Tag: #PaddleBoardingAtAssateague

Sunrise Paddle Boarding

One thing you can do every morning at Assateague Island is go to the ocean side beach and watch the sunrise. Sometimes the horses beat you there.

These pictures are taken at Assateague State Park.

My last day there, the boys said they wanted to get up and paddle board at sunrise. I did not believe them as they have been staying up late ghost crabbing until midnight etc.

Sure enough one of the boys and his dad made their way to the beach after I did and went out paddle boarding. There was cloud cover near the horizon, so the sun did not actually appear until a little after sunrise. The sky was purplish.

Paddle boarder gets a good view of a pelican that flies right in front of him.

At this time of the morning I usually see pelicans flying low over the crests of the waves going south and returning north. The above paddle boarder had the experience of a group of pelicans flying right in front of him on his way out.

The boy and his father went pretty far out but had trouble travelling north. The currents out there were going in two directions.

For the days I was there I was the only one who got up each day to watch the sunrise.

The other boys made it out to watch the two brave the ocean during sunrise. Usually several people are on the beach each morning at the state park for the rising of the sun. Just another way to enjoy Assateague Island!

Paddle Boarding/ SUP at Assateague Island

One of the many activities you can do at Assateague Island is paddle board. The best place to go is on the bay side of the island , Sinepuxent Bay. The best time to go when there is no bad weather expected and the winds are not too high.

This is not far from the state boat launch.

One place to put in that I recommend is the state board launch on the mainland side of the Verrazano Bridge. It is across from the Assateague Island National Seashore Visitor’s Center. This one is free and there are two boat launches and plenty of parking in a paved lot. You can also walk from the parking lot/ grass area to a small beach area on the water.

Water pathways thru the marshes are mostly on the island side of the bay. The water near the edges of these is usually shallow.

The other place I recommend is the launch at the national park at the end of Ferry Landing Road. This has some spots near the launch and a restroom. You would have to pay to get to this launch as you have to go through the toll booth inside the park. The fee is over 20 dollars for a seven day pass. Veterans can get a free lifetime pass. There is also a pass for seniors.

It is possible to catch crabs, and clams and see many types of waterfowl in these locations.

There are also free places to launch on the right hand side of the road when you are going from the bridge into the park before you get to the troll booths. You are allowed to park and launch where there is extra shoulder with rocks and there is a beach like area where the water comes right up close to the road.

You cannot park on the island side of the Verrazano Bridge. I have seen people do that in the past, but last year there seemed to be an issue with people respecting the horses, so that is no longer allowed. There are signs up saying no parking and usually there is a ranger there sitting in a vehicle making sure no one is stopping when the horses are present.

There is a lot to do at Assateague besides swim and camp. Get out and enjoy a variety of activities.