Launch Sites

Where to launch your hand launched paddle craft (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards) is an ongoing question for many of us, and a question we are often asked at the shop. We have an all-tide launch at the shop out into the Parker River and Plum Island sound beyond. We also have lots of local suggestions, and we’ll compile those as soon as we can. But in the meantime here are a four lists complied by others.

Bob Leroe’s has compiled a truly awesome list of launch sites all over New England. We haven’t been to all the launches on it, so can’t guarantee that they still exist or are maintained, but Bob notes the ones he has paddled on his list. This list was updated in June 2022. Thank you Bob!

NEW ADD JULY 2022: Massachusett’s Paddler is an awesome web site that we just (July 2022) found but has been in place for several years. It has been built and maintained (3,000 hours invested so far) by a retired US Merchant Marine Captain and is extraordinarily complete, covering 523 lakes and 13 rivers. Each location is thoroughly described and includes maps (road and topo). The site also has a “Paddlers Learning” section with a tone of useful info. As of July 2022, the Captain figures he has about 100 lakes, mostly in eastern Massachusetts, that still aren’t properly surveyed and photographed, but he’s working on it. A really great resource.

Here’s a link to a website, Bostonkayaker.com, which has a massive list of kayak trips for all levels of paddlers, along with location maps to help you find them. The trips the Boston Kayaker has paddled himself come with descriptions, feature icons and great photographs. It’s a really great resource and the trips should mostly work for canoes or SUPs.

NS Sea Kayak Launches is a bunch of short sea kayaking trips on the North Shore. We’re not sure who compiled it so can’t vouch for the accuracy of distances and such, but it is mostly well-known local paddles.