Paddleboarding on Elk Lake
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and that means only the toughest of us will still be out there paddling our way down the Deschutes River on our paddleboards come Fall. So…if you haven’t hit these Central Oregon Paddleboard Spots yet, what are you waiting for? The rivers and lakes are calling you, shred masters!
So gather your SUP board, paddle, and a cold one from Deschutes Brewery, and get out there before you have no choice but to ride the frozen wave!
Five Best Places to Paddleboard in Bend and Central Oregon
Best place to catch a quickie paddle…
1. Old Mill Riverbend Park. Of course, the most populated of the paddleboarding spots in Central Oregon is the Old Mill. But with convenient places to park and plenty of options to put-in, the Mill District can get you out on the water in a matter of minutes. Hop on at Riverbend Park, or across the river at the dog park (paddling your way to the rapids and back), or start at McKay park and work your way up to Riverbend. You can also start at Drake and SUP to McKay, but the distance is short, and the water is muddy.
Best place to learn to standup paddleboard…
2. Elk Lake. The 30 minute drive from Bend is so worth it for the calm water and views that Elk Lake has to offer. The lake is large, so there’s no loss of lake to explore, but because no motorized boats are on the lake, it makes for an easy, relaxing paddleboard (not to mention incredible views of the Cascades!).
Best place to practice your mad sup skills…
3. Suttle Lake. Because the wind can pick up and motorized craft is allowed on Suttle, it makes for a much more challenging paddle. The pro’s? Well, there’s a gorgeous floating path of reeds to maneuver through, and plenty of water to explore. Suttle Lake also has a pretty sweet campground and docks to hang out at.
Best sup spot to watch the seasons change…
4. The Upper Deschutes (between Dillon Falls and Benham Falls). On the upper Deschutes, you can almost paddle through the seasons, as the scenery changes for shady forests of Juniper to open fields lined with golden Maple trees. The scenery is absolutely stunning, just watch out for mosquitoes and, of course, waterfalls!
Best place to practice yoga on a paddleboard…
5. Devils Lake or Sparks Lake. Both Devil’s Lake and Sparks Lake offer clear, placid water and brisk mountain air. Calm and usually lightly-trafficked water, both lakes are ideal for practicing paddling on calm water. Calm enough for even–yoga!
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