Paddling the Salish Sea 80 Trips: Washington Water Trails

Showing posts with label Washington Water Trails. Show all posts

2/14/13

Campsite Update Cypress Head, San Juan Islands - 2/13 for Trip #42

Here's a mid winter campsite update for Cypress Head on Cypress Island.

"My crew and I were out there from the January 10th- 17th, reconstructing the 7 campsites located on the tide island above the tombolo. So far, we have constructed several hundred feet of split-rail fence along the eroding bluff on the site's north and northeast sides, and constructed 7 brand new tent pads at most of the former "unofficial" camping spaces. The tent pads are 10'x10', and will fit any large family tent, and possibly two 2 person tents. Obviously, our hopes are that campers will use only these camping spaces when on the upper campground. The two sites on the tombolo's west side remain unchanged, besides being slated for new fire rings. All sites will be receiving new fire rings, and improvements to the picnic tables will also occur before the May opening. A new access trail to the tide island's south side will also be constructed before then, as the old trail takes hikers along parts of the eroding bluff. Several of the social trails around the campground were also decommissioned upon our visit, and a number of hazard trees were removed in the process. As to our code of ethics and general awareness, several bags of trash (mostly plastics) were removed from the beach."

Submitted 2/13 to the WWTA by:
Kristian Tollefson
WCC Crew Supervisor; Skagit DNR

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

1/17/13

Cypress Head - one of my favorites. Trip 42

I first visited Cypress Head (Trip #42) during a Kayak Academy course with George Gronseth about a decade ago. The swift currents took it's toll on a few of the students while learning to paddle in tidal rapids off the point below the campground. The campground overlooks Bellingham Channel with distant views of Lummi Island and a feeling of being much further away than you are.

Current rips through the channel, so either time for slack tides or a minimal tidal exchange, or if you have solid skills in tidal rapids, use a flood to get in from Anacortes - ebb to return.

Due to DNR budget issues, the campground at Cypress Head and Pelican Beach to the north are now closed Labor Day through Memorial Day weekend.

6/15/12

Stand Up Paddler between Fox Island and the Kitsap Pensinsula Trip #7

There's several ways to get to Kopachuck State Park and it's wonderful Cascadia Marine Trail campsite. In this image, a stand up paddler is headed east towards the Tacoma Narrows on Hale Passage (Hale's Beer named after that?). The bridge connects Kitsap Peninsula to Towhead Island and Fox Island. There's a great launch on Towhead just before you reach Fox Island, also a boat ramp.

Currents can get going on Hale Passage, learn to use them to your advantage. In this case you'd want a flood to push ya a bit west towards Green Point and north Kopachuck State Park. If you know the paddler in the photo give me a holler, I'd like to send her a print.

View from Fox Island

60 Trips Book Launch Party, 6/27/12 Noble Fir / Ballard

60 Trips Book Launch Party! June 27th (2012)
& WWTA Pub Night at The Noble Fir / Ballard / Seattle

WWTA friends and supporters at The Noble Fir in a benefit for Washington Water Trails Association on Wednesday, June 27, when $1 from each tap pour (pint of beer or cider) goes to WWTA throughout the night!

When: Wednesday, June 27, from 6:30pm until midnight
Where: The Noble Fir, 5316 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98119 http://thenoblefir.com/events.html

2/20/12

Paddling Skagit River Delta - La Connor -Trip #26

Downtown La Connor

The Skagit River Delta chapter is quite extensive and includes Goat and Ika Islands, La Connor, and several river channels to the south. Here's an image of the Rainbow Bridge in La Connor. There's a new Cascadia Marine Trail campsite just below the bridge on the right (or east) side in Pioneer Park. Also below the bridge is the only easy water access via a boat ramp in La Connor. For more info on the campsite check out www.wwta.org.

La Connor is a great place to grab a bite, a beer, and/or stock up for a trip while in town.

The image below of the wire fish sculpture is in the town of La Connor. We couldn't find any info on whether it's ok to launch there. The current rips through there on big exchanges and it's most often used by commercial fishermen.

Rainbow Bridge

2/13/12

Paddling the Low Tides & Mudflats of Puget Sound

In a 2/12 posting on my paddling blog Stoke Magazine titled "9 Tips for Paddling Safely wth Tides," I offered tips on how to avoid getting stuck in mudflats on low tides. Below is a list of areas in and around Puget Sound which are worth paying attention to if you're planning on paddling there.

General rule of thumb if planning of paddling in these areas - find out the minimum tide level to safely paddle there and launch on a rising tide.

South Sound -
There are quite a few inlets, bays, and coves here which completely dry out during lower tides. This is only a short list..
- Nisqually Reach / Delta, Trip #4.
- Woodward Bay (inside Henderson Inlet), Trip #3.
- Eld Inlet, Trip #2.
- Kopachuck State Park & Cutts Island, Trip #7.
- Gig Harbor, Trip #9

Mid Sound -
- Eagle Harbor / Bainbridge, Trip #13 & 14.
- Duwamish Waterway, Trip #16.
- Everett Harbor, Trip #21.
- Central Hood Canal, Trip 23 (mostly river mouths - Hamma Hamma, Dosewallips, etc).

Woodward Bay, South Sound.

North Sound -
- Skagit River Delta, Trip #26.
- Deception Pass State Park, Trip #28 (Cornet Bay, Bowman Bay).
- Chuckanut Bay, Trip #31 (Larabee St Park south.)
- Padilla Bay.
- Warm Beach (between Camano Island and the mainland).
- Lummi Island north to Sandy Point and south near Eliza Island.

Olympic Peninsula -
- Indian Island, Trip #34 (southern section).
- Discovery Bay, (south end).

Nisqually Reach, South Sound.

- Dungeness Spit, Trip #38.
- Sequim Bay, Trip 37, (by casino).

San Juan Islands -
- Lopez Island, Fishermen's Bay, Trip 44.
- Orcas Island, (Eastsound area).

Gulf Islands -
- Sooke Harbor, Trip #54, (inner shorelines).
- Saltspring Island, Ganges Harbor.
- Pender Island, Trip 60 (various coves and inlets).

Other:
- Willapa Bay and eastern and northern Long Beach Peninsula.
- Columbia River from mouth upriver approx 10 miles.
- Grays Harbor.
- mouth of the Physt River inside of Pillar Point on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
- north of Bellingham near US/CA border.

2/7/12

Paddling Obstruction Pass and Orcas Island - Trip #44

Obstruction Pass (and island) are located between Orcas Island and Blakely Island. Sometimes swift current flows on both sides of the island giving you an easy free ride or if you time the currents poorly, a long hard slog to your destination.

Obstruction Pass Recreational site, (a former State Park) is located on the southern tip of Orcas Island and has a Cascadia Marine Trail site. Obstruction Pass has several access points from Doe Bay to the north, a public boat ramp across from the island on Orcas, and to the south, Lopez Island.

The following are images of the Leiber Haven Resort on Orcas which is adjacent to the public boat ramp

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.