Paddling the Bay

The currents in the San Francisco Bay are legendary. Every day the brisk waters of the Pacific Ocean sweep in under the Golden Gate Bridge and swell the Bay and then swiftly drain out, with a strong rip current that can overwhelm even the strongest paddler. There are a lot of factors to consider and if you’re new to paddling in the bay, we’ll reassert that nothing will substitute from hands-on instruction from our coaches.

The best time to paddle is during “slack tides”. These are the periods when the water has rushed in or out of the bay, and the tide is transitioning. There is a brief period before the water changes direction where the current is at its lowest force. Typically, this is about one hour before and after a high / low tide.

The protected coves and inlets along the waterfront provide some protection from the powerful flows of the currents. We recommend that stand up paddlers and inexperienced kayakers stick as close to the shoreline and piers as possible to avoid getting caught in the stronger tides. You can see on our route map where we recommend paddling. We strongly advise that new paddlers do not head past the warning markers on our maps unless you are very confident you can handle the currents both at that moment and during your return in the opposite direction at a later time.

All paddlers should become familiar with a local tide app. We enjoy using Tides Near Me and center our focus on the Potrero Point location.

Equally important when considering a paddle time / route is the weather you will face. Dogpatch Paddle has installed a webcam with 24/7 oversight of the park (embedded below or click the link to the dedicated page). Always check conditions before you head out.

The greatest factor from weather is wind. Wind can easily unsettle and unbalance paddlers. We recommend learning how to '“feather your paddle” to reduce wind resistance. SUPers should also know that they can get to their knees or in a prone position if the wind is really having an impact on safety.

Both kayakers and SUPers will be challenged not just by the wind itself, but the way it affects the water. “Chop” is when the wind kicks up a surface layer of water causing whitecaps and unsettling water conditions. When looking at the webcam, look for whitecaps, big or small to determine if this will be a factor.

Even a small amount of chop will impact paddling along the central waterfront. Beginner paddlers will seek to head out on “glassy” days when there is no chop and they can practice their technique and turns to develop into stronger paddlers.

We recommend using an app to check the wind conditions. We use Windy.app.

Being new to paddling in the area, you might find yourself just heading out into open water, in a straight line from Crane Cove Park, to try out your new gear. We see it all of the time. Our suggestion: don’t.

We’ve created a detailed paddle map of the area (screen cap below, click through to a largeriversion with details about each point of interest).

Crane Cove: Your safest place to practice is to just stay close to the cove. We take our little ones in summer camps around this protected cove, practicing figure eights, technique, and turns until we’re confident they are sure-footed. It’s generally the calmest part of the Bay.

These routes are designed for the moderate levels who are building their confidence and seek relatively safe and calm conditions to practice.

To Pier 54: The next level is to head out from Crane Cove Park, stick close to the shoreline at all times. Pass the San Francisco Boat Works over to Mission Rock Resort. Continue under or around the Agua Vista Park fishing Pier and hug the shoreline all the way to Pier 54. There are some minor hazards to watch for in front of Chase Center (we call the hazards / ruins the Roman Forum, because they sit in front of our modern-day Colosseum). Avoid paddling in the Roman Forum.

To Pier 52/50: Only on flat-water, slack tide, clear days. This can be a very easy passage or you can feel the force of the current depending on conditions. If you’re very new, don’t head past the edge of Pier 54 unless it is incredibly flat, glassy and there is no current pulling you in either direction. Then, turn sharply west and follow Pier 54 closely all the way in to Pier 52. You can hug the pier all the way around to reach the dock / boat launch for a rest or extraction.

Cape Hudson / Horn: If you want a thrill, head along close to Pier 50 until you reach the edge of the Pier and poke yourself out into the shadow of the massive war ships. We do not recommend beginner paddlers to get too close or pass too far beyond the edge of the pier. Peak it, take a photo and then trace your steps back to Crane Cove.

Once you are comfortable with your equipment and ability to control yourself, you might consider a bit more adventure. Remember to consult the above conditions resources before heading past the checkpoints on our map.

Mission Creek: Continuing from the above route, those with stronger skills and ambitions can make the foray over to the North Side of Pier 50. When passing the Cape Horn and Hudson you must exercise extreme caution as you are entering the channels where the force of the current increases significantly. Use tide charts to plan passage in either a slack tide or one that favors your direction. Once you pass the boats, head in towards McCovey Cove, pass under the 3rd and 4th Street bridges and then pass the houseboats to the Mission Creek dock. You can take a spur from McCovey Cove into the Southbeach Harbor if you’d like to visit some sea lions baking on the docks.

Pier 70: From Crane Cove Park, if you head straight out towards the dry dock (sticking north of the warning buoys) you’ll reach the edge that opens up out into the Bay. Again, here is a point of extreme caution where the currents increase in force and expose you to much greater challenge depending on the conditions. Plan for slack tide or current flowing in your direction in either way. Heading south, hug the pier past the dry dock and turn towards the shoreline. You can poke around the ruins on this side (being south, we call this Pompeii). Be careful at any tide, as there are many sunken, broken pilings that are waiting to puncture your craft. You can hug the shoreline all the way over to Warm Water Cove, past the Stack.

Islais Creek: If you have gumption and the conditions are right, you might consider continuing around Pier 80 and then heading into Islais Creek. There is a lot of ship traffic around here, so be cautious. Also, the tide and winds flow heavier in this creek so be prepared to paddle hard against unfavorable conditions. You can take a rest on the dock at Islais Creek (or even use that as an extraction point).