The sky in the spring seems bluer than other times of the year. The new green leaves seem to be a green you just don’t see otherwise. The water is at its clearest. So naturally, you want to get out in your kayak to experience it.
But the water is still cold. And that other thing that accompanies spring-blue skies, the wind, is the bane of early season paddling. But as long as you dress properly and pick an appropriate destination, you can get out in your kayak to enjoy this fresh time of year.
In the spring, when the wind blows over the cool water, it turn a beautifully comfortable afternoon paddle into a freezing slog. Because of this, it is best to avoid open areas. Pick a spot surrounded by trees so that no matter which direction the wind blows, you’ll be protected.
You’ll also want to find a shallow body of water because it will be warmer than deep water.
And finally, choosing a small body of water (a pond or stream) means you can get to the shoreline easily if you have any problems.
Here are some of our favorite places to paddle this time of year:
Trap Pond near Laurel, Delaware is home to the northernmost Bald Cypress stand in the US and is like paddling through a forest.
Trussum Pond is just down the road from Trap Pond. If you can find your way to the back of this pond (and then find your way out) you’ll be rewarded with some spectacular scenery. (They have been doing some spillway work at Trussum so you may want to call Trap Pond State Park to check the progress.)
The Assawoman Wildlife Canal is a 4-mile, arrow-straight waterway tucked behind Bethany Beach that connects the Little Assawoman Bay to the Indian River Bay. It has tall, tree-lined banks, so the water is usually nice and calm (but it is affected by current). The launch is on the southeast side of the canal bridge on Kent Ave.
The Broadkill River launching from Milton and going to Rt. 1 is beautiful and sheltered (past Rt. 1 it gets wider and the view is pure fragmites). You can also get out and do some hiking at the McCabe Nature Preserve.
For a little over a mile after you launch at Porter’s Crossing Road, the Pocomoke River is narrow and twisty and canopied. If you turn around when the river gets wide it is not a long paddle. But it is beautiful. The river is tidal so just because you’re paddling downriver doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily be going with the current. Porter’s Crossing Road is just before Snow Hill, Maryland.
With so much water in our area, this list just scratches the surface. Let us know what your favorite spring paddling spots are!