Sausalito Kayak Rentals & Put-in Spots
Kayaks and kayak outings are a popular activity in Sausalito. You can participate in group trips from Sausalito with a variety of durations, destinations and difficulty lessons. Kayaking lessons are also available for kids and adults, and the video below from Sea Trek is an awesome preparation for kayaking in the area. More information about Sea Trek and a link to their website are below.
The Sausalito shoreline and the Sausalito houseboats area are the most popular areas for recreational kayaking in Sausalito. Companies and organizations offering kayaks include:
Sea Trek of Sausalito — Located adjacent to the Bay Model, they are by far the most popular Sausalito kayak rentals spot and have a great dock for launching and returning kayaks in a sheltered area adjacent to a yacht harbor. Standup Paddling and Paddleboards (SUP) are also available. You can park for free in the Bay Model lot.
Open Water Rowing Center — They offer sculls etc. rather than kayaks
Sausalito Kayak Put-in Spots
Turney Street Boat Ramp is a free public access ramp for boats and for kayaking in Sausalito.
Schoonmaker Beach — One of the most popular put-in spots for kayaking in Sausalito,his beach is located within a yacht harbor area and features an area of shallow water and easy bay access.
Dunphy Park — The park has a shoreline area along the bay where you can launch kayaks, but getting yourself and your kayak back on dry land will probably require you to get wet in cold bay waters. This shoreline has frequently been closed for environmental restoration, so sometimes it’s not available for for kayaking in Sausalito.
Horseshoe Cove in Fort Baker. Recommended only for more advanced mariners kayaking in Sausalito due to currents and rough seas just outside the cove.
Insiders Tip: It’s easy to get in trouble leaving Horseshoe Cove if you merely paddle straight out of the harbor in your Sausalito kayak rental and are preoccupied with looking up at the Golden Gate Bridge, especially when the tide is flowing out. One moment you’re admiring the view from the Bay and the next moment you’re on the Pacific Ocean side of the Golden Gate without even dipping your paddle!
Insiders Tip: Angel Island is a more challenging, longer trip from Sausalito for experienced paddlers only through rougher water and powerful currents leading outside the Golden Gate. Have a guide show you the safe routes to get there rather than just navigating visually unless you have advanced kayaking skills.
Venturing farther into the main shipping channels of San Francisco Bay for Sausalito kayak enthusiasts requires extensive experience and physical conditioning due to strong currents and huge cargo ships, not to mention the routine — and sometimes sudden — appearance of dense fog over the Bay. The video above from Sea Trek gives you a great foundation for safety (where did that boat come from that’s in front of me???) and areas that are off-limits.
