Date

3/8-9

Sat-Sun

3/22

Sat

II

3/22

Sat

II

4/2

Wed

I

4/5

Sat

II

4/5

Sat

II+

4/12

Sat

I-II

4/13

Sun

II

4/16

Wed

III

4/19 

Sat

III

4/25

Fri

4/25-27

Fri-Sun

4/26

Sat

II+

4/27

Sun

I-IV

5/2

Fri

5/2-4

Fri-Sun

5/3

Sat

II+

5/3

Sat

II-III

5/3-5/4

Sat-Sun

III

5/10

Sat

III

5/10

Sat

III

5/10

Sat

III

5/10-11

Sat-Sun

III

5/10-26

III-IV

GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK.  A chance to see one of our great national treasures at the beginning of the season, when the weather is the driest, the bugs haven’t come out in force, and the crowds haven’t arrived yet.  Drop-off and pick-up services to be used to within the park.  Leader plans to bring own boat by ferry from Bellingham, although local boat rental is possible.  Early sign-up recommended.  Limit 6.

5/17

Sat

II

LAKE WASHINGTON evening pizza paddle.  Dinner at Pegasus Pizza (bring money) in Kirkland followed by a late full-moon paddle.  Must have all safety gear AND lights for boat/person.  Must call by Wednesday, 5/14.  *(SSKC)

5/16-19

Fri-Mon

I-IV

THETIS ISLAND KAYAK SYMPOSIUM.  This is BC’s premiere kayak event, offering lots of on- and in-the-water training as well as great fun and outstanding food, not to mention the finest trainers in B.C. 

5/17

Sat

III

ANDERSON ISLAND CIRCUMNAVIGATION.  Launch from Boston Harbor with lunch on Eagle Island.  About 23 nm, all with the current.

5/17

Sat

II

CAMANO ISLAND.  Launch from Kayak Point.  Take out at Camano Island State Park.  Car shuttle between the two points.  Approx. 14 mi.  Limit 6.

5/17

Sat

II-III

NAVIGATION SKILLS WORKSHOP.  Stan Sayres Park.  This “trip” will begin with navigation basics in the parking lot and then will continue on the water for some practical experience under my guidance as needed.  Bring compass along with the usual stuff.  A background in basic paddling skills (strokes and wet exit) is required.

5/17-18

Sat-Sun

III

BLAKE ISLAND OVERNIGHT AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES.  If  the weather is nice, launch from West Seattle and paddle over to Blake Island.  Enjoy an afternoon of hiking on the island.  Wet/dry suit required.  Wheels needed in case bad weather requires taking the ferry back.

5/17-18

Sat-Sun

III

SEA KAYAK YAKIMA CANYON.  Launch at Ringer Road and float the scenic canyon to the Roza takeout; overnight at Red’s Campground and hike up Umtanum Canyon on Sunday in search of wildflowers.  17 mi.

5/17-18

Sat-Sun

III-IV

SAN JUAN CHALLENGE.  Anacortes is the site for this exciting two day, 40 mile sea kayak race.  A mini 14 mile challenge race is also held.  Starts from Cap Sante park in Anacortes. 

5/22

Thurs

II

EARLY EVENING LAKE PADDLE – ENETAI BEACH.  Two hours of exercise, relaxation and camaraderie.  Launch is under I-90 bridge in Bellevue.  *(SSKC)

5/24

III+

FOX ISLAND TO PITT ISLAND AND RETURN.  Open water crossing (4 mi.)  9-11 mi. RT.  Easy currents in Pitt Passage.  3kn average pace.  Wet/dry suit required.

5/24

Sat

I

BLACK RIVER.  Small easy river with very remote feel just south of Olympia.  Everglade-like with some moderate current.  Paddle to lunch spot and return.  No shuttle required.   Sign up by Wed. 5/21.  *(SSKC)

5/24-26

Sat-Mon

III

MEMORIAL WEEKEND IN THE SAN JUANS.  Depart Washington Park in Anacortes and paddle over to Decateur Island.  Camp in front of a private house (owner approved of course) with kitchen/bath privileges.  Sunday paddle around the area.  Monday paddle to Friday Harbor and take the ferry back to Anacortes.  Wet/dry suit required.  Wheels required for the return trip.  Trip cancelled for bad weather.

6/6-8

Fri-Sun

BASIC SEA KAYAK CLASS.  Learn the basics of sea kayaking including rescues, strokes, bracing, navigation.  Weekend training at Fort Flagler State Park.  Must provide own boat with flotation, drysuit, paddle and PFD. 

