Peanut Island is the classic place to paddle board in West Palm Beach: launch from Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach, cross a short stretch of the Lake Worth Lagoon, and pull up on a beach with a clear snorkeling lagoon. For calmer water and a rental right at the launch, paddle the mangrove-lined cove at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.
West Palm Beach works for paddling because the Lake Worth Lagoon, the stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway between the mainland and Palm Beach, is sheltered from Atlantic swell. Near the Lake Worth Inlet the water is often clear enough to snorkel. The trade-off is boat traffic, which is heavy around the inlet and Peanut Island, especially on weekends.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: MacArthur Beach State Park, renting from the park’s Beach Outfitters shop.
- Most famous paddle: Phil Foster Park to Peanut Island, on a calm weekday morning near high tide.
- Mangroves and wildlife close to downtown: Snook Islands Natural Area in Lake Worth Beach.
- A freshwater lake with no boat traffic: the non-motorized fishing lake at Okeeheelee Park.
- Avoid: the Lake Worth Inlet itself, where tidal current and boat traffic both peak.
The best places to paddle board in West Palm Beach
Phil Foster Park
Directions
Best for: the launch for Peanut Island, snorkeling. Flat, tidal water with boat traffic.
Phil Foster Park is a Palm Beach County park on Blue Heron Boulevard as it crosses the lagoon to Singer Island, about 1,000 feet of Intracoastal frontage with a guarded beach and fishing platforms. It’s the main jumping-off point for paddling to Peanut Island.
Where to launch: Use the park’s non-motorized vessel launching beach, not the boat ramps. The entrance is at 900 E. Blue Heron Blvd, Riviera Beach. The beach and playground are open sunrise to sunset; the boat ramps run 24 hours. Alcohol isn’t allowed anywhere in the park.
Rentals and lessons: Get Wet Watersports rents paddle boards from its main location at 101 E. Blue Heron Blvd and from 200 E. 13th St, both in Riviera Beach, starting at $30 an hour at the time of writing. It also runs guided paddle board snorkel tours to Peanut Island and paddle board tours at MacArthur Beach State Park. Weekend and holiday rentals must be booked online.
What to avoid: Stay out of the guarded swimming area. The ramps here are busy, and boats run fast in the main channel between the park and Peanut Island.
Peanut Island
Directions
Best for: a destination paddle, snorkeling, a beach day. Flat, tidal water, but crossing a busy channel.
Peanut Island is a 37-acre Palm Beach County park in the Intracoastal Waterway beside the Lake Worth Inlet, reachable only by boat (or board). It has guarded and unguarded swimming beaches, a snorkeling lagoon, picnic areas, restrooms and a paved walking path.
Getting there: Paddle across from Phil Foster Park. Cross the Intracoastal channel quickly, in a group if you can, and look both ways for boats before you commit. Go near high or slack tide, when the current is weakest and the water is clearest.
Good to know: Day use is sunrise to sunset. There is no food or rental concession on the island, so bring water, food and sun protection. Alcohol is only allowed in the permitted camping areas. If you’d rather not paddle across, two independent water taxis serve the island. The swimming area is unguarded during the week.
What to avoid: Don’t paddle toward the Lake Worth Inlet on the east side of the island. The inlet is the Port of Palm Beach’s entrance channel, with strong tidal current, ships and fast boats.
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
Directions
Best for: beginners, rentals, mangroves. Flat, sheltered water.
On Singer Island in North Palm Beach, MacArthur Beach State Park sits between the ocean and the Lake Worth Lagoon. Its paddling is on the lagoon side, in Lake Worth Cove, a shallow, protected estuary edged with mangroves where you can watch for fish and wading birds.
Rentals and lessons: The Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park rent kayaks and stand-up paddle boards at the Beach Outfitters Gift Shop: paddle boards are $25 an hour, $60 for a half day or $80 for a full day at the time of writing. Rentals go out between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and must be back by 4 p.m. It’s first come, first served (no reservations, but there’s a waitlist), and a board takes one adult, or one adult with a child under 13, up to 440 lb. The shop won’t rent when it’s too windy or there’s lightning nearby. The park also runs sunset kayak tours and skills lessons.
Good to know: You pay a state park entrance fee. Keep rentals inside the park; they can’t be taken elsewhere.
