New Kayaking Puget Sound Facebook Group!

I've just started a new Kayaking Puget Sound Facebook Group so you all can post trip ideas, trip reports, boat or board reviews or for sale items and any other related paddling questions.

Open to all human powered paddling craft - SUP, rowers, kayaks, canoe and prone. 

Ask to Join here..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1322209787977756/

Deception Pass

Shipwreck Point - Mukilteo

A friend reminded me of the abandoned ship south of Mukilteo.  Looking at it’s location, it’s at Shipwreck Point (also called Franzen Beach), once used to burn 26 old ships. Richmond Beach also had active ship building activity, something families would come out and have picnics to watch.

A mill was once at the point followed by a family who resided at Shipwreck Point since the 1920's. They later operated the ship breaking business. 

The ship at the point is the Pacific Queen, a minesweeper from WW2.  Great info here about the vessel.

The Mukilteo Historical Society has an informative article on the family that lived there since the 1920’s. Read more

The screenshot Google Earth aerial here shows some other ship remains. 

Read about access info from Picnic Point Note that beach access is off limits, maybe aim for a high tide to float in without touching bottom.  

Rob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books.  He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle.  Get in touch: rob@salmonbaypaddle.com

Erratic Boulders of Puget Sound

"A glacial ‘erratic’  is a rock fragment carried by glacial ice and transported some distance from the outcrop from which it was derived, and generally resting on bedrock of a different type* [although glacial or alluvial sediment may directly underlie the erratic. " (source: NW Geology)

Many erratic boulders line the shores of Puget Sound. Some large erratics can be found in Seattle such as 4 Mile Rock off the south side of Magnolia and this one below off North Beach of Discovery Park.  Read more about erratic boulders  (source: NW Geology)

Possibly the most interesting erratic is Haleelts Rock on the north end of Bainbridge Island which has a petroglyph on it's north facing side. See pic below.

6 erratics around Puget Sound

List of of 15 erratics around King Country, WA

Haleelts Rock, Bainbridge Island

4 Mile Rock

Discovery Park erratic, North Beach

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

Point Robinson on Vashon Island - Trip #11

Point Robinson is a point on the SE section of Vashon Island that juts out into Puget Sound facing the beach front town of Des Moines. The Sound zig zags a bit here this forcing current traveling north and south quickly around the point. Some say freighter waves jack up here when opposing the current. The historic lighthouse was built in 1885 and automated in 1978. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. 

There's several routes for paddlers to access the lighthouse. Des Moines from the east is approx 2.6 miles which includes a crossing of that section of the Sound. Think about current when crossing, over compensating your route - go further north if the current is flooding.  You can also access it from various put-ins on Vashon, the closest being Portage which separates Vashon and Maury Islands.

The lighthouse and surrounding grounds are run by the Vashon Parks District and the light keeper quarters are maintained by the Lighthouse Friends.  You can rent the adjacent lighthouse keeper quarters for the night via VRBO.  There's also a Cascadia Marine Trail campsite north of the point and up the hill.

Lodging & Visitor Info - Vashon Parks 

Pt. Robinson Stewards have fully restored the two Keepers' Quarters on the property for use as rentals. All proceeds from these rentals goes back into the park's restoration and maintenance. For additional information about renting the Keepers' Quarters, contact Eric Wyatt, Lodging Manager, at 206-465-3180, ewyatt@vashonparks.org, or see VRBO.COM to learn about all of our vacation rentals.

Sunday tours of the Lighthouse are available mid-May through mid-September. During the off-season, tours can be scheduled by calling Captain Joe Wubbold at 206-463-6672.

The Ship's Store Gift Shop is open seasonally on Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5:00 p.m. Call for additional information at 206-463-1323.

Address: 3705 SW Pt. Robinson Rd., Vashon, WA

LRob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books.  He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle.  Get in touch: rob@salmonbaypaddle.com

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

Paddling Across Puget Sound - Seattle to Bainbridge Island

In 2005, my neighbor Paul Edmondson called saying he was on Blake Island and out of beer.  I poked out the window to make sure he wasn't outside my house as usual.  Two hours later I launched at Constellation Park near Alki Beach for my first solo crossing of Puget Sound.

It was late summer, a hot day, and the water was flat calm.  Mid way a freighter checked in on the VHF reporting seeing a hundred indian canoes in Admiralty Inlet. I remember thinking how cool! The canoes were from the annual Tribal Journeys trip probably headed to a nearby landing.  I made the 4 mile crossing in about 2 hours landing on Blake with fresh beer for Paul (and myself).

I had since made that trip several times, including doing it twice from Ballard to Blake to cut out the Alki commute from our neighborhood of Ballard.

1 mile to Bainbridge.

Today neighbor Todd Switzer called "Wanna do a quick trip to Bainbridge?"  A frequent kayak fisherman, he's been longing for a longer trip and more exercise.  45 minutes later, we launched from the Elks Beach in Ballard.

We stopped at West Point to add on a few layers as the wind was picking up.  We crossed to Skiff Point on Bainbridge within an hour, took a few pics, then headed back.  Aided by current and a S wind both directions, we made the entire trip in 2.5hrs.

In all my paddling on Shilshole Bay, I hadn't crossed directly to Bainbridge. It was easier than I thought and will be doing it again soon, hoping to explore the