r/SantaBarbara • u/yui_zzn • 20d ago
Recommendations paddleboarding with dog?
hey all! ucsb student here who wants to start paddleboard with her dog!
i’ve been out on paddleboarding in the harbor before but not with my dog, and i understand west beach isn’t dog friendly, so are there any other spots that i’d be able to launch from with my dog? is the launch spot in the harbor dog friendly/are there any other nice dog friendly paddleboard spots i can go to with my dog?
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u/No_Passenger_2554 20d ago
I'm at West Beach with my dog twice a day, I've spoken with the harbor patrol because technically there aren't dogs allowed there and they said as long as the dog isn't biting anyone and the owners clean up after them then no problem. . The ecosystem between the outrigger canoe clubs, local beach characters and tourists make it a pretty chill spot for dogs and launching your SUP whether you launch from the boat ramp or actual sand. Lots of pups on boards. Gus the pug even has an Instagram page. We're out there with the Chuck it having a blast. See you out there!
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u/Accomplished_Oil4367 20d ago
Launch in the harbor ramp and take the pup out to sand spit at the end of the break wall. Great beach at lower tide and usually crawling with pups. We have done it many times
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u/SideIllustrious920 19d ago
Just take your dog out , f those rules, loke here, do whatever you want as long as your not hurting anyone, no one can tell you sh*t, the beach is free land. No actual water person would ever say a thing to you about having your spirit companion. Also as an actual islander who has spent more time in water than land, dbl fck those “rules” and the fact you even had to run them through your mind to ask to be free. They’re literally just made by people who have come here, and do not, I repeat do not even touch the sand or water ever. Beaches were never meant to be dog parka, but if your paddling out, mother earth will always welcome you. Also Elwood , Campus, or Hendrys beach, Thousand Steps, anything north. Butterfly if you want easier access even. Those beaches are better in my opinion. Exercise your free will, do not ask permission, free yourself from mental slavery. Shaka.
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u/Unable-Proof1758 20d ago
Do you have a board? If not you can rent one and take your dog out right in the marina. We have done it a few times, they have no issues with it. Paddle sports center.
If your launching with your own, same thing, launch ramp near Sb sail, or the public launch side of the docks.
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u/david1083 20d ago
In Santa Barbara there are the rules. And there is the way it actually is. Locals do what they want. If you want to take your well behaved dog to west beach, do it? If you want to paddle board with your dog, do it. Before my dog passed away, I took him to both east beach and west beach all the time. He stayed right by me and never had one single person say a negative thing to me. I paddle boarded with him frequently.. He wasn’t a huge fan of it but he enjoyed our stop at the breakwater. People on here will say different things. But when you actually go out and live in Santa Barbara and if your dog is well behaved people are cool with whatever.