Canoe and Kayak Magazine has a great article up on their site that lists 7 great freshwater places to take your sea kayak. As they quickly acknowledge, even though they are called “sea kayaks”, reserving their use for salt water alone is a bit short sighted. The long hulls make for fast and comfortable touring boats, and can be used in a variety of bodies of water.
Amongst the places they recommend for a good paddle, in a sea kayak or any other for that matter, are Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park and the along the banks of Lake Superior’s Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The former is located in Montana and offers up stunning views of the surrounding mountain landscapes, and paddle access to some excellent hiking trails. Pictured Rocks is found in Michigan and is known for 15 miles of beautifully colored sandstone cliffs, some of which stretch more than 600 feet above the surface of the water.
Other locations making the cut include Lake Champlain in New York, Upper Myakka Lake in Sarasota Florida, and the Green River in Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyons of Utah.
All in all, some really great suggestions, and with warmer weather already arriving across much of the U.S., there is no better time to head out on the water than in the spring.
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Thanks for that website. Those Kayaking spots are very nice.
Yep! Always love new suggestions for places to paddle.
Out of curiosity, are you in Des Moines, IA? Lived there for many years before moving to Austin. 🙂
Great article,great idea,never thought of using my ocean yak in rivers here in oz..i will now tho wish i was there to paddle those rivers too !
Good options, with my vote being Lake Superior which often feels very ocean like!
DSD
So true DSD. Those Great Lakes really are Great! 🙂 Superior is a perfect place for a sea kayak.
Yes, the Great Lakes are great, especially the Canadian shores of Superior and Huron. I like rolling and taking a big gulp of that pure water on my way back up. Can't do that in the ocean!
Mark Lewis – Expedition Guide
Sea Quest Kayak Tours & Whale Watching Trips