Lake Union: The City All Around You
Paddle out on Lake Union and you are right in the middle of Seattle. The downtown skyline rises to the south, Capitol Hill sits to the east, and Wallingford lines the north shore, while Queen Anne Hill and the Space Needle fill the view to the west.
Expect plenty of company. Floatplanes take off and land here, sharing the lake with yachts, speedboats, tour vessels, small sailboats and fellow paddlers. Keep watch along the western side of the lake, too, where harbor seals have been spotted.
Puget Sound: Saltwater and Mountain Views
Launch from West Seattle or Ballard to reach saltwater and take in dramatic views of downtown and the Olympic range. Wildlife is a big part of the appeal along this shoreline, and whales are sometimes seen from beaches such as Alki, Lincoln Park, Carkeek Park and Discovery Park.
Lake Washington: Calm Water Below the Cascades
Along the city's eastern edge, glide across clear, calm water past a string of waterfront parks. Seward Park spreads across 300 acres with trails and swimming, Madrona Park has a wooden float and diving board, and Madison Park is a popular place to gather. During the season, lifeguards watch over the swimming beaches at Madison Park and Magnuson Park.
Places to Paddle To
A loop around Lake Union is rewarding all by itself, but a few destinations turn an easy paddle into a memorable one. Most sit along the edges of the lake or up the Ship Canal to the northwest.
Gas Works Park
Look to the north end of Lake Union for Gas Works Park, one of the most recognizable sights from the water. The 19-acre park stands on the site of the former Seattle Gas Light Company plant, which operated from 1906 to 1956 before the city bought the land in the 1960s and opened the park in 1975. Its old towers and tanks now read as industrial sculpture, and the big hill is a favorite spot for flying kites.
The Houseboats
Drift past the floating homes that line the edges of the lake, including the houseboat on the northwest shore made famous by the film Sleepless in Seattle. These are private homes, so give them some room, resist peering in and stay off the docks.
The Ship Canal and Fishermen's Terminal
Follow the northwest arm out of Lake Union and paddle under the Aurora Bridge and the Fremont Bridge. Beyond them, Seattle's working waterfront opens up around Fishermen's Terminal, where tugboats, trawlers and dry docks feel a world away from the leisure traffic on the lake.
Through the Ballard Locks
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, better known as the Ballard Locks, link freshwater Lake Union with saltwater Puget Sound. Vessels as long as 760 feet pass through, and a kayak can too, but rental policies vary. Some outfitters ask you to turn around at the locks while others let you carry on into salt water, so check with your rental shop before you set out.
Where to Rent Kayaks and Paddleboards
Rental shops cluster around each major body of water, so you can launch close to whatever you want to see. Policies, lessons and tours differ from place to place, and hours, rates and booking rules can change, so check each outfitter's website before you go.
Lake Union and Portage Bay
Rent a kayak or SUP near Lake Union from Northwest Outdoor Center or Agua Verde Paddle Club. Agua Verde overlooks Portage Bay and stands out for pairing paddling with a Mexican cantina, so you can follow your time on the water with burritos and house-made aguas frescas. It also offers tours and lessons.
On the south shore at Lake Union Park, The Center for Wooden Boats rents sailboats and human-powered craft, and on some weekends you can borrow a boat for free with an advance reservation. The park also offers the gentle waters of Goose Beach, with the Museum of History & Industry right next door.
Union Bay
Grab a canoe or kayak at the University of Washington Waterfront Activities Center and paddle into the Union Bay Natural Area, home to frogs, turtles and more than 200 bird species. Choose this spot if wildlife matters more to you than city views.
West Seattle and Ballard
In West Seattle, Alki Kayak Tours offers classes, rentals and guided trips, and its monthly Full Moon Kayak Tour shows night owls the shoreline in a completely different light. Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard also runs rentals and guided paddles. One popular tour here traces an ancient water route from Shilshole Bay to Discovery Point.
Lake Washington and Green Lake
Rent boats and SUPs on Lake Washington from Seattle Paddle and Sail Sand Point. Over at Green Lake Park, the fully accessible boathouse focuses on pedal boats and water bikes, and it has announced plans for a public adaptive rowing program and an expanded paracanoeing program.
