Windsurfing on the Laguna Madre, Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island is flanked on one side by the Gulf of Mexico and on the other, the Laguna Madre, one of only six hypersaline (saltier than the ocean) lagoons in the world. Surrounded by water, it should come as no surprise that Padre Island National Seashore is a popular destination for water-related sports. Fishing and swimming is allowed just about anywhere in the park, but for other watersports such as paddling and windsurfing, Laguna Madre is the place to be.
Laguna Madre is one of the top windsurfing destination in the United States (though related, kite surfing is prohibited). Winds average between 5 and 25 miles per hour on a daily basis. Worldwinds Windsurfing, an authorized park concessionaire, has a shop at Bird Island Basin, one of only two access points to Laguna Madre within Padre Island National Seashore. The company offers windsurfing lessons and sells and rents windsurfing equipment. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are also available for rent.
Worldwinds Windsurfing shop at Bird Island Basin, Padre Island National Seashore
Laguna Madre itself is quite shallow, anywhere from 1 to 5 feet deep, except farther out where the Intercoastal Waterway runs through the area to allow boat traffic. On many days, adults can wade out to Bird Island without getting their hair wet. The water is also much calmer than on the Gulf Coast beaches, which makes the lagoon a great place to bring toddlers and small children for swimming.
Laguna Madre at Bird Island Basin, Padre Island National Seashore
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Last updated on March 1, 2022