6/7

Sat

III

FRESHWATER BAY TO CRESCENT BAY.  Minus tide should provide great fun in the rocks or bird watching depending on interest.  Possible surf at Crescent Bay.  Max 8 paddlers.  Wet/dry suit  required.  Helmet required if you want to play among the rock. 8 nm RT.

6/7

Sat

II

DABOB BAY.  Explore DNR beaches of Dabob and Quilcene Bays.  Launch at Point Whitney Shellfish Lab.  Last year, lots of eagles were sighted. 

6/7

Sat

I

CHAMBERS CREEK TO DAY ISLAND-TITLOW BEACH.  Shuttle required.  Sign up by Wed. 6/4.  *(SSKC)

6/8

Sun

II

MATS-MATS BAY.  Sign up after May 28 but before June 4.  Enjoy the bird life and sea lions during the paddle from Mats-Mats Bay to Port Ludlow (an historic lumber mill town) for lunch.  6 mi. RT

6/13

Fri

II

FULL MOON PADDLE.   Are you superstitious?  If not, come join the night paddlers on Friday the 13^th, as we howl at the full moon in the San Juans.  Paddle around Roche Harbor.  Afterwards, we’ll rest up for the big paddle around San Juan Island the next day.

6/14

Sat

III

WAUNA SHIPWRECKS.  Meet 9:30 at Wauna boat launch near Purdy.  Check out hulls of old shipwrecks on this low low tide day.  Paddle south to Glen Cove, then cross to Cutts Island and return up that side of Henderson Bay.  12 nm.

6/14-15

Sat-Sun

IV+

CIRCUMNAVIGATE SAN JUAN ISLAND.  Put in at Friday Harbor and ride the ebb down through Cattle Pass.  Lunch at South Beach.  Enjoy the strong push up the west side.  Camp on the west side.  Paddle back to Friday Harbor Sunday morning.  30+ miles RT. 

6/21-22

Sat-Sun

III

MIDSUMMER EVE on CYPRESS ISLAND.  Launch at Washington Park in Anacortes, ride the flood up Rosario Strait; lunch on Strawberry Island; camp at Pelican Beach; climb Eagle Bluff or hike to the lake on Sunday morning, then ride the ebb back home.  15 miles.  *(SSKC)

6/28

Sat

II

DYES INLET.  Launch at Chico.  Explore bays and inlets and ride the current down Port Washington Narrows to Evergreen Park for lunch.  Return on flood.

6/29

Sun

II

HENDERSON INLET.  Launch at Boston Harbor, near Olympia, paddle to Henderson Inlet where we’ll see lots of seals and water birds.  Pleasant lunch site with picnic tables, restrooms, trails.  8-9 mi.

7/3-7/7

Thur-Mon

III-IV

GULF ISLANDS.  Wheel on the Sidney ferry at Anacortes and launch next to ferry dock in Sidney.  Many possibilities include D’Arcy, Little D’Arcy, Portland, and Prevost Islands, camping in provincial marine parks and coordinating group-shared meals.  Wheels and wet/drysuit required.  Limit 6.

7/5

Sat

II

LUHR BEACH to JOHNSON POINT.  Launch at Luhr Beach, and head for Zittel’s Marina for a picnic lunch.  Fish and Wildlife parking sticker required.  12 nm.

7/9

Wed

II

LAKE UNION.  Paddle through the Montlake Cut, then explore the nooks and crannies of the Arboretum.  Spray skirt required.  Call for launch location, time and other details.  5-6 mi. RT.  Eats at Aqua Verde if group agrees.   Sign up after June 30 but before July 5.

7/12

Sat

I-II

FAUNTLEROY TO ALKI and return.  Explore the shoreline on a very low tide.  Test the urban legend of the old Alki Amusement Park.  Wet/dry suit optional.  7 mi. RT, 2.5-3 kt average pace.

7/12-13

Sat-Sun

IV

WASHINGTON PARK TO DOE BAY.  Short overnight trip.  Catch the strong afternoon flood in Rosario Strait to camp on Doe Island and return with the morning ebb.  Optional trip to Doe Day, a 12-minute paddle from our camp.  Distance at least nine miles each way, crossing strong currents and shipping lanes.  Dry suit or wet suit and paddle jacket required.  Average paddler pace may be 3.5 knots.  Winds opposed to the strong current could create very rough water so rescue and bracing skills are required.

