Off-Season Paddle Tours
Cold Waters, Warm, Cozy Gear: Discover the Magic of Winter Paddling!
Let’s Dispel with A Few Myths
Contrary to what many people think, winter paddling is not crazy, hardcore, or reserved only for the elite paddlers amongst us.
Winter paddling is for everyone. Whether novice paddler or experienced, everyone can benefit from a little time on the water, even (and maybe especially) in the coldest months. The group you see here is made up of experienced guides, seasoned paddlers, and first time off-season paddlers.
Modern equipment and apparel allows us to not only stay safe, but also comfortable, and dare we say, cozy, while on the water. Our rental drysuits are perfect for staying warm and dry, and are available on all of our off-season paddles. And, with the added benefit of finding a winter activity that keeps you moving and connected with both nature and fellow awesome humans, there’s no reason not to join us on the water this winter!
Ready to book? Simply click the button below, or scroll down to see our upcoming tours and clinics.
Want to learn more? Check out our off-season paddling FAQ’s page for more info about gear, apparel, and what to expect on off-season paddling.!
Check Out Our Off-Season Paddle Tours and Dry Land Workshops Below!
Ipswich River
Ask us where our favorite place to paddle away from the ocean and we're bound to say the Ipswich River. We love taking paddlers to explore the river, whose true beauty can only be glimpsed from the roads as you drive by.
The ice is melted, and with water levels high, it's a great time to get on the river and see all it has to offer! We’ll paddle upriver first from the Bradley Palmer Canoe Launch, heading into the Ipswich River Audubon Sanctuary as the first buds of spring are starting to bloom on the trees. After a relaxing paddle upriver, we’ll turn and let the gentle current carry us back to our starting point.
On Land Skills Clinic- Safety Equipment
Join us for our fourth and final workshop in a series at the beautiful Mission Boathouse overlooking Beverly Harbor! We’ll cover the range of tools, supplies, and rescue equipment that is vital to ensuring a safe adventure on the water.
Paddle and Pints: Chebacco Lake
Join us for one of our popular Paddle and Pints events! We’ll paddle for about 90 minutes on Chebacco Lake before heading back to the The Farm Bar and Grille in Essex to have some food and drink (first round of drinks is on us)!
On Land Skills Clinic- Route Planning
Join us for our third in a series of dry land workshops at the beautiful Mission Boathouse overlooking Beverly Harbor! In this workshop, we’ll talk about the two primary factors that go into trip planning for coastal paddling trips: Wind and Tide.
Little River, Gloucester, MA
No doubt you’ve driven by the Little River countless times while speeding North on Rt. 128 toward Gloucester. Have you ever wondered what secrets it holds? Join us to uncover them!
On Land Skills Clinic- Wind
Dive into the art of wind reading at the scenic Mission Boathouse, where adventure meets knowledge! Whether you're gliding on a kayak or balancing on a paddleboard, understanding the whispers and roars of the wind is key to mastering your journey along the magnificent open coastline.
In this hands-on workshop, we'll unlock the secrets of wind forecasts, using popular weather apps as our guide. You'll become a savvy navigator, able to interpret the wind's language and tailor your paddling plans with confidence.
What We'll Explore:
The Power of Wind: Discover how wind speed influences your paddling power and how to use it to your advantage.
Wind's Triple Effect: Learn about wind's impact on stability, directional control, and your speed over water. A game-changer for every paddler!
Compass Mastery: Decode the wind's direction with ease, understanding how each blow affects your course and strategy.
Shoreline Secrets: Unravel the mysteries of onshore, offshore, and side shore winds, and how they transform the waters you'll traverse.
Craft vs. Wind: Delve into the unique challenges kayakers and paddleboarders face with crosswinds, and master techniques to keep you steady and swift.
In addition to this informative clinic, and through the hosting of this through the beautiful Mission Boathouse overlooking Beverly Harbor, you’ll have the opportunity to order delicious food and drink during the clinic!
Misery Island Paddle and Hike
*Drysuits or Wetsuits Required*
**Drysuits Available For Rent during Registration**
Lying just a half mile off the coast of Beverly Farms, Misery Island easily captures the imagination of any paddler that dreams of adventures beyond the waves. Close enough for an easy day trip, but exposed enough to satisfy the adventure in all of us, Misery Island is a paddle you'll definitely want to try!
We'll launch from beautiful West Beach in Beverly Farms, then paddle across the channel, working our way around the outside of the island if conditions permit before landing on the beach between Great and Little Misery. We’ll explore the trails that wind through wooded valleys, rocky points, and ruins of an old casino! We’ll then hop back in our boards and kayaks, paddling along beautiful estates on the coast of Beverly Farms before landing back at West Beach.
Dryland Workshops- All about tides
Learn To Read Tide Charts/Apps
Join us at the beautiful Mission Boathouse overlooking Beverly Harbor for a Ryland workshop all about tides!
A strong understanding of the tides, and how it affects the paddling conditions, is crucial for coastal kayaking or paddleboarding. In this Dryland workshop, we’ll dive into the details of how tides work, how they affect our paddling, and what resources are available to us to find tidal information.
In this class we’ll learn:
What causes the tides, and why they change over the course of the month.
Where to find, and how to interpret, tide charts and tide apps
How to use a tide graph and nautical chart to determine how much water will be (or will not be!) at various points of our paddling route.
The Rule of Twelfths, The Rule of Thirds, and the 50-90 Rule to easily predict tide heights, tidal drift, and tidal current rates.