Snook Islands Natural Area (Lake Worth Beach)
DirectionsBest for: wildlife close to town. Flat, tidal water.
Snook Islands is a 118-acre Palm Beach County restoration project in the Lake Worth Lagoon along downtown Lake Worth Beach, about 7 miles south of downtown West Palm Beach. It created 11 acres of mangroves and 2 acres of oyster reef, and the county lists American oystercatchers, snook, green sea turtles and manatees among the wildlife.
Where to launch: The site has a kayak launch, a floating dock and a boardwalk. Parking is the catch: only three designated spaces sit on North Golfview Road, so most people park in Bryant Park next door, which also has the restrooms. It’s open sunrise to sunset every day.
Good to know: Stay off the oyster reefs and out of the shallow mangrove plantings, and give manatees and turtles room.
Okeeheelee Park
DirectionsBest for: freshwater practice, no boat wakes. Flat lake water.
Okeeheelee is a 1,660-acre county park west of West Palm Beach (7715 Forest Hill Blvd) The county lists a non-motorized boat launching area on its freshwater fishing lake, separate from the water-ski lake, where skiing needs a permit.
Rentals and lessons: The park’s rental concession is Kayak King Watersports (not run by the county). Call ahead to check board availability.
Good to know: It’s open sunrise to sunset. Stay on the non-motorized lake, away from the ski courses, and treat any freshwater in Florida as alligator habitat. Read whether paddle boarding is safe with alligators before you go.
When to go
You can paddle West Palm Beach year-round. NOAA’s water temperature guide puts the Lake Worth Pier at about 75°F in January and February and 85–86°F from July to September.
- Winter and spring (December–April): the most comfortable season, with mild air and fewer afternoon storms. Cold fronts can bring a few days of strong wind; skip the Peanut Island crossing if the lagoon is whitecapping.
- Summer and early fall: warm water and glassy early mornings, but afternoon thunderstorms are common, so get off the water at the first thunder. Hurricane season runs June through November.
- Tide and day of the week: go near high or slack tide around the inlet, and paddle on weekdays when you can. Weekend boat traffic around Peanut Island is heavy.
You won’t need a wetsuit most of the year, but our wetsuit check can help on a windy winter morning. Our Trip time calculator estimates how long a paddle like a lap of Peanut Island will take at your pace.
Rules and safety in West Palm Beach
In Florida a paddle board counts as a vessel whenever you’re outside a swimming, surfing or bathing area. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC):
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved wearable life jacket for each person. Children under 6 must wear one while underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle or horn.
- After dark or in poor visibility: have a white light, such as a flashlight, ready to show in time to prevent a collision.
Local rules and habits on top of that:
- Stay out of the inlet and the main channels. The Lake Worth Inlet combines strong tidal current with ship and boat traffic.
- Keep out of guarded swimming areas at Phil Foster Park and Peanut Island.
- Watch for manatees in the lagoon. Don’t chase, touch or feed them.
- Wear bright colors and a leash, so boaters can see you and a fall doesn’t leave you chasing your board in current.
- Respect park rules: no alcohol at Phil Foster Park, and on Peanut Island only in permitted camping areas.
FAQ
Can you paddle board to Peanut Island?
Yes. Most people launch from the non-motorized launching beach at Phil Foster Park and paddle across. Cross the channel quickly, go near high or slack tide, and avoid busy weekend afternoons.
Where can beginners paddle board in West Palm Beach?
MacArthur Beach State Park. Lake Worth Cove is sheltered and shallow, and you can rent a board at the park’s Beach Outfitters shop.
Can I rent a paddle board on Peanut Island?
No. There’s no rental or food concession on the island. Rent before you go, for example from Get Wet Watersports in Riviera Beach, or join a guided paddle board tour.
Will I see manatees paddle boarding in West Palm Beach?
You might. Palm Beach County lists manatees among the wildlife at Snook Islands in the Lake Worth Lagoon. Give them space and let them pass.
Is there anywhere similar nearby?
Jupiter is a short drive north, with the Jupiter sandbar and the Loxahatchee River; see where to paddle board in Jupiter. For more South Florida options, see where to paddle board in Miami, or use the Board Fitter to find a board for lagoon and ocean paddling.
