Top 5 Scenic Spots for Kayaking in Massachusetts

With its Atlantic coastline, thousands of miles of rivers and hundreds of lakes, the Bay State offers abundant kayaking opportunities. If you’re a kayaker living in or visiting Massachusetts, choosing a location for your next kayaking adventure among all the options can be a challenge. This guide covers the five best kayaking spots in Massachusetts to help you plan your next outing.

The Best Places for Kayaking in Massachusetts

Although there are many more kayaking spots to explore in the Bay State, these five places stand out for their scenic vistas.

1. Ames Nowell State Park

Located in Abington, Ames Nowell State Park is open to daytime kayakers year-round. Within this stunning nature reserve is Cleveland Pond, a popular spot for kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Avid birders may see hawks, cardinals, kestrels and woodpeckers. Several miles of woodsy hiking trails surround the pond, offering invigorating walks before or after your time on the water. Pine, oak, beech and holly populate the inviting woods around Cleveland Pond.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset and has facilities for grilling and picnicking if you get hungry. However, no alcohol is allowed.

2. Cape Cod

This breathtaking Atlantic peninsula boasts diverse kayaking opportunities, including:

• Nickerson State Park: This 1,900-acre park has numerous ponds with road access. Most of them are near enough to each other for you to easily explore several in a single day.
• Nauset Marsh: This saltwater marsh is ideal for beginner kayakers. While paddling, nature lovers can spot seals, otters and birdlife.
• Bass River: This 5-mile waterway between Yarmouth and Dennis is Cape Cod’s longest river. The river can take you to multiple coves, inlets, marinas and ponds to explore.
• Eel Pond in East Falmouth: Cape Code has a few ponds with this same name, but the one starting by Washburn Island on Nantucket Sound promises vibrant wildlife and a peaceful ride.
• Wequaquet Lake: This lake in Barnstable is large enough for you to find quiet spots between its uninhabited islands. But it’s also popular with locals and has limited parking, so consider renting a nearby vacation spot for easier access if you’re coming from out of town.

3. Charles River Reservation

The 20-mile Charles River Reservation covers parts of Boston, Cambridge, Watertown and Newtown. The scenic views from the river range from lush greenery to the urban majesty of the Boston skyline. The reservation’s animal inhabitants include birds, fish and turtles. Following the Charles River, you can also spot historic sites like Harvard University and the Museum of Science.

This reservation is open from sunrise to sunset, so you could spend the whole day kayaking on Charles River if you like. It also has picnic facilities, playgrounds, sports fields and bike paths. Note that no alcohol is allowed.

4. Ipswich River

This 45-mile river in eastern Massachusetts flows from Burlington through the communities of Wilmington, Reading and Peabody before arriving at Ipswich. Greenery and wildlife flank most of the river’s course. From Ipswich, it empties into the Great Marsh. One of the world’s most productive ecosystems, the Great Marsh is covered in expansive Spartina grasses and leads to stunning beaches.

The river mostly contains calm, slow waters suited to the beginner kayaker. It offers multiple paddling routes and opportunities to experience wildlife. You can enjoy one route, combine a few or challenge yourself to paddle the whole river. Springtime will show you the best this river has to offer.

5. Spy Pond

Spy Pond was formed thousands of years ago when a receding glacier opened a kettle hole that glacial waters filled. This 100-acre accessible water body in Arlington, Massachusetts, has a boat launch and parking spaces. It also has a 2-acre island called Elizabeth Island, which you can paddle to for a picnic break. Elizabeth Island is a conservation site that provides nesting grounds for Canada Goose, Mute Swan, various duck species and other wildlife.

The surrounding Spy Pond Park is a charming green space with a playground, picnic area, baseball field and bike paths.

10 Items You Need for Kayaking in Massachusetts

If you want to take advantage of our top five spots or other scenic kayaking locations in Massachusetts, add these items to your checklist:

• A kayak: Kayak rental businesses operate near most of the state’s top paddling destinations. But if you’re a regular kayaker, buying your own kayak is much more cost-effective than renting one every time you go out.
• A paddle: Each kayaker should have one paddle. It’s also wise to carry a spare onboard in case a paddle falls into the water.
• A life jacket: Each paddler should have a personal flotation device. Most deaths by drowning happen to people not wearing life jackets.
• A bilge pump: This device removes any water accumulating in your kayak, improving its stability and reducing your risk of capsizing.
• A headlamp: It’s best to kayak during daylight hours with good visibility, but taking a headlamp with you is a sensible precaution. It will help you see where you’re going if you run late or experience visibility issues.
• A signaling whistle: Blowing your signaling whistle can attract attention if you’re in danger or need to alert someone else to a threat.
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen: These are essential to protect you from harmful UV rays, especially during long days on the water.
• A navigation solution: A GPS device or map and compass can help you find your destination and return safely during your waterborne explorations.
• A first-aid kit: While most kayaking adventures are safe, happy experiences, it’s best to be prepared for anything. Pack your first-aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, scissors and pain relievers to help manage common injuries.
• A kayak launch: If you own a waterfront property in Massachusetts, installing a dock and kayak launch on your part of the shoreline gives you safe, easy access to the water whenever you want.

Choose EZ Dock to Launch Your Kayaking Adventures

If you have waterfront property in Massachusetts, a dock and kayak launch are your ticket to hours of fun and lifelong memories. For a low-maintenance solution that’s easy to install and safe to use, go with EZ Dock.

EZ Dock offers floating dock solutions that adapt to water levels and endure the elements. You can install our floating docks in less than a day as a simple do-it-yourself project, and they can last 20 years or more with minimal maintenance. Compared to wooden docks that require time-consuming repairs to prevent splintering and rot, our high-quality polyethylene docks will save you many more hours to enjoy in the water.

Whether you’re a new kayaker or an experienced paddler, the EZ Launch® Residential will help you easily get in and out of the water while staying safe and dry. Like our docks, it’s a solution that remains stable and accessible as water levels change, making it the perfect way to extend your kayak season. You can connect it to our Standard Height or Low Profile EZ Docks or any other existing dock on your property.

Find a distributor near you to get your EZ Launch® Residential kayak launch and other EZ Dock products for kayaking in Massachusetts.