Frequently asked questions

Yes - most of our guests are first-timers, and Crane Cove is a protected cove with a gentle beach launch, which makes it one of the easiest places to start anywhere on San Francisco Bay. Start with a lesson rather than a rental, though: rentals assume you can already handle a board or boat on your own, while a 90-minute lesson will have you up and moving. After that, rent whenever you like.

Crane Cove is protected water, and we launch off a beach rather than a dock, so you’re never far from shore. Every guest gets a life jacket and a safety briefing before going out. We check conditions every day and cancel when the wind or water says so - we’d rather refund you than send you into a bad afternoon.

San Francisco Bay usually sits in the 50s Fahrenheit. You’ll be on top of the water rather than in it, so most people are comfortable in what they’d wear for a cool, breezy walk. Dress in layers you don’t mind getting damp and bring a change of clothes - going in is always a possibility, especially on a paddle board.

June to September we are open seven days a week, 9am to 5pm, with the last launch at 3pm and the last sauna at 4pm. October to May we are open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm, last launch 3pm and last sauna 4pm. Sauna members have extended access from 7:30am to 9pm, with the last sauna at 8pm.

Two locations. Crane Cove Park is our headquarters at 701 Illinois Street #A - the beach, the shop, the sauna and the cold plunge. Mission Creek Boathouse is our annex at 401 Berry Street, on calm creek water a block from Oracle Park, open for every Giants home game and for private events by appointment.

Booking ahead is always safer, especially on sunny weekends, Giants game days, and for the sauna. Spots do open up same-day, so it’s worth checking the booking page before you head over.

No. We’ve retired our e-foil program.

A waterfront sauna and cold plunge at Crane Cove Park - heat, cold, and the Bay right in front of you.

A lesson teaches you to paddle - technique, balance, turning, and how to get back on. A tour takes you somewhere with a guide. Intro lessons run 90 minutes; tours run 60 to 90 minutes and cover more distance when conditions line up. If you’ve never paddled, start with a lesson.

We start in the protected water at Crane Cove, then head out along the San Francisco waterfront past the working shipyard and the historic gantry cranes. Favorite routes include a calm loop into Mission Creek and, on the right day, a longer glide toward the Bay Bridge. You’ll see seals, herons, pelicans and a side of the city most San Franciscans never see from land.

Yes - private lessons and private tours are available for paddle board or kayak, for individuals or small groups, and they’re the right call if you want targeted coaching. Group lessons are open to ages 13 and up with a parent or guardian present; younger paddlers can book a private lesson or join a camp.

There’s no lot of our own. There’s street parking around the park - arrive early on sunny days, because it fills - plus paid lots at 19th & Illinois and 20th Street, and the UCSF garage at Mariposa & Illinois. You can drop off on the 18th Street access road by the shop, but you can’t park there. Honestly, transit is easier.

Easily, and we’d recommend it. Take the Muni KT to Mariposa & 3rd, or Caltrain to 22nd Street, and it’s a short walk from either. You can also ride or walk the waterfront path down from the Embarcadero.

There are public restrooms on the north side of our building near the beach, open 9am to 5pm on weekdays and until 4pm on weekends. We don’t have a bathroom of our own, so if your session falls outside those hours there’s no other public restroom on site. Inside the shop we do have changing rooms, lockers and a rinse station; the shower is for sauna guests only.

On every Giants home game we launch kayaks from our Mission Creek Boathouse for a 10 to 15 minute paddle out to McCovey Cove - the water just beyond right field where the splash homers land. There’s a party on the water, a big screen showing the game, and the roar of the ballpark right above you. Rental windows are two to three hours, and most people stay for the whole game.

No - that’s the point. You get the atmosphere, the big screen and a genuine shot at a splash ball without buying a seat.

No. Mission Creek is calm, protected water and the paddle out is short. You’ll get an onshore briefing and route guidance before you launch, and our sit-on-top kayaks are very stable. Tandems are the easy choice for families and first-timers. Kids can come from age 7 with an adult; solo kayaks start at 13.

People do. No promises.

As far ahead as you can. Launch times run from 30 minutes before to 30 minutes after first pitch in 15-minute increments, and slots are limited - marquee opponents and weekend games go first. Walk-ins are strongly discouraged, because we can’t hold a boat for you. Weekday games are your best shot at late space.

Ages 7 to 16, split by age and experience. Beginner Paddle Board runs 7–11. Intermediate SUP or Kayak is 9–14. Teen Explorer’s Travel Camp is 13–16.

Yes. All campers must be solid swimmers - camp is on open water and physically demanding, so kids should be comfortable swimming and ready for an active week. Every counselor is CPR and first-aid certified with a strong swimming background, and every camp opens with a full safety briefing.

Drop-off is 9am at Crane Cove Park and pick-up is 3pm. Before care runs 8 to 9am for $50 a week, after care runs 3 to 6pm for $100 a week, and both together are $120 a week - you can add either at registration. Campers pack their own lunch.

Cancel 60 or more days before camp and you get a full refund. Between 30 and 60 days you get credit toward any Dogpatch Paddle service or retail purchase. Inside 30 days it’s non-refundable - though if you find a replacement camper at least 7 days out, we’ll convert it to transferable credit.

All of it - paddles, boards, life vests and leashes. Kids should come in comfortable, weather-appropriate beachwear with flip-flops or water shoes. If your child runs cold or likes to swim, a wetsuit helps; bring one or buy one in the shop. You’ll get a detailed packing list once you’re registered.

Yes. We have secure indoor storage at Crane Cove - a dedicated bay for your craft, with room for your paddle, life jacket and dry bag, and round-the-clock access, so you can walk in, grab your boat and launch off the beach without hauling gear across the city. Storage also includes the changing room, lockers and wash station, plus members-only community paddles. There’s storage at the Mission Creek Boathouse too, with a dock launch and quick access to McCovey Cove.

We watch conditions all day and normally make the call about two hours before your start time, using NOAA, Windy and real-time bay sensors. If we cancel for safety you get 100% credit, good for any Dogpatch Paddle service for 12 months. If conditions are fine and you’d simply rather not go, the normal cancellation windows apply.

It depends what you booked, and camp is different from everything else. Rentals and sauna: full refund or credit 48 hours out, credit inside 48 hours, non-refundable inside 24. Lessons, tours, private lessons and private events: full refund or credit 72 hours out, credit inside 72 hours, non-refundable inside 48. Camps run on their own 60- and 30-day policy. Email info@dogpatchpaddle.com - your cancellation time is when the email lands with us.

Call or text (415) 484-9322, or email info@dogpatchpaddle.com. For camps, email camp@dogpatchpaddle.com. If you’re already here and can’t find us, head to the Crane Cove beach - and text if you’re still stuck.