A Look at Some Great Paddleboarding Locations on Cape Cod

 

 

Cape Cod residents are fortunate to have some of the country's best places for paddleboarding available to them at all times.

Nearly every neighborhood in the region has a pond, river, or section of ocean where standup paddleboarding is possible, many of which are incredibly scenic places to visit, too.

So, what makes a great SUP spot?

First, the water should be easily accessible. Carrying your board for miles through the woods could lead to the ultimate pay-off, but it still probably isn't worth the effort.

Second, the water should be calm. Dealing with waves and winds makes standup paddleboarding more of a chore than it should be, taking away from the enjoyment.

Third, you'll want to choose an area with some scenery. You can see a lot from your board, so heading somewhere with a beautiful sunset, some rare flora, or a bit of wildlife makes everything worth your while.

Finally, the area should be quiet. You don't want to end up in a spot that's full of boats, swimmers, or onlookers because it will detract from the experience.

With the criteria in mind, let's have a look at some of the Cape's best paddleboarding locations.

Megansett Beach

Megansett Beach in Falmouth checks all the boxes of what a great SUP spot should be, making it well worth your time.

First, this beach is easily accessible, as it sits just off Route 28 in North Falmouth. There's on-site parking, but the lot is small enough that the beach rarely gets overcrowded, even in the middle of the summer.

The water at this location is calm because the beach sits in the partially protected Megansett Harbor. You can paddle down the coastline for a fair distance enjoying the sights and sounds of this relatively quiet area.

There is some boat traffic in the region, as the Megansett Yacht Club is beside the beach, but it thins out quickly if you paddle south. The beach also features some of Cape Cod's most breathtaking sunsets, making it the perfect place for an evening paddle.

White Pond

The White Pond experience is far different from what you'll find near the oceanfront beaches, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.

This medium-sized pond, which sits near the Chatham Airport, offers calm waters and a serene atmosphere because residences and trees surround it.

You won't find many boats on the water at White Pond, and if there is anyone else out there, it'll just be a few other people kayaking, paddleboarding, or rowing their car top fishing boat in search of bass and trout.

You'll access the pond via Wilfred Road, which connects to Route 28 in West Chatham. There's a small parking lot at the beach, where you can launch your paddleboard.

Great Island

If seclusion is what you're after, Great Island should be high on your list of places to paddleboard. Although this location isn't a true island, as it's connected to the mainland via Great Island Trail, it's a remote spot on Wellfleet Harbor that offers some incredibly scenic SUP opportunities.

You can put your board in the water at the Great Island trailhead, and paddle past an area called The Gut before reaching the island. From there, you can explore its private beaches, visit the Samuel Smith Tavern Site, wander the trails, or paddle around its bays.

There won't be many boats in the area around Great Island, minimizing the waves, and it's protected from the open water, creating a great environment in which to paddle.

The Great Island trailhead is accessible via Chequessett Neck Road, which connects with Kendrick Avenue just outside of downtown Wellfleet.

Sandy Neck Beach

Barnstable's Sandy Neck Beach is a popular place to hang out in the summer because there are so many different experiences.

For starters, you could lounge in the sand all day long while enjoying the views over Cape Cod Bay. If you have the proper vehicle, you can also grab yourself an ORV permit and drive to a remote location on the beach where you can spend the night.

Hiking the dunes is another popular activity at Sandy Neck Beach, as you can explore for hours without running out of locations to visit.

Sandy Neck offers some excellent paddleboarding spots, too. You could paddle up and down the beach on the ocean side of the park, which features scenic views and calm waters. You could also depart from Millway Beach in Barnstable or Grey's Beach in Yarmouth Port and paddle across the harbor to Sandy Point.

Keep in mind that although Barnstable Harbor has calm waters, there is a lot of boat traffic that could lead to a bumpy ride for inexperienced paddleboarders.

Sandy Neck Beach, Millway Beach, and Grey's Beach are all accessible via Route 6A.

SUP on Cape Cod

Bass River gets a lot of attention as a place to go paddleboarding on the Cape, but there are countless other places to explore, as well. The region's harbors and ponds are often relatively calm and have stunning scenery to view as you paddle through their peaceful environments, making them beautiful places to check out.

Living on Cape Cod means having access to some of the country's best paddleboarding whenever you want to head out, which is yet another reason why people fall in love with this part of the world.