Updates & News From Portland Paddle

All of us at Portland Paddle love seals, and especially our flippered friends in Casco Bay who we encounter regularly.  We shared an introduction to the types of seals we see while paddling in our Guide to the Seals of Maine last year, but there’s a lot more to cover. In this post we’ll share…

Ten Spots to Take a Rental Kayak or SUP If you’re starting a paddling trip on Casco Bay, our site at the East End Beach is a terrific place to launch. But there are LOTS of other great spots to paddle nearby, and you can rent our kayaks and SUPs for as long as you…

A special course for teachers, school volunteers, and student leaders, in partnership with Teens to Trails Portland Paddle is partnering with Teens to Trails this spring to offer an Educational Trip Leader Permit Training course. The ETLP system is a way for schools to offer paddle sports and wilderness camping programs in compliance with Maine…

An Interview with Sea Kayak Guides Joe Guglielmetti & Kyle Martin This winter we’re posting a series of interviews with Portland Paddle guides, each one focused on a specific topic related to paddling the Maine coast. Today we’re sharing a conversation with longtime guides Joe Gugliemetti and Kyle Martin about two “extreme” forms of kayaking: …

We’re Offering Two Discounted Workshops for SMSKN Members This Summer We’ve worked with the Southern Maine Sea Kayak Network‘s skills committee to develop two 6-hour workshops for summer 2024. Our “Open Water Rescue Development” workshop is designed for paddlers who have learned basic rescues but need more practice and development before joining a more advanced…

The Joys & Risks of Winter Sea Kayaking By Zack Anchors Zack paddling to the Le Comte Glacier in Southeast Alaska. Like many sea kayak guides in Maine, I kayak every month of the year. And my winter paddles are often my favorite. When the lakes and rivers freeze and the snow piles up, the…

Open Positions Include Sea Kayak Guides, Site Manager & Shore Staff Portland Paddle is staffed by a talented team of folks who are passionate about paddling. Many of our staff members return every summer, but we’re also seeking new members of our team for the 2024 paddling season. OPEN POSITIONS SEA KAYAK GUIDE: Spend your…

Lessons and Experiences at MOES 2023! Some of the Portland Paddle team attended the second annual Maine Outdoor Economy Summit this past week where we got to participate in a number of interesting talks on the future of outdoor recreation in Maine. MOES is a forum for anyone who engages with outdoor recreation in Maine,…

Check Out Our Schedule of Multi-Day Expeditions in 2024 Our trips range from 3-day journeys across Casco Bay to 5-day explorations of the Downeast coast.  Already thinking about the adventures you’ll have next summer? So are we! We’ve just released our multi-day trips calendar for 2024. It includes many dates for our classic two and…

Check Out Our Schedule of Lessons & Workshops for Summer 2024 We’re expanding our weekend skills workshops and offering our full range of sea kayaking classes for all skill levels Our 2024 lessons and workshops schedule is here! It might seem early, but we like to plan ahead and we thought you would too 😉…

Here’s Why You Should Paddle in a Pool This Winter And some tips on keeping your paddling skills fresh through the winter! It’s not easy to learn and practice kayaking skills when air and water temps are frigid. That’s why many kayakers head to their local pool in the wintertime. Kayak pool sessions allow paddlers…