Experience Kayaking at Elkhorn Slough

"Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Because whatever you see can inspire you." 

-Grace Coddington

Do you love holidays that involve water sports and activities? Then you should consider Elkhorn Slough where it is especially kayaking that are attracting a lot of tourists annually. The area around Elkhorn Slough is not only suitable for kayaking and paddle boarding but it also offers opportunities for birding photography and wildlife viewing. It is a veritable wildlife heaven and a habitat to a wide variety of different types of wildlife. Therefore kayaking enthusiasts not only practice their beloved sport but they experience wildlife on a whole new level. Many visitors start their tour at Moss Landing when they are faced with two options to either rent a kayak or to join one of the well-organized guided tours such as Kayak Connection which provides rentals, tours and lessons. This will be followed by a bit of paddling through the state marine reserve which are literally crawling with wildlife.

Photo by Kayak Connection

 
In this particular area people will find a large otter population and there will also be various other kinds of wildlife such as pelicans, sea lions and even seals. Exactly how far you would like to go is something, which has to be decided by each individual, but most people will do between two and 6 miles. For those who are not used to long kayaking trips, it is possible to catch the shuttle back to Moss Landing but for the more experienced kayaking professionals, most of them would prefer to row back by themselves. However, even the most enthusiastic kayaking professional has to relax sometimes and there are more than enough venues in this area to cater for most people’s needs. One such venue is Phil's Fish market which is well-known for its cioppino as well as a wide variety of seafood which can be enjoyed while people are enjoying the spectacular view.

Photo by John Ames

  Elkhorn Slough is one of the acknowledged tourist destinations in North America and it is reckoned among the top 10 destinations when it comes to wildlife viewing. Especially the area around Moss Landing has one of the largest remaining otter populations on the entire planet. For many kayaking enthusiasts it is an exhilarating experience to paddle among these amazing creatures among which is harbor seals, floating jellyfish and a very large population of migrating seabirds. One of the guarantees that could be given to any tourist who visits this area is the fact that wherever people might go with in Elkhorn Slough they are certain to spot very large quantities of wildlife.

Photo by Kimon Berlin and it's open to sharing

Photo by John Ames

 Elkhorn Slough is located about halfway between the coastal towns of Santa Cruz and Monterey. Both of these areas offer tremendous opportunities for outdoor activities such as beach, surfing, kayaking, hiking and biking. Further away about an hour drive from Elkhorn Slough, visitors may take a hiking trip to nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park for hiking along waterfalls such as Silver Falls or Berry Creek Loop and this kind of excursion is possible throughout the year. Several waterfalls can be found in this area. The redwood trees can be found everywhere in the park and there are also a substantial number of banana slugs.

Whether you are a professional kayaking enthusiasts or an amateur you will find Elkhorn Slough an excellent destination to hone your skills while at the same time enjoying an unforgettable wildlife experience. This is truly an area that are literally teeming with all kinds of wildlife as well as a very large variety of plants and vegetation. This is an experience which you would like to repeat once you have discovered the secrets of this amazing destination. 

Photo by Kayak Connection