Seven Bridges Paddleboard Tour

Standup Paddling Under 7 Bridges in Newport

SoCal has plenty of surprises in its abundance of mountain trails, but there are some other pathways to explore, like those on the Pacific Ocean! For a bounty of aquatic adventure, get out on the self-guided SUP “Seven Bridges Paddleboard Tour” so-named by Weekend Sherpa’s summer intern, Hannah, who grew up doing this adventure with her family.

Make it happen! Rent paddleboards from Southwind Kayaks, located under the Pacific Coast Highway Bridge in Newport’s Bayside Marina (where you’ll find ample free parking and excellent care in getting set up to SUP!).

Embark on the two-hour and 3.5-mile Seven Bridges Paddleboard Tour through the islands of the bay. Choose a calm paddle on the glassy water in the morning, or opt for an afternoon paddle for choppier conditions but a bay alive with boating activities. No matter what time of day, make sure to be on the watch for sea lions gliding through the water and sun bathing on boat docks. The adventure: SUP under all seven bridges for bragging rights! Here’s the route:

Launch from Southwind’s sandy beach under the PCH Bridge (1) and paddle left to enter the harbor. Take the first left to navigate behind Linda Isle, where you will paddle under Linda Isle Bridge (2). Continue straight to reach a fork, and then take a left, keeping Harbor Island to your right. Cross under Harbor Island Bridge (3) and continue straight, with Collins Island on your right. Paddle down the Balboa Island North Channel, passing under the Balboa Island Bridge (4) until you reach the Little Balboa Island Canal. Turn right and traverse south through this narrow canal and under the Little Balboa Bridge (5) to spy trendy beach homes.

At the end, turn right into the main channel and paddle west along the south side of Balboa Island, viewing the popular Balboa Pavilion and Fun Zone on your left. After passing the Balboa car ferry, cross over to the Balboa Peninsula side, being careful of the busy boat traffic. Continue to the left of Bay Isle to go under Bay Isle Bridge (6). Turn right to view the distant PCH Bridge again. Paddle back across the main harbor channel to Southwind to pocket your seventh and final bridge (7). SUPer good time!

BONUS EATS: After your paddle, make sure to stop at Pearson’s Port, a floating barge next to Southwind that sells daily offerings of fresh fish. Grab some swordfish to grill and enjoy a seafood party at home to celebrate your successful paddle on the aquatic trails of Southern California.

Southwind Kayaks has ample free parking and is ideally located at the mid-point between the Newport Upper Back Bay (another beautiful, serene paddle through a nature preserve) and the main Newport Harbor. This makes it handy to choose a preferred direction to paddle depending on wind and water conditions. Take the CA-73 S and then exit 15 toward Jamboree Rd. On Bayside Dr. you will see the “Southwind Kayak Rentals” sign. Turn left into the parking lot in Bayside Village Marina and continue to drive until you see Southwind under the overpass bridge.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

    View
  2. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  3. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View
  4. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop

    If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.

    View
  2. Volcanic Activity

    Northern California is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the country: Lassen Volcanic National Park. The region features geothermal areas, including the largest dome volcano in the world, Lassen Peak. Hike to the top of this active volcano on a 5-mile out-and-back.  

    View
  3. Great Is an Understatement!

    Tucked against the Utah border in eastern Nevada, Great Basin is a hiking wonderland of 13,000-foot peaks, ancient forests, sub-alpine lakes, and marbled limestone caves.

    View
  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View