Updated every 15 minutes
Should you paddle today?
Live wind, river flow, and tides for real launch spots — rolled into one Paddle Score, so you can decide in ten seconds instead of ten tabs.
Best conditions right now
9 spots
- 100Send it
Charles River Esplanade
Boston, MA · River · beginner
The classic Boston paddle: flatwater basin between the Esplanade and MIT with the full skyline in view. Protected from ocean swell, but the basin funnels wind on gusty days.
- Wind
- 7 mph
- Air
- 69°F
- 100Send it
Lake Union
Seattle, WA · Lake · beginner
Houseboats, seaplanes, and Gas Works Park — Seattle's urban lake is endlessly entertaining flatwater. Stay alert in the seaplane landing lane mid-lake.
- Wind
- 4 mph
- Air
- 74°F
- 99Send it
Bde Maka Ska
Minneapolis, MN · Lake · beginner
Minneapolis's biggest lake and the heart of the Chain of Lakes. Calm urban flatwater with skyline views, rentals on site, and connections to Lake of the Isles through the channels.
- Wind
- 7 mph
- Air
- 89°F
- 96Send it
Mississippi River — Hidden Falls
St. Paul, MN · River · intermediate
A surprisingly wild stretch of the Mississippi below the Ford Dam, with wooded bluffs, sandbars, and eagles. Current is real — plan a shuttle or paddle upstream first.
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Air
- 89°F
- 95Send it
La Jolla Cove
San Diego, CA · Coastal · intermediate
Sea caves, sea lions, and the leopard sharks of La Jolla Shores. One of the best ocean kayaking day trips in the country when the swell cooperates.
- Wind
- 9 mph
- Air
- 75°F
- 93Send it
Chattahoochee River — Powers Island
Atlanta, GA · River · intermediate
The 'Hooch is Atlanta's backyard river: cold, clear dam releases, mild shoals, and a green corridor through the metro. Flows swing hard with Buford Dam releases — always check before driving.
- Wind
- 9 mph
- Air
- 89°F
- 87Send it
Weeki Wachee River
Spring Hill, FL · River · beginner
A spring-fed lazy river with year-round 74°F crystal water, manatees in winter, and white sand bottoms. One of Florida's most photogenic paddles.
- Wind
- 4 mph
- Air
- 78°F
- 74Good
Richardson Bay
Sausalito, CA · Coastal · intermediate
Protected San Francisco Bay paddling with houseboat culture, harbor seals, and Golden Gate views. Sheltered compared to the open bay, but afternoon westerlies are dependable and strong.
- Wind
- 14 mph
- Air
- 77°F
- 51Fair
Lady Bird Lake
Austin, TX · Lake · beginner
Austin's downtown reservoir on the Colorado River — no motorboats allowed, so it's paddler heaven. Sunset bat-watching under the Congress Avenue Bridge is a rite of passage.
- Wind
- 10 mph
- Air
- 100°F
Browse by state
8,179 spots tracked
- Alabama175
- Arkansas134
- Arizona193
- California2
- Colorado355
- Connecticut73
- District of Columbia7
- Delaware23
- Florida420
- Georgia310
- Iowa147
- Indiana197
- Kansas190
- Kentucky170
- Louisiana104
- Massachusetts122
- Maryland140
- Maine65
- Michigan220
- Minnesota118
- Missouri232
- Mississippi134
- Montana231
- North Carolina249
- North Dakota125
- Nebraska119
- New Jersey135
- New Mexico167
- Nevada153
- New York304
- Ohio262
- Oklahoma155
- Oregon268
- Pennsylvania314
- Rhode Island38
- South Carolina150
- South Dakota123
- Tennessee119
- Texas610
- Utah175
- Virginia198
- Vermont53
- Washington277
- Wisconsin198
- West Virginia114
- Wyoming111
How the Paddle Score works
Every spot starts at 100 and loses points for what actually ruins a paddle: sustained wind first, then gusts, cold, and rain. On rivers, flow above the safe ceiling caps the score outright — a bluebird day doesn't make dangerous water safe. Each spot page shows the full arithmetic.