7/13

Sun

III+

CIRCUMNAVIGATE GUEMES ISLAND.  Launch at Anacortes, Guemes Island ferry dock.  Paddle with flood through Bellingham Channel, late lunch at Youngs Park (NE end of island.)  Return with stop at Saddlebag Island.  Approx. 15 mi. RT

7/13

Sun

II+

ANNUAL CRAB FEST – Saddlebag Island.  Paddle from March Point (near Anacortes) to Saddlebag Island.  Stalk the elusive Dungeness crab.  Return to March Pt. for a potluck crab feed.  Sign up after 7/4.

7/19-8/3

III-IV

KUIU ISLAND, SE ALASKA.  Kayak the remote wilderness area of Kuiu Island.  Explore abandoned Indian Villages, see abundant wildlife, eagles, bears, wolves, humpback whales. 

7/25

Fri

III

BLAKE ISLAND from West Seattle.  Daylight and night crossings.  When twilight is gone, we’ll return on a moonless night, arriving by midnight.  Flashlight/wet/dry suit required.

7/26

Sat

II

WINSLOW TO FAYE BAINBRIDGE.  Explore east shore of Bainbridge Island.  Lunch at Faye Bainbridge state Park and return.

8/2

Sat

III

TITLOW TO GIG HARBOR.  12 nm.  Ride the ebb up to Gig Harbor for a late lunch at the Tides, and ride the flood back to Titlow. 

8/5

Tues

II

SOUTH SOUND.  Put in at Herron Island ferry dock on the Long Branch peninsula.  Paddle north to Stretch Island and return via McMicken Island.  Approx. 12 mi.

8/9

Sat

II

DUNGENESS CRAB FROM YOUR KAYAK.  Shellfish permit required. Come catch crab from your kayak at Kayak Point County Park.  Launch at 10:00 and paddle out to the 50 foot depth for several hours of crabbing and paddling.  We’ll cook our catch on the beach with potluck to share.  Build your own crab ring the Saturday before at our house.  Limit 10 people.  *(SSKC)

8/9-10

Sat-Sun

I-II

ANDERSON ISLAND OVERNIGHT.  Stay overnight at this beautiful South Sound WWTA site, exploring for sand dollars with Nisqually Reach as a backdrop.  This trip is intended as a beginner level, short mileage, introduction to extended stay kayak touring. 

8/14

Thurs

II

LAKE WASHINGTON evening paddle.  Launch from Tracy Owens landing in Kenmore.  Leisurely summer paddle followed by dinner.

8/14-17

Thurs-Sun

III-IV

NORTH SAN JUAN ISLANDS.  Launch from Gooseberry Point.  Camp 3 nights at Point Doughty.  Friday and Saturday paddling around the nearby islands (e.g. Waldron, Patos, Sucia)  Must be comfortable crossing Rosario Strait in moderately rough seas.  Limit 6.

8/16

Sat

II

ARTIST’S DAY OUT.  This trip will be along the very picturesque Chuckanut Bay and will include a couple hours break at Chuckanut Island.  Calling all artists to take turns sketching and posing at the island to support our sea kayak art interests.  Share plein-art stories and ideas about what supplies work best for art by kayak during the paddle around the bay.  If interested in this kind of trip but can not make this one, please call to be notified for future artist outings.

8/16-17

Sat-Sun

II-III

PACIFIC BEACH SURF FEST.  Babbette’s Annual Sun and Surf frolic at Pacific Beach.  Potluck feast  Sat. night. Wine and candlelight

Brown pelicans and wildlife (besides the crazy wave surfers) on the beach.  Creek to paddle if you don’t want to surf.  Wet/dry suit AND helmet required for surfing for both whitewater and sea kayakers.  Call for reservations 1-888-226-7688 for site close to #52, 53, 54.

8/19

Tues

II

EVENING LAKE PADDLE – MT. BAKER BEACH.  Join us for two hours of exercise, relaxation and camaraderie.  Launch is on west side of Lake Washington, south of I-90.  *(SSKC)

8/22-24

Fri-Mon

III

HOPE AND HARTSTENE ISLANDS.  Join us for a long weekend among these south Puget Sound jewels.  Launch Friday morning from Joemma Beach State Park on the Key Peninsula, ride the flood current north to Jarrel Cove State Park on the north end of Hartstene Island, stopping at tiny and rustic McMicken Island on the way.  Camp Friday night at Jarrell Cove and again ride the flood current (now going south!) to Hope Island on Saturday morning. This is camp for Saturday night.  Sunday morning paddle through Dana Passage back to Joemma Beach State Park, thus completing a circumnavigation of Hartstene Island.  Both campsites are Cascadia Marine Trail sites.  7-9 miles each day with optional side trips.  No signups before July 15.

8/23

Sat

II

HORSEHEAD BAY-CUTTS ISLAND-ALLEN POINT.  Approx. 10-12 nm.

8/24-30

III

LAKE ROOSEVELT.  Kayak the north-south portion of Lake Roosevelt from Kettle Falls to the Spokane River.  Long shuttle involved.  Minimum 4 paddlers required.

8/28

Tues

II

EVENING LAKE PADDLE – ENETAI BEACH.  Relieve the day’s stress.  Join us for 2 hours of relaxation and camaraderie.  Launch is under I-90 bridge in Bellevue.  *(SSKC)

8/30

Sat

IV

WASHINGTON PARK TO FRIDAY HARBOR via Cattle Pass.  20+ miles in one day.  Enjoy the San Juans on a summer day without taking the ferry.  Take advantage of the currents along Rosario Strait and San Juan Channel.  Lunch at south end of Lopez Island.  Paddle through Cattle Pass on a flood, then past Turn Island, ending at Friday Harbor. Wheel back on the ferry for a free ride home.  Wheels and wet/dry suit are essential.

8/30-31

Sat-Sun

II+

ANDERSON ISLAND OVERNIGHT.  Start in Boston Harbor, ride a 2.5 kt current through Dana Passage, then meander down to Anderson Island.  8-9 miles one way.  Return trip between slack and early stage of flood.  Must be a Washington Water Trails member.

9/1-6

III+

GULF ISLANDS.  Enjoy the white sand beach of Portland Island, the quietness of D’Arcy Island, the warm sandy bays of Sidney Island, and several more.  Wheels and wetsuit required.  Limit 6.

9/5-7

Fri-Sun

II+

10^th ANNUAL FALL FUNFEST at FORT FLAGLER.  Friday evening no-host dinner.  Saturday to Wooden Boat Show.  Sunday a local paddle.  Potluck Sat. eve.  Stay in barracks.  Must pre-register by Aug.31 and send check for $18 housing fee.  Sign-up preferences given to those who have come before.  *(SSKC)

9/10

Wed

I-II

LAKE UNION.  Paddle through the Montlake Cut, then explore the nooks and crannies of the Arboretum.  Spray skirt required.  Call for launch location, time and other details.  5-6 mi. RT.  Eats at Aqua Verde if group agrees.   Sign up between 8/31 and 9/6.

9/13

Sat

II

MATS MATS BAY.  Escape from the rockbound Mats Mats Bay on the ebb, explore Colvos Rock and Port Ludlow at low tide, and ride the flood back home.  6-8 miles.

9/13

Sat

II

LIBERTY BAY.  Launch at Keyport, ride ebb current through Agate Passage.  Lunch at Native American Heritage Site (Old Man House State Park,) then ride the flood back.

9/18-21

I-IV

WEST COAST SEA KAYAK SYMPOSIUM-Fort Warden State Park.  Try out new boats, renew friendships and learn from the leaders in the industry.  On-the-water and land clinics with some of the outstanding trainers in the field.

9/20-21

Sat-Sun

IV

OVERNIGHT TO SEA KAYAK SYMPOSIUM - Port Townsend.

Launch at either Maxwelton or Bush Point, cross to symposium in Port Townsend, and camp.  10 mile crossings, 20+ mi.  Enjoy the max ebb and flood to our advantage.  Even on calm days, expect strong rips. 

9/21

Sun

II+

EVERETT SLOUGHS.  Afternoon paddle in calm waters of Ebey and surrounding sloughs.  Dinner (optional) after in Marysville.  Car shuttle involved.  About a 3-hour paddle.  *(SSKC)

9/28

Sun

II-III

DUNGENESS SPIT.  Meet at Cline Spit.  Launch at 10:00 and paddle in Dungeness Harbor before heading east toward the Lighthouse and out to the tip of the spit – a protected seal habitat. 

10/4

Sat

II

CAPTITOL LAKE. OLYMPIA.  Paddle around Capitol Lake in Tumwater.  A freshwater paddle on a beautiful Fall day.  Watch those spawning salmon at close range. 

10/4

Sat

II

SKOKOMISH RIVER DELTA.  Enjoy early Fall colors and lots of sea life, including seals and waterfowl, during the paddle in the delta and up the Skokomish River.  About 8 miles. 

10/4

Sat