like it’s been plucked out of Europe.
Leah
We loved boating on the Avon River and highly recommend it! We agree that the Russian River is wonderful! We are grateful to live nearby.
amar singh
I must admit I have never tried kayaking but reading your post wants me to give it a shot for sure. Living in london I have not had the chance to visit this part of the US but would love to experience the outdoors even if i was not kayaking. Like you suggested it would be a good idea to start with a hard shell kayak not having much experience. Thanks for inspiring me and I will try and have a shot at kayaking for sure.
Leah
Kayaking is a lot of fun! We have been in the UK as well! You should be able to find some nice local options if you are interested. 🙂
Archana Singh
I have been to Sonoma county for their wines but have never tried kayaking, though I am a big fan. I loved the fact that you can rent kayaks. That’s such a relief for people who don’t own one.
Leah
Yes, the wine here is great, but there are so many other things to do here! 🙂
Shaily
Wow! You have so many Kayaking experiences. Kayaking with the alligators
sound quite daring. I’ve never tried this wonderful adventure yet but I so want to do it someday. Your post has inspired me to give it a shot soon. All the places you have listed for the adventure look beautiful and pristine. I wish could kayak in Spring Lake and Lake Sonoma someday.
Leah
Kayaking is so much fun, and an easy thing for beginners too! I hope you get to try to it one day soon!
Andreja
Kayaking is one of my favourite outdoor activities! Never thought of kayaking in California, but will remember this for sure. Cali is on the top of my bucket list, and now even more since there are so many kayaking options. Thanks for the tips!
Leah
There are so many beautiful places to kayak in CA! 🙂
Amanda
We love Kayaking! What a great list of places to Kayak in Sonoma! We have only visited this area for a quick day and can’t wait to return 🙂
Leah
Yes! So much to do here! 😊
Kelly
Beautiful photos! I will definitely have to check out some of these kayaking spots on a future trip to Sonoma. Thanks for sharing with us!
Leah
Thank you! We have so many pretty options here!
Karen
I love kayaking, these look like great places to explore on the water! I’m really hoping to get my daughter into it soon too
Leah
It’s such a fun activity for kids! Our toddler already loves it!
Liona
I haven’t done much kayaking but it always looks like great fun and these are some gorgeous spots to visit.
Leah
It is a lot of fun! And much easier than most people expect! 🙂
Jayne
I love the idea behind this post! I need to go get a kayak!
Leah
We love ours! It makes for the best adventures!
Dominique Parrish
We visited Sonoma and never went Kayaking! Now I need to go back!
Leah
Yes! We have so many pretty places to explore here!