Magnolia Harbor Paddle- White Beach, Manchester By The Sea
*Drysuits or Wetsuits Required*
**Drysuits Available For Rent at Registration**
Sitting just down the coast from Magnolia on the Salem Sound's Northern shore, Kettle Cove provides a beautifully sheltered launch to explore the North Shore coastline! Within a short paddle from the beach are numerous coves, islands, shipwrecks, and the dramatic cliffs of Ocean Lawn. Come explore the North Shore from a vantage point you've never seen before!
Starbucks Paddle- Beverly, MA
The Starbucks Paddle was dreamed up years ago by one of our friends and former guides, Steve. He saw the beauty of the Bass River, which ran right by his home in Goat Hill, Beverly, and knew it would make the perfect setting for an adventure paddle to Starbucks on Eliot Street. A short paddle from Obear Park in Beverly lets us ride the incoming tide all the way up the Bass River to where it meets Rt. 62. There, we'll take out on the river banks, pile into Starbucks (we recommend leaving your paddle outside :) ) and pick up the drinks that we have conveniently ordered ahead of time. We'll sip our drinks overlooking the tidal river before getting back on the water and riding the ebbing tide back out.
Your drink is included in the cost of the tour, so feel free to leave you wallet in your car!!
Essex River Paddle
*Drysuits or Wetsuits Required*
**Drysuits Available For Rent at Registration**
At the end of Ipswich Bay, Northwest of Wingaersheek Beach and South East of Plum Island, the Essex River Basin sits tucked behind Crane Beach. This tidal estuary flows through stunning salt marsh and several small islands, making it the perfect destination for a paddle. Join us as we paddle from Conomo Point, using the rising tide to paddle around several islands while accessing the nooks and crannies of this beautiful area.
Off-Season Paddle Skills Workshop- Tide Clinic- How to read and paddle in tidal currents
How to Read and Paddle in Tidal currents
*Drysuits or Wetsuits Required*
**Drysuits Available For Rent at Registration**
Understanding the basic mechanics of tides is crucial to anyone taking to the water in a coastal environment. Knowing how to read tide charts to find high and low tide, the tidal exchange, and predicting when the max tidal flow will be on each cycle will make your paddling safer and more enjoyable. This clinic coincides with a "big tide", which means we'll have the chance to see how the tide changes over the cycle, what effect this has on the way our boat moves, and navigate safely through or across a tidal current. We'll learn some easy to remember navigation rules that can be put into practice while on the water, so you can hit the water confidently.
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The off-season is a great time to build your paddling fitness and skills so that you're ready for all of your summer paddling adventures!
Join our dynamic Off-Season Skills Workshops to master key paddling techniques in a small group setting! We'll dive deep into one or two skills per session, ensuring you get the explanation, practice, and hands-on experience you need.
Skills include, but are not limited to:
- Rudder control
-Bracing
-Rescues
-Navigating with Wind and Tides
-Turning in Strong Winds
-Faster/efficient Paddling
Launches from Independence Park in Beverly next to 33 Lothrop Street.
Each class will work with either standup paddleboards or kayaks, and will be announced, along with the attending skill, prior to the class.
Marblehead Neck Circumnavigation(ish)
*Drysuits or Wetsuits Required*
**Drysuits Available For Rent at Registration**
Join us for an almost circumnavigation of Marblehead Neck! We’ll launch from Riverhead Beach, paddle out the harbor, around the Neck, and land on Devereaux beach, where we’ll take a short walk across the road to our cars to “complete” the circumnavigation.
Due to greater exposure to possible conditions, this is an intermediate paddle trip, and is available for kayaks only.
7th Annual Ugly Sweater Paddle
Back for its seventh year, the Ugly Sweater Paddle gets uglier by the year! Break out your ugly sweater, or borrow someone else’s (just don’t tell them what it’s for :) ). We’ll don our wetsuits and layer our ugly sweaters over them, then paddle up the coast of Beverly and/or Salem while reveling in good company and general merriment. If conditions allow, we’ll paddle to one of our favorite little coves where we might just get to see a Christmas Tree out on a floating dock!
This is the once-a-year event you simply can’t miss!
Have You Tried Winter Paddling?
Winter is one of our favorite times of year to paddle! It offers a unique and serene experience that cannot be matched during any other season. As the water takes on a peaceful stillness, paddlers are treated to breathtaking views of snow-capped points and occasional ice floes. The crisp, cold air invigorates the senses, and the quietude of the surroundings creates a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With proper gear and preparation, winter paddling allows paddlers to explore waterways free from the summer crowds, offering a sense of solitude and adventure. Whether navigating through frosty marshes or gliding through the twinkling sound of skim ice on a remote on an otherwise empty lake, the joys of winter paddling lie in the tranquility, stunning winter scenery, and the unmatched sense of connection with nature.
Let us Guide you Through the Wonder of Winter on the Water
At Coast to Coast Paddle, we believe that winter paddling can be an exhilarating and breathtaking experience for paddlers of all levels. For inexperienced paddlers, venturing out onto the winter waters can seem daunting, but under the guidance of our experienced instructors, it becomes an opportunity for growth, learning, and joy.
Our team is equipped with the appropriate gear, knowledge, and safety equipment to ensure that new paddlers can experience the beauty of winter paddling in a safe and supported environment. Winter paddling offers a unique perspective of nature's serene beauty and tranquility, and our instructors are dedicated to helping inexperienced paddlers embrace this experience with confidence.
