Lakes for Kayaking and Paddleboarding in California
Many California lakes allow kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, but most inspect paddle craft for invasive mussels, some allow kayaks and not SUPs, and drinking-water reservoirs often ban swimming. Here is what each Dockya lake page says, grouped by region.
Updated October 8, 2026
Kayaks and paddleboards are allowed on many California lakes, but the rules for paddle craft vary as much as the rules for powerboats. Most lakes below inspect kayaks and boards for invasive mussels, some allow kayaks but not stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), and drinking-water reservoirs often ban swimming. Every lake here has a Dockya page that says kayaks, canoes or SUPs can launch.
Before you go
- Clean, drain and dry your boat or board after every outing; many lakes inspect paddle craft like any other vessel.
- Don't assume SUPs are welcome where kayaks are. Several San Diego reservoirs allow one and not the other.
- A no-body-contact rule means no swimming or wading, which matters if you fall off a board.
San Diego County
- Lake Hodges: the City lists SUPs and windsurfers ($7 per craft). Swimming and water contact are prohibited, and City staff inspect every vessel for quagga mussels.
- Lake Murray, Lower Otay Lake, San Vicente Reservoir and Sutherland Reservoir: kayaks and canoes are allowed, but stand-up paddleboards are not, and there's no swimming or wading.
- El Capitan Reservoir: canoes, car-toppers, kayaks and float tubes; no swimming, wading or water contact.
- Lake Jennings: private sit-inside kayaks 10 feet or longer; kayak and Krystal Kanoe rentals.
- Lake Cuyamaca: canoes and kayaks after a ranger inspection ($5 kayak launch). Paddleboards, sail kayaks and most inflatable kayaks are prohibited, and there's no body contact.
- Dixon Lake and Lake Wohlford ban private watercraft of any kind, kayaks included.
Inland Empire and Los Angeles County
- Big Bear Lake: every vessel, including kayaks, paddleboards and float tubes, needs a Lake Use Permit and an inspection. The permit year starts April 1. Kayak and SUP rentals are listed at Boulder Bay Park and Veterans Park.
- Lake Gregory: your own kayak, canoe or SUP can launch with a day or annual pass and the current-year sticker. The swim beach runs Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends.
- Lake Perris: kayaks and canoes are exempt from the counter-clockwise travel rule; kayak and paddleboard rentals at the marina.
- Lake Hemet: kayaks must be 10 feet or longer, canoes need an outrigger, and inflatables aren't allowed. Launching is $20 per kayak per day, only on days the marina is open.
- Diamond Valley Lake: kayaks and canoes at least 10 feet and non-inflatable; no body contact.
- Lake Skinner: no sit-on-top kayaks; canoes at least 10 feet long and 36 inches wide; no body contact.
- Silverwood Lake: the Cleghorn car-top ramp is for non-motorized craft.
- Castaic Lagoon: hand, sail or electric power only; every vessel needs a launch permit ($9 daily for non-motorized).
- Pyramid Lake: kayaks and float tubes must pass a mussel inspection; seasonal paddle rentals at Vaquero Beach.
Central Coast, Ventura and Santa Barbara
- Lopez Lake: Mallard Cove hand-launch area and a $5 non-motorized fee. Kayaks used on infested water in the previous 30 days are refused.
- Pinto Lake: kayaks, canoes and inflatables after inspection; non-motorized operators need a valid driver's license.
- Lake Casitas: canoes and kayaks are inspected and fall under the 35-day quarantine; float tubes aren't allowed and there's no body contact.
- Lake Cachuma: kayaks and canoes may qualify for same-day launch after inspection and a pressure wash; swimming is prohibited.
Bay Area and North Coast
- Lake Del Valle: kayaks, inflatables and floating boards are inspected (a $5 fee for non-motorized craft); swimming only in designated areas; seasonal rentals at East Beach.
- Lake Sonoma: paddlecraft are inspected with plugs out; kayak, paddleboard and canoe rentals.
- Lake Mendocino: free inspection at the ramp for every watercraft, kayaks and paddleboards included.
- Lake Berryessa: no decontamination for hand-launched craft, but electric-motor kayaks must be inspected.
Sierra foothills, Central Valley and the north
- Folsom Lake: hand-launched kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are exempt from quarantine but must Clean, Drain and Dry. Lake Natoma allows only hand-launched, non-motorized boats.
- New Melones Lake: hand-launched paddle craft are exempt from the seal program but may be inspected.
- Camanche Reservoir: on-site screening before every launch; in 2026 launching was South Shore only, May 1 to October 1.
- Lake Tulloch: a Non-Motorized Watercraft Self-Certification Permit, displayed on your vehicle.
- Millerton Lake: an accessible canoe and kayak ramp at South Finegold works only at high water.
- Whiskeytown Lake: kayak and paddleboard rentals at both marinas and summer ranger-led paddle tours; children 12 and under must wear a life jacket, including on boards.
- Lake Tahoe: kayaks and paddleboards should be cleaned, drained and dried before launching.
This guide is general information, not legal advice; rules change, so check the linked pages and posted signs.