Banks Channel at Wrightsville Beach is the best place to paddle board near Wilmington. It’s the calm, protected water between the beach and Harbor Island, with a public dock and a rental shop right on it. For a wilder paddle, cross to Masonboro Island, an undeveloped barrier island you can only reach by boat.
Wilmington works for paddling because it’s surrounded by sheltered salt water. Behind the barrier beaches, the Intracoastal Waterway, sounds and tidal creeks give you flat water most days, and the ocean is a short walk away when the surf is small. The two things to plan around are tides and boat traffic: the current runs hard near the inlets, and the channels get busy on summer weekends.
Quick answer
- First time on a board: Banks Channel, launching near Wynn Plaza or renting from Wrightsville SUP.
- Most scenic: Masonboro Island, the largest undisturbed barrier island on the southern North Carolina coast.
- Rent and paddle in a state park: Carolina Beach State Park, where Paddle NC rents boards at the marina.
- SUP surfing (experienced only): the Wrightsville Beach oceanfront on small days.
- Stay away from: Masonboro Inlet, the main ICW channel, and the Cape Fear River’s shipping channel.
The best places to paddle board in Wilmington
Banks Channel (Wrightsville Beach)
Directions
Best for: beginners, lessons and an easy morning paddle. Flat salt water, tidal.
Wrightsville Beach is a beach island about 4.5 miles long. Behind it, Banks Channel separates the beach from Harbor Island, and the Intracoastal Waterway runs on the far side of Harbor Island. Banks Channel is wide, sheltered from the ocean and lined with docks and small sandy beaches, so it’s the go-to flat water in town.
Where to launch: Wynn Plaza, at the corner of the Causeway Drive bridge and Waynick Boulevard, has a public dock on Banks Channel and a parking lot next door. The floating docks are a public launch point for kayaks and canoes as well as tie-ups for boats, so launch from the low edge of the dock or the sand beside it, and don’t block boat space.
Rentals and lessons: Wrightsville SUP (96 W Salisbury St) rents paddle boards and kayaks and runs lessons, tours and SUP yoga. At the time of writing its rentals averaged around $35 per booking and lessons around $65.
Good to know: Banks Channel is tidal. Paddle against the current first so the easy leg is on the way back, and check the tide times before you go. Our guide to the best tide for paddle boarding explains how to time it. Boat traffic picks up on summer weekends, so go early.
Masonboro Island
Directions
Best for: confident paddlers who want wild beach and wildlife. Sound and tidal creeks, with open water crossings.
Masonboro Island is an undeveloped barrier island south of Wrightsville Beach. It’s part of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, managed by the state Division of Coastal Management, and it’s only reachable by boat. On the sound side you’ll find marsh, tidal creeks and quiet beaches, with shorebirds everywhere.
Where to launch: New Hanover County’s Trails End Park (613 Trails End Road) has a public boat ramp and a loading dock directly on the Intracoastal Waterway, across from the reserve. Carry your board down beside the ramp rather than using a launch lane. From there, it’s a crossing of the ICW and the sound to the island.
What to avoid: The ICW channel carries a steady flow of boats, so cross it quickly at a right angle. Don’t try to reach the island via Masonboro Inlet from the Wrightsville side. State officials discourage even swimmers from crossing the inlet because conditions there are dangerous.
Rules: The reserve follows Leave No Trace: pack out everything you bring. Keep out of areas posted for nesting sea turtles and birds, and keep dogs leashed. Fireworks are banned. Around the Fourth of July the island turns into one of the biggest boat parties on the coast, so pick another weekend if you want peace and quiet.
Carolina Beach State Park
Directions
Best for: renting and paddling in one place, south of Wilmington. Tidal river and waterway, with current.
Carolina Beach State Park sits where Snow’s Cut meets the Cape Fear River, and its marina gives access to both the river and the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s a good pick if you want a rental, a picnic and a short paddle without the beach crowds.
Where to launch: From the marina’s boat ramp area (1010 State Park Road). There’s no fee to enter the park for day use; the park charges $7 to use the boat launch. Park hours change by month, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in January up to 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in summer.
Rentals: Paddle NC, a private concessionaire at the park, rents paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and bikes.
Good to know: Swimming is banned throughout the park because of dangerous currents and sharp drop-offs near the shore. Take that as your cue on a paddle board too: wear your leash and life jacket, stay close to shore, and time your paddle around slack tide. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Wrightsville Beach oceanfront
DirectionsBest for: experienced paddlers and SUP surfers on small days. Open ocean.
The ocean side of Wrightsville Beach has small, friendly waves on many days, and local paddlers use the surf zone to practice beach starts and catch waves. It’s not a place to learn: the shore break will knock you off, and you need to read rip currents.
Where to launch: From one of the town’s numbered public beach accesses. Access 36 at the south end has parking, restrooms and a wheelchair-accessible walkway. Avoid the far south end near the jetty, which separates Wrightsville Beach from Masonboro Island and borders Masonboro Inlet.
Good to know: Stay away from swimmers and the fishing pier, and follow lifeguard instructions. Read our guide to how to paddle board in the ocean before your first time out through the waves.
When to go
The main paddling season runs from late spring to early fall. NOAA’s water temperature guide puts Wrightsville Beach at about 52–54°F in January and February, 71°F in May and 82–83°F from July to September. The Cape Fear River at Wilmington runs colder in winter (about 47°F in January) and similar in summer.
- May–October: warm water and the best paddling. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so paddle in the morning. Hurricane season runs June through November.
- November–April: cold water and quieter channels. Wear a wetsuit or dress for immersion. Our wetsuit check tells you what to wear for the conditions.
- Tides and wind: plan around the tide in every spot here, and expect the afternoon sea breeze to chop up open water.
Planning a longer paddle, such as Trails End to Masonboro and back? Our Trip time calculator estimates how long it’ll take at your pace.
Rules and safety in Wilmington
Outside a swimming or surfing area, a paddle board is treated as a vessel. That means, under the US Coast Guard and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission rules:
- Life jacket: carry a US Coast Guard–approved life jacket for each person. In North Carolina, children under 13 must wear one on any vessel that’s underway. See our pick of the best PFDs for SUP.
- Sound device: carry a whistle.
- After dark: 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 inlets and main channels. Masonboro Inlet and the Cape Fear River’s shipping channel combine strong tidal current and boat traffic.
- Respect the reserve. At Masonboro Island, pack out your trash, keep off posted nesting areas and keep dogs leashed.
- Pay attention to parking. Wrightsville Beach parking fills up fast in summer and is strictly enforced.
- Wear a leash everywhere, and a coiled leash in shallow sounds so it doesn’t snag.
FAQ
Where can beginners paddle board in Wilmington?
Banks Channel at Wrightsville Beach. It’s sheltered from the ocean, there’s a public dock at Wynn Plaza, and Wrightsville SUP offers rentals and lessons. Go early, on an incoming or slack tide.
Can you paddle board to Masonboro Island?
Yes, if you’re comfortable with a crossing and some boat traffic. Launch from Trails End Park and cross the Intracoastal Waterway to the sound side of the island. Avoid Masonboro Inlet.
Do I need a permit to paddle board in Wilmington?
No. You don’t need a permit to paddle Banks Channel, the sounds or the ocean. Carolina Beach State Park charges a $7 boat launch fee.
Can I bring my dog paddle boarding near Wilmington?
Dogs are allowed on Masonboro Island on a leash, and in Carolina Beach State Park on a leash of 6 feet or less. Read how to paddle board with a dog before your first trip together.
Is there anywhere similar nearby?
Looking for warm-water paddling farther south? See our guide to where to paddle board in Jupiter, FL. Not sure what size board you need? Try the Board Fitter.
