Bellingham’s Lake Padden Park has a lot to offer in the summer months. You can rent single and tandem sit on top kayaks and stand up paddleboards (SUPs) from Yeager’s Sporting Goodsin the park to get out on the water and try these fun fair weather sports. Whether you’re a local or a visitor to our fair city this is a great way to get out on the water and experience freshwater paddling in the Northwest.
You should also head into the store to outfit yourself in the Yeager’s Paddle Department.
Lake Padden Boat Rentals
Summer Hours:
Friday- Sunday 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
The last checkout for boat rentals is at 6:00 pm.
Directions:
4882 Samish Way, Bellingham, WA.
Use West Entrance to Lake Padden near the Swim Beach. Google Map.
Note: Daily operations will be weather dependent. Yeager’s staff reserve the option to cancel rentals in the case of rain or excessive wind.
Please give them a call at (360) 733-1080, or check Yeager’s Facebook for updates.
Working with the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Department, Yeager’s Sporting Goods offers hourly rentals with plenty of boats and equipment to choose from. The kayaks are stable and can accommodate one or two people.
These types of boats were invented by local paddle legend Tim Niemier and became famous through his brand Ocean Kayak!
The shallow beach at the lakeshore offers a great place to put in and launch your adventure. Below, a grandma and her grandkids enjoy a stand-up paddleboard rental in the photo below, while another family is out for a trip in their canoe.
During the summer, the lake is relatively warm, so getting on a stand-up paddleboard and swimming off your personal swim platform is ideal. So come prepared to swim and relax in the fresh cool water.
The SUPers (I think that’s how you refer to people on stand-up paddleboards) stayed close to shore enjoying the ducks circling around in the reed grass. Remember to look up in the sky when you are paddling Lake Padden. There are often bald eagles, osprey and other native or transiting birds filling the sky.
Off in the distance, the canoe made it’s way across the lake, giving a sense of the scope of the water body and showing how it is ringed by cedar and firs around the shore.
I got out on the water to check out the scene. Paddling over near the swim beach, SUPers line the horizon, enjoying the tranquility of the lake and lack of motorized boats. The lake is often calm, providing for a smooth surface to get up to speed on paddling techniques.
If you venture out around the lake, you will find small marshes, pocket beaches and even a rope swing for the daring. The lake is filled with non-motorized craft with people out fishing, paddling and you’ll also find a handful of swimmers out training for local or regional triathlons like the Lake Padden TRI & Lake Whatcom Triathlon.
When you do go to Lake Padden to rent a boat and get out on the water, you’ll walk from the swim beach, follow the path down to the left and you’ll see the Yeager’s tent set up, waiting and ready to get you out safely on the water.
Want more than paddling?
- Check out all that the park has to offer: Playing at Lake Padden Something for Everybody.
- You can also rent from paddleboards, kayaks, rowboats and more from the Boating Center in Bellingham.
