A Paddler's Guide to the Salish Sea.: January 2012

1/30/12

Washington Water Trails Association - WWTA

Since 1990, the Washington Water Trails Association has been helping secure public access and human powered watercraft campsites throughout Puget Sound, Willapa Bay, the Columbia River, the Snake River, and the lakes bordering Seattle.

Trails include:

- Cascadia Marine Trail.
- Lakes-To-Locks Water Trail.
- Willapa Bay Trail.
- Lower Columbia River Water Trail.
- Northwest Discovery Water Trail.

The Cascadia Marine Trail, one of the more popular water trails of the WWTA includes over 140 miles of water from Olympia to the Canadian boarder. By becoming a member (starts at $35 a year), you can have access to their online maps, travel info and details regarding each site. Below is a the page for the San Juan Islands. The triangles are the WWTA campsites for the region.

San Juan Islands:
http://www.wwta.org/trails/CMT/campsites/san_juans/

Learn more about my book Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans, 60 Trips. I also offer SUP and Kayak lessons available throughout the year at Salmon Bay Paddle. Questions about paddling on the Salish Sea, give me a holler anytime at salmonbaypaddle@gmail.com or 206-465-7167

Support the Washington Water Trails Association and the Cascadia Marine Trail. The wwta works to create and protect access for paddlers on Puget Sound as well as provide an extensive network of over 60 paddle-in camping sites - www.wwta.org

1/29/12

Paddling Yakima River Canyon

Yakima River Canyon is one of Wa State's most scenic river paddles and is great for all skill levels. A 1.5 hour drive east of Seattle and located directly south of Ellensburg on Highway 821 (Canyon Road), the river can be easily accessed from I-90. Driving south of the interstate, you begin to drop into the canyon within a few miles. Immediately you will enjoy it's steep grassy hillsides and winding two lane route which parallels the river. The river is also known as a 'Blue Ribbon' fly fishing and catch and release only river. Drift boats are common as are fishermen along it's bushy shores. Red's Fly Shop is located in the canyon and can assist with any fishing questions.

The best guidebook for the trip is "PaddlingWashington: 100 Flatwater and Whitewater Routes in Wahsington State and the Inland Northwest," by Rich Landers and Dan Hansen and published by Mountaineers Books. Click HERE for ordering info.

The canyon route is a Class 1 section of the river, meaning it moves but has few rapids and small riffles to worry about and thus doesn't require much or any river experience. That said, always wear a life jacket and appropriate immersion clothing for the water and air temperature. The river is very popular in summer with rafters. I'm hoping to try it this year on a SUP with rubber fins.

Details from the book:

- Distance: 19 miles

- Time: 6 hours.

- Season: Year Around (note early summer flows can be swift).

- Shuttle: 20 miles, pavement.

- Class 1+.

- Hazards: Heavy wind, strainers, scattered rapids.

- Info: BLM in Spokane.

- Maps: USGS Ellensburg South, Kittitas, Wymer

- Put In: Ringer, 2.5 miles below I-90.

- Take-out: BLM Roza Recreation Area.

- Camping: Several spots along the river, mostly BLM land.

- More Info & Contact #'s: Public Lands.

- BLM Site & Map of Area: HERE.

Learn more about river paddling from local author, Jeff Bennett. His book "The Essential Whitewater Kayaker" by McGraw hill is a good one. My SUP book also has a solid chapter dedicated to river paddling.

Learn more about my book Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juans, 60 Trips. I also offer SUP and Kayak lessons available throughout the year at Salmon Bay Paddle. Questions about paddling on the Salish Sea, give me a holler anytime at salmonbaypaddle@gmail.com or 206-465-7167

Support the Washington Water Trails Association and the Cascadia Marine Trail. The wwta works to create and protect access for paddlers on Puget Sound as well as provide an extensive network of over 60 paddle-in camping sites - www.wwta.org

1/27/12

Paddling Hope and Skagit Islands on Saratoga Passage / Puget Sound - Trip #27

Ala Spit WWTA Campsite View South

Only 1.5 hours north of Seattle, Hope (North) and Skagit Islands provide easy paddling access and the feeling of being much further away. Both of the undeveloped islands are small, uncrowded, and have multiple access points from 6 different launches. The Cascadia Marine Trail has a cozy campsite on Skagit's northeast side overlooking tiny Kiket Island. During strong tidal exchanges a small tidal rapid rips between both islands which at night can be a pleasant sound. The site is on top of a ancient shell midden, one of few still left in the region. Note: There are two Hope Islands on Puget Sound - Hope Island (south) is near Olympia, Trip #5.

Looking north from Ala Spit to Hope Island.

Currents also rush in between Hope Island and Ala Spit on Whidbey Island. Friends have experienced waves there from the wind opposing the swift current. Time your travel with the currents, and you can have a fun ride through each of these rapids.

Launches:
- Deception Pass State Park - Bowman Bay.
- Deception Pass State Park - Cornet Bay.
- Ala Spit, NE Whidbey Island. (Cascadia Marine Trail campsite)
- Snee-oosh Beach (west of La Connor).
- La Connor.
- Blake's Skagit Resort and Marina (Rawlins Road south of La Connor).

Packing on Skagit Is looking East to Kliket Island.

You'll experience the most current approaching from Deception Pass or Cornet Bay. Time the currents for the flood and flow through the Pass or east of Cornet for a free ride nearly to the islands. Ala Spit is the easiest access to Hope, with only a few hundred yard crossing to the island. There's a Cascadia Marine Trail campsite (pictured) on Ala Spit.

Tide & Current Info:
Current Chart
Tide Chart

Get more info from the Washington Water Trails Association's Cascadia Marine Water Trail.

1/24/12

Walking Your Kayak, Canoe, or SUP on the Washington and BC Ferries

In the first editions of this book, Randel Washburne wrote of walking his kayak on the ferry for a few trips. In updating the book, I found this is still possible on Washington State Ferries and BC Ferries and costs the same fee as a motorcycle. The passenger only ferries will not take kayaks unless they can be stowed away as an inflatable. Some routes such as the San Juans are free on the way back so many paddle there from the mainland, then ride free back home.

WA State ferries ask you to follow these simple rules:

- Arrive one hour early. Consider an earlier arrive during peak summer periods.

- Move to the front of the line and wait with the motorcycles and bicyclers.

- Use a cart to more efficiently carry your kayak and gear.

- Have your kayak ready to board the ferry efficiently without any issues.

- You will be the first off, so be ready when the ferry lands.

Several ferry landings have public access adjacent docks or easily accessed beaches. Others require walking your kayak a short distance to the water. Make sure to scout or confirm your launch prior to departure as things change and public access is becoming harder to come by.

Nadja Baker and her husband wheel their kayak to the shore a few blocks from their house in Anacortes. They paddle to several destinations from there but carry wheels in case poor weather changes their plans and requires a ferry ride back home.

Consider using a wheel or cart system that can be broken down and placed in a hatch or on your deck. SUPs have several innovative wheel systems, see my Stoke Magazine blog posting on this topic:

http://stokemagazine.blogspot.com/2012/01/10-wheels-for-sups.html

Also confirm overnight parking info at your ferry departure location. Some require fees and a Discovery Pass for State Parks. Downtown Seattle used to have parking in lots across from Alaskan Way. But the tunnel construction and demise of the viaduct will change this, thus we didn't list it in the book.

Here's a short list of ferry landings which have easy access launches:

- Kingston.

Launch below the short flight of stairs on the north side of the parking lot. Or wheel your boat through past the terminal restrooms to launch in the marina in the bay adjacent to the dock.

- Edmonds.

Wheel your boat down the dock and exit on the left or north side into the public beach park.

- Southworth.

Wheel your boat up the slight hill about 300 yards, then take a hard near 180 degree right to follow the single lane paved road which parallels the ferry dock to the north. There's a nice sandy beach at the end right next to the ferry.

- Vashon.

Access the beach below the Mexican restraunt on the left or east side of the dock.

- Mukilteo.

There's a small beach park on the east or right side of the dock with parking if needed.

- Keystone.

Wheel your boat to the right off the dock and into the gravel public boat ramp lot. Launch into the protected bay adjacent to the ferry.

- Port Angeles (Blackball Ferry).

Wheel your boat about a half block left or east of the dock at Hollywood Beach adjacent to the Red Lion Inn. The restaurant there has a good salmon dinner.

- Lummi Island.

From the mainland use the public lot behind the store adjacent or north of the dock. Bring cash for the ferry (no cards accepted).

- Bainbridge.

Wheel your boat up the dock past the toll booths. Aim towards the left side of the road and at the top of the hill, approx 400yds, take a left at the Eagle Harbor Condos. At the bottom of the hill before the condos take the footpath to the beach, approx 300yds.

Useful Links:
WA State Ferries: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/
BC Ferries: http://www.bcferries.com/

Kayak Wheel Systems:
- NW Outdoor Center, https://www.nwoc.com/shop/category.asp?catid=22
- Kayak Academy, http://tinyurl.com/6qp7668

SUP Wheel Systems:
- See My SUP Blog - Stoke Magazine.

1/22/12

Paddling to Burrows Island from Anacortes, WA - Trip # 29

Alice Bight, location of the WWTA campsite.

Located a short distance off Fidalgo Island and city of Anacortes, Burrows offers a quick wilderness escape. From Skyline Marina at Anacortes, the paddle is about 5 minutes to the undeveloped island. Many also appoach Burrows as a stopping off point when paddling between Anacortes and Deception Pass.

On the eastern shore, there's a Cascadia Marine Water Trail site with one of the best outhouses around. The campsite is perched 20 feet above the little protected cove well protected from southerly and northerly winds. A lighthouse is on the western shore above the water on a rocky cliff. You can land there in the rocky nook on the north side of the lighthouse.

West side of island.

Currents at Burrows are quite strong and friends have spoken of a standing wave on the southern shore in certain conditions. Private Allen Island borders Burrows on it's south side. Circumnavigating Burrows can take about 1.5hrs if you're in a hurry or longer, which recommended. The island's rocky shores and madrona and fir lined forests make it a very scenic paddle or stopover.

Make sure to check the current table for the area prior to launching. Wind can funnel through both the north and south sides of the island. Wind vs current can create route conditions.

Street park is available by Skyline Marina and in the dirt pay lot by the water.

Washington Water Trails link to Burrows for more info, HERE.

1/10/12

Paddling to Vashon Island from Des Moines State Park - Trip #11

There's few places in Puget Sound where you can portage across an island. On Vashon Island, you have the opportunity to do this whether it's to escape rough waters for calm, access other parts of the island, or get to other destinations nearby without having to paddle all the way around the island.

Vashon's Portage seen from Maury Island.

Native peoples used Vashon's portage to save time in traveling throughout Puget Sound and by Captain Vancouver's accounts, used the narrow strip to funnel and catch birds using tall poles and nets. This view is from above the tiny town of Dockton on Maury Island, Vashon's southeastern extension.

Trip #11 originates from Saltwater State Park in Des Moines south of Seattle, and crosses Puget Sound to the Pt Robinson Lighthouse on Maury Island.

There are Cascadia Marine Trail campsites at both Saltwater State Park and Pt Robinson.

Use the Marine Traffic app to track boat traffic before your crossing. Currents run strong through the squeeze between Pt Robinson and Des Moines, a narrow section of the Sound.

1/3/12

Kayaking Indian Island to Portage Beach & Port Hadlock - Trip #43 -

Trip #43 - Indian Island is one of the most picturesque trips in the book with so many sights in such a short distance. The trip has multiple launches, moving current to protected inlets, two Cascadia Marine Trail campsites, and a hidden Naval base which may or may not have a Nuclear arsenal stored behind it's thick canopy of forest.

North of the bridge on Indian Island.

In the old book, Indian and Marrowstone Islands were one trip, but I find this area so interesting that I split them into two trips. Portage Beach is a new wwta site, and we added the Port Hadlock launch which is alongside our favorite restraunt, the Ajax Cafe. Here's a few pics from the Port Townsend Canal side of the island.

South of bridge by WWTA site.

Port Hadlock