My 5 Favorite Places to Kayak & Paddle Board in Maine

[Robert Walsh]

Maine is the outdoor haven of the northeastern USA. Between the beaches and the camping, there is no shortage of outdoor activities here for people to enjoy.

There's a reason that this is such a popular location in this part of the country. It's an idyllic location that offers the best of every world: old charming towns, stunning landscape, and great places for kayaking and paddling.

There are so many different places that you can choose from in this gorgeous state that picking only five places was a difficult task.

Damariscotta River

You can paddle and kayak your way through this gorgeous location, where you can paddle through islands and oyster farms. There are a couple of different routes here\ - one with calmer waters, while the other is for more adventurous thrill-seekers. If you are new to this area, ask locals where the best place to kayak around.

One particularly interesting location here to note is the Dodge Point Preserve. There is a beach, as well as trails that you can enjoy in this area. This place is not easy to get to, however, so you will need to pack in your paddle board or kayak, I would recommend an inflatable SUP, which you can easily carry in with a backpack.

St. John’s River

Here you are able to get as calm or as wild of a journey as you want while you are kayaking. The St Johns River is often considered to be the best kayaking and paddling area on this side of the country for this very reason. Some people enjoy the thrills from whitewater kayaking while others want a more peaceful and relaxing experience and each can go to different parts of the river to get these experiences. During this river adventure, you are going to take in some of the best that the Maine wilderness has to offer.

Acadia National Park

If sea kayaking or paddling is more your speed, this is one place that you absolutely must see. The kayaking here is good for both experienced and new kayakers, though people with less experience should take in a tour rather than explore on their own. This trip will let you see a side of this national park that you may not have seen before as you kayak by this stunning shoreline.

Scarborough Marsh

This is the largest salt marsh in the state, which means that it is worth checking out on its own merit. If you are someone who loves to take in nature, especially birds, this is the perfect location for you to visit.

This location is actually also a critical habitat for a wide variety of birds, including species like the egrets, glossy ibis and herons, just to name a few of the many majestic birds that you are able to find here. There are even tours that you can partake in here that may be very interesting to the nature lover.

Sebago Lake

Not as well-known as some other spots, Sebago Lake is truly a gem that offers amazing camping locations and water activities for visitors. The wildlife here is simply exquisite and you can get a glimpse of the charming sight know as Frye Island. The lake is around 45 square miles and is a calm little place to enjoy nature.