From our friends at www.thepaddleboardcompany.com
Stand up paddleboarding in Morro Bay and on the Central Coast is an amazing experience. The Central Coast has some of those most pristine waters in California and is home to an array of coves, points, beaches, and bays. It’s the perfect area for stand up paddleboards (or SUP’s).
To see a short preview of the top 3 places to launch a SUP in Morro Bay, check out this video below:
Stand Up Paddling in Morro Bay
Description: Morro Bay estuary offers the most approachable flatwater paddling along the Central California Coast and offers some of the most scenic paddling of any harbor along the California coast.
The bay is a large marine and bird preserve providing views of Morro Rock, a sand-spit with some dunes that are over one-hundred feet high, with scenic tributaries flowing into the bay. Paddling from Morro Rock to the back-bay community of Baywood is a four-mile journey (one-way; approximately eight miles round trip) with lots to see along the way.
Stand up paddleboarding in Morro Bay- The Basics
Paddlers will have the opportunity to see an abundance of wildlife including rays, halibut, seals, otters, herons, pelicans as well as various species of migratory birds. There many paddling options and areas to explore along unpopulated sand dunes and beaches. Morro Bay is an ideal paddling destination for families, those new to paddling, and experienced paddlers looking for new areas to explore and distances to travel by paddling.
Perfect Paddles Gear to Get You Ready for Your Trip:
Mustang Beltpack PFD - An essential piece of gear for any paddler. But especially important for anyone paddle boarding swift currents found in and around NYC.
Insta 360 Camera - Capture every moment on the water with the brand-new, fully waterproof, easily transportable Insta Camera!
Local Knowledge: The bay is a safe environment with calm waters. However, there are times when the wind and tide can impede a leisurely paddle. Before paddling, it’s always a good idea to check local tides and weather before heading out.
Winds: Winds along the Central Coast usually blow from the northwest and typically come up around noon. If you are planning to launch at Morro Bay and are planning to paddle south toward the back-bay tributaries, the community of Baywood, or other locations, it’s best to do so early in the morning if the forecast calls for winds above 5 knots.
Tides: On extreme tides, the current can flow up to two miles per hour (~3.2 KPH). As the bay is not sheltered from North or Northwest wind, you can get into situations where you are battling strong wind and current- e.g., paddling north into the wind while fighting a strong incoming tide.
If you plan to explore the back-bay back tributaries, it’s best to do so on a three-foot or higher tide. Follow the flood tide into the back-bay and make your way back as the tide drops, otherwise, you may get stuck in thick gooey mud.
Boats and other vessels: The bay is a working harbor, which means you will be sharing a portion of it with commercial fishing vessels, sport fishing vessels and pleasure craft of all types. Please be considerate, aware, and observe all rules.
Water Conditions and Tides: Water in the bay is a few degrees warmer than the ocean. Water temps in the bay range from low 50s Fahrenheit (~5 Celsius) in the Winter/Spring to upper 50s low 60s Fahrenheit (~14-18 Celsius) in Summer/Fall. Water in the bay is typically calm but can get choppy and white-cap depending on the wind. Strong tides produce swift currents.
The tide influences everything in the bay. If you are planning to explore the back-bay estuary, tributaries, dunes, or the quaint community of Baywood, you will want to pay attention to tides. As noted earlier, you will want a tide that is at three-foot or above.
Air Temperatures: If you are an early morning paddler, temperatures can range from the upper 40s Fahrenheit (~8 Celsius) to upper 50s Fahrenheit (~14 Celsius) in the winter months (December-March). In Spring, Summer, and Fall, morning temperature range from low 50s Fahrenheit (~11 Celsius) to low/mid-60s Fahrenheit (~17 Celsius).
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. This is a great place for beginners, novice, and expert paddlers to explore, train for races, practice yoga, and learn how to downwind in a protected environment. The harbor is very approachable with numerous accessible launching points.
Suggested Board Types: All around cruising, touring, racing or inflatable boards like the Naish Alana, Glide or Air series, the Kuhimana, Lono series from Takayama, as well as Typhoon, El Tiburon, and yoga series boards from Boga. Visit The Paddleboard Company for more details, SUP gear, fitness/yoga classes, and rentals.
Other Gear: Personal Flotation Device (PFD), leash, and whatever keeps you comfortable on the water. The Harbor Patrol is strict so make sure you have your PFD.
The 3 Best Places to Launch SUPs from in Morro Bay
Access and Parking: There are four key locations to launch when you’re stand up paddleboarding in Morro Bay. Parking is free at each location.
1) No-Name Beach:
This is located by the harbor entrance next to the jetty breakwater at the base of Morro Rock on the harbor side near the harbor mouth. There is a nice beach and easy take-off spot. Restrooms are a short five-minute walk. Parking is limited.
2) Colman Beach or Mother’s Beach:
Next to Coleman Park at the north end of the Embarcadero. This is a small strip of sand with easy access to the water. The restrooms are near-by. There is a mixture of dirt and paved parking
3) Morro Bay State Park Marina:
Located near the Morro Bay golf course and next to the Bayside Café, the Marina offers a convenient launch location to explore the back-bay and estuary and sand dunes. There is a public restroom and ample parking. This location can get muddy and rocky at tides lower than two feet.
There are two main uses for stand up paddleboards. They’re either for surfing waves in the ocean, or they’re for cruising flat water or paddling over long distances. The Paddleboard Company also offers yoga classes on stand up paddleboards. Most people enjoy stand up paddleboards on flat water in lakes bays and rivers, and Morro Bay is ideal for this.
A perfect day cruising around the Morro Bay Harbor and estuary starts with the Paddleboard Co. You’ll launch and either go north toward the harbor entrance, or south toward the back bay. The tide swings can be quite large and the corresponding current can be significant. So depending on the tide and how hard you want to work, you’ll make your decision on which way to go.
Morro Bay is the perfect place to try both riding waves and cruising the bay. Just to the north side of the Morro Rock, there is an excellent beach to learn to ride waves as long as the waves are small. Riding waves on a SUP is not recommended at all for someone that has never surfed before. Learning to surf on a regular surfboard before trying it on a SUP is a better idea.
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Morro Bay
California
93442
United States
- Location Info Guide