How to Pick the Perfect Lake or River Day

A perfect day on the water can turn miserable—or dangerous—if you read the forecast wrong. Here's what actually matters when planning your lake or river trip.

Wind Is Everything

For lakes, wind under 10 mph means glass-smooth mornings and gentle afternoon ripples. Perfect for paddleboarding, kayaking, or floating. Once winds hit 15 mph, small craft advisories start popping up. Whitecaps form. Kayaks become wrestling matches. That inflatable flamingo you brought? Say goodbye.

Above 20 mph? Stay home. Even experienced boaters struggle in those conditions. Your cooler will blow over, umbrellas become weapons and forget about keeping anything on a beach towel.

Rivers are trickier. Wind against current creates nasty chop that can flip kayaks. Wind with current might seem helpful until you realize you can't paddle back upstream. Check which direction the wind blows relative to flow before launching.