Spring has sprung, and it’s a perfect time to head to the water and enjoy spending time on a kayak. Kayaking during this pleasant season has so many great benefits.

1. Pleasant Temperatures

With winter behind you, hopefully, the temperatures have increased to more comfortable levels. While you can certainly kayak in cold weather, you may have a better experience when it’s not as frigid. Cold temperatures can make it harder for your hands to grasp your paddle, and this can pose a safety risk, especially if you have to handle any choppy water. In addition, water sometimes splashes around when kayaking. If this happens in the winter, you’ll feel much colder when wet. 

If you wait until the summer to kayak, you may have trouble with high temperatures. When you’re out on the water, you won’t have any protection from the sun, and you may be susceptible to sunburn. You might also have a tough time getting relief from the heat, and this could put you at risk of heat stroke or dehydration. You can splash some water on yourself to cool down, but it will probably quickly evaporate. For these reasons, it’s a great idea to kayak in the spring, when it hasn’t become too warm yet.

2. Ideal Water Levels

In some locations, you may have a better kayaking experience in the spring. That’s because melting snow and abundant rain will raise the water levels in certain areas. If you wait until the hot, dry summer, water levels may fall. You could have difficulty navigating around shallow areas.

3. Beautiful Scenery

The spring is a time of transition. Creatures start to venture out more often, birds chirp and sing with greater frequency, and many plants flourish during this season. Kayaking in the spring gives you a chance to appreciate nature in its full glory. You may be able to see wildflowers blooming on shore, and you might see some baby animals exploring their habitat with their parents. As the season progresses and turns into summer, the hot weather can quiet things down. Animals also like to take breaks from the hot sun, so you might not have as much of an opportunity to see wildlife in the warmer months.

4. Crowds Can Be More Manageable

In many places, the summer is the busiest season of the year. Just like you might have to deal with summer traffic on the roads, you might also have to navigate your way around other paddlers if you hit the water in June, July, or August. Kayaking before the summer crowds arrive can be such a smart move if you’d like to enjoy the serenity of the water.

5. Easier to Schedule

If you’d like to incorporate kayaking into your travels, you may be able to more easily schedule your trip during the spring instead of the summer. Popular places might not be booked up yet, and you may have greater flexibility in terms of where and when you can set up a kayaking tour.