The best places to SUP in BC

Where in British Columbia's Lower Mainland should you be ready to paddle with the skills you have?

BC is paddling paradise and we are making a list from Vancouver and Vancouver Island to Fort Nelson. Rockies to Haida Gwaii. Don't forget the Great Bear Rainforest and the world's most urban fjord, False Creek and English Bay.

The list will include a SUP Skills & Levels of Difficulty Chart, similar to the ones used for skiing areas.

From bunny hills (small lakes with no boats) to double black diamond: white water, open ocean and surf.

This is our Top 20 on the less than 3 hours from Vancouver. What is your list?

Warning: if you are on the UNPREPARED BEGINNER category, take a lesson first. You are putting your self at great danger by being on the water!

All the paddles in our list are for Beginners with some experience.

1. Science World to Sunset Beach

2. English Bay to Kits

3. Spanish Banks to Jericho

4. Alouette Lake

5. Widgeon Creek

6. Stave Lake

7. Squamish Estuary

8. Barnet Marine Park

9. Lightning Lakes

10. Nicomekl River

11. Mamquam River

12. Garibaldi Lake

13. Lillooet River

14. North Alouette River

15. Pitt River

Overnight trips

1. Sechelt Inlet

2. Granite Falls - Indian River

3. Johnson Lake

4. Kentucky Lake

5. Mackenzie Beach

Always, always check all the info on the place you are going before you go:

1) Is it a paddling permitted area or only large vessels are allowed?

2) Wind

3) Tides

4) Currents

5) Swell

6) Boat traffic

7) In a river and estuary environment, be mindful that there are things that can hook up to your leash, like branches or submerged logs

Plan accordingly!!

And here a list of places to paddle in Metro Vancouver:

Here first are the paddles recommended for Real Beginners (with none or very limited experience).

• Deer Lake

• Sasamat Lake

• Rolley Lake

• Whonnock Lake

• Alice Lake

• Nicomen Slough

• Deas Slough and Ladner Marsh

• Buntzen Lake

Here first are the paddles recommended for Beginners with some experience.

• Rocky Point Park

• Deep Cove

• Steveston Channel

• Porteau Cove Provincial Park

• Volunteer Park

• Jericho Beach

• Spanish Banks

• Granville Island

• Vanier Park

• English Bay

• Kitsilano Beach

• Belcarra

• Howe Sound: Britannia Beach to Shannon Falls

Which spot would you add to both lists?

Please feel free to send us your questions and angles you would like to see covered on the article.

We will keep you posted, make sure you subscribe to The SUP Blog.

Fun & Safe paddles!

The SUP Blog Team