Trip #29 is Burrows Island. One of my favorite paddles in north Puget Sound. I teach at Deception Pass so much I never have time to go elsewhere but Burrows allows me to do a quick trip after some classes to decompress.
From the Skyline Marina in Anacortes, the crossing to Burrows is about ten minutes, sometimes less. Currents do rip in Burrows Pass separates the island from Fidalgo Island (Anacortes). Note that the flood goes east in Burrows Pass and is stronger than the ebb. I've seen it rip with whitewater mostly on NE tip of the island. There's big eddies to the west of the island, so if you get pushed around there's room for error. Standing waves are possible as well off the point. Watch out for fast speed boats heading to the marina many of which kick off big (waist high?) waves which get bigger in opposing current.
Once across, I tend to paddle along the east shore through thick kelp beds to Alice Bight. The Cascadia Marine Trail has a great campsite in the Bight. Views of the island at this point looks like SE Alaska but looking east you see the developed neighborhoods of Anacortes. The outhouse at the campsite is one of the more luxurious ones in the region, reminding me of the solar composting outhouses in BC.
Total circumnavigation of the island can take over an hour if you don't stop using the numerous eddies for protection from current of wind. There's hiking on the island which has a great lighthouse on the west side.
This view from just north of Alice Bight. Park west of Skyline Marina along the road or in the pay dirt lot.
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| Exploring the rugged shorelines of Burrows Island |
Once across, I tend to paddle along the east shore through thick kelp beds to Alice Bight. The Cascadia Marine Trail has a great campsite in the Bight. Views of the island at this point looks like SE Alaska but looking east you see the developed neighborhoods of Anacortes. The outhouse at the campsite is one of the more luxurious ones in the region, reminding me of the solar composting outhouses in BC.
Total circumnavigation of the island can take over an hour if you don't stop using the numerous eddies for protection from current of wind. There's hiking on the island which has a great lighthouse on the west side.
This view from just north of Alice Bight. Park west of Skyline Marina along the road or in the pay dirt lot.
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| WA Park (top), Burrows (middle), Allan Island (bottom) |
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| Tide Rip off Burrow's NE corner across from marina.
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 |
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