The Great Salt Pond is one of the best places to be on a kayak or paddleboard in all of New England. Protected from ocean swell, ringed by salt marsh and sandy shores, with a fleet of sailboats and wooden working boats anchored in the middle — it’s a scene that makes even experienced paddlers slow down and look around. Block Island’s water access goes well beyond the pond, too: sea kayakers can circle the entire island, explore sea caves along the bluffs, and land on beaches that are inaccessible by any other means.
Here’s what you need to know to get on the water.
Kayaking on Block Island
Great Salt Pond (New Harbor)
The Great Salt Pond — Block Island’s protected inner harbor — is the default starting point for most kayakers. It’s calm, it’s forgiving, and there’s enough to explore that you can spend a full day paddling without repeating yourself.
What to do in the Great Salt Pond:
- Paddle the perimeter (roughly 3–4 miles around) exploring coves and the salt marsh
- Navigate through the anchored boat field for close-up views of wooden lobster boats and classic sailboats
- Explore the inlet channel that connects the pond to the ocean (watch current here)
- Paddle to the far corners of the pond for shorebird watching — egrets, osprey, herons, and in migration season, a remarkable variety of shorebirds
The pond is calm enough for total beginners and interesting enough for experienced paddlers. It’s also the safest environment for stand-up paddleboarding.
Launch: Most rental operations are based at the harbor — they’ll handle the logistics. Ask about current conditions and any areas to avoid.
Ocean Kayaking: Circumnavigating the Island
Experienced sea kayakers come to Block Island specifically to paddle the coastline. A full circumnavigation of the island is approximately 15–18 miles of paddling — doable as a long day trip for fit, experienced paddlers with appropriate sea kayaks.
Key sections:
- North shore: Sandy beaches, clay cliffs, generally calmer conditions
- East side (Old Harbor to Southeast Lighthouse): Rocky ledges, less exposed but watch boat traffic
- South shore (Mohegan Bluffs): The most dramatic scenery on the island — 200-foot clay cliffs dropping to the sea. Paddling below the bluffs is extraordinary on a calm day. Do not attempt in swell or surf.
- West side / Southwest Point: The most exposed section, with strong currents and surge. Experienced open-water paddlers only.
If you’re planning a circumnavigation or any ocean kayaking, check NOAA marine forecasts, not just the land weather. Conditions on the open water around Block Island can change faster than the forecast suggests.
Sea Caves and Cliff Exploration
The base of Mohegan Bluffs and sections of the south shore have sea caves, arches, and rocky features that are only accessible by water. On a calm day with a sea kayak, these areas are extraordinary. On any day with ocean swell, they are dangerous. This is expert-only territory — the surge in rock features can capsize kayaks and pin paddlers. Know what you’re doing before you go.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding on Block Island
SUP has become one of the most popular water activities on Block Island, and for good reason: the Great Salt Pond provides ideal conditions for it most summer days, rental gear is widely available, and you can see the island from a perspective that’s impossible from shore.
Best SUP Conditions
The Great Salt Pond on a morning with light wind (under 10 mph) is ideal stand-up paddleboard territory. By early afternoon, the prevailing southwest breeze builds to 10–15 mph on most summer days — still manageable but noticeably more challenging for beginners.
Avoid SUP on the open ocean unless you have ocean SUP experience and appropriate safety gear. The island’s exposed coastline is not forgiving of equipment failures or falls.
Best times: 7–11 AM on summer days before the afternoon breeze builds. Evenings can also be excellent.
Kayak & SUP Rentals on Block Island
Rental operations are clustered at New Harbor (Great Salt Pond). You don’t need to haul your own gear on the ferry — everything you need is available on the island.
What’s typically available:
- Single and tandem kayaks
- Stand-up paddleboards
- Life jackets and paddles (required with rental)
- Basic instruction for first-timers
Book ahead for peak summer weekends — popular rental operations fill up. Weekday rentals are easier to get without a reservation.
For a current list of water sports rentals on Block Island, check with operators when you arrive. Prices, availability, and specific gear vary by season and year.
Half-day vs. full-day: A half-day rental (typically 4 hours) is plenty for a Great Salt Pond exploration. If you’re planning a longer coastal route, book a full day.
Kayak Fishing on Block Island
Kayak fishing has grown dramatically in popularity around Block Island, and it makes sense — you can access shoreline structure that’s impossible to reach from the rocks, get close to fish without the noise of a motor, and cover miles of productive water on your own schedule.
Best kayak fishing areas:
- Great Salt Pond for fluke and flounder
- The pond’s inlet channel for bass during moving tide
- The rocky south and west shore for striped bass in summer and fall
- Clay Head area on the north shore for early-season bass
Bring a proper fishing kayak if you can — the stability matters when you’re fighting a 30-pound striper. Rental kayaks are fine for exploring; serious kayak fishing benefits from purpose-built gear. See our Block Island fishing guide for what species to target and when.
What to Bring Kayaking or Paddleboarding
- Life jacket: Required by law. Rental operations provide them; don’t skip wearing one.
- Water and snacks: More than you think. Paddling is exercise, and time on the water goes fast.
- Sunscreen: Full exposure — wear SPF 50, reapply often. The water reflects UV.
- Hat and sunglasses: Essential. Polarized lenses help you see into the water.
- Dry bag: For your phone, wallet, and anything you can’t afford to get wet
- Water shoes: For rocky launches and landings
- Phone in a waterproof case: For navigation and emergencies
For ocean kayaking, additionally:
- Marine VHF radio or charged phone with NOAA weather app
- Spare paddle
- Bilge pump
- Tow rope
- Signaling devices (whistle, mirror)
Getting to Block Island
Kayaks and SUP boards can technically be transported on the ferry, but logistics are complicated and most visitors simply rent on the island. See our Block Island ferry guide for everything about getting to the island. The Point Judith ferry from Narragansett, RI is the most common route.
Once on the island, rental operations are a short walk from the Old Harbor ferry dock or a quick bike ride to New Harbor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience to kayak on Block Island?
For the Great Salt Pond, no. It’s calm, enclosed, and forgiving. A rental operation will give you a quick orientation and you’re off. For ocean kayaking, yes — experience and appropriate equipment are required.
Can I bring my own kayak on the Block Island ferry?
Technically yes, but it’s operationally complicated and ferry operators have specific policies. Most paddlers find it simpler to rent on the island.
Is paddleboarding safe on Block Island?
In the Great Salt Pond under calm conditions, yes — it’s very beginner-friendly. On the open ocean, no — conditions can be dangerous even for experienced paddlers.
How long does it take to kayak around the Great Salt Pond?
The perimeter of the Great Salt Pond is roughly 3–4 miles. At a relaxed pace with stops, plan 2–3 hours for a full loop. A half-day rental gives you plenty of time to explore without rushing.
Are there guided kayak tours on Block Island?
Some rental operations offer guided tours, particularly for sunset paddles and wildlife tours in the Great Salt Pond. Availability varies by season — ask when you arrive.
What’s the best time to paddleboard on Block Island?
Morning, before the afternoon breeze builds. On most summer days, winds are light before 10–11 AM and increase to 10–15 mph by early afternoon. Evenings are often calm again.
