Get out on the water and explore the Upper Bay in the closest (and least impactful) way possible. The Newport Bay Conservancy offers naturalist guided kayak tours.
PUBLIC TOURS are scheduled every Saturday from 10am-12pm.
Purchase your experience TODAY: Reserve your spot for our “Discover Upper Newport Bay” kayak tours at: KayakUNB.eventbrite.com. (Ages 8+). Tandem kayaks are used for related parties. Children 8-11 must ride with an adult in a tandem kayak. Teens 12-17 must have an adult present on the water. (Single kayaks are reserved for odd numbered group members and NBC guides).
Private group tours are available for groups of 10-20. If interested, please contact hilary.cunningham@newportbay.org.
What to expect: Kayaking the Bay is one of the best ways to appreciate the beauty and tranquility of Upper Newport Bay and to see pelicans, terns and egrets flying by you. And if your eyes are quick, catch a glimpse of silver mullet (fish) jumping out of the water or a stingray gliding beneath you. Each tour is unique with startling differences in the birds and other wildlife seen depending on the season and the state of the tide. In summer the open-water skimmers and terns that come here to nest predominate. In winter there is a huge abundance and diversity of shorebirds, ducks, and grebes that have migrated from Canada and Alaska. Most participants think that the winter kayak tours are actually the best!
No experience? No problem! Your volunteer naturalist guides will begin with a quick Intro to Kayaking safety lesson and show you all the skills needed to explore again on your own. If you are a seasoned kayaker or have a specific interest, let us know and we will try to coordinate a naturalist guide with you that matches your experience and interests. Be prepared to help carry your kayak to and from the water. Tour time is usually a max of 2 hours, including intro lesson, paddling the Bay, and putting away equipment.
View our Introduction to Kayaking video to get a better idea of what to expect before you paddle out!
Safety: Kayaking is a very safe outdoor sport, however, the conditions will be the biggest risk to your safety. Bring sun protection, hat and/or sunglasses, and water (even in the winter), and be prepared to get wet from the knees down as kayaks are pushed off into the water from the shore. Tours will cancel/reschedule for excessive wind, heavy rain, or lightning. All guests and naturalist guides will follow all public health requirements for covid-19.
Explore on your own: Visit the Newport Aquatic Center for information on non-guided hourly rentals of stand-up paddle boards or kayaks. If you are exploring the Bay using rented equipment or your own, be sure to check out our rules and regs and stay clear of vital wildlife side channels and islands. All Newport Bay users inherit the responsibility to keep the Bay clean and protected- pack out your trash and throw it away in an appropriate receptacle.
Equipment, educational materials, and safety instruction is sponsored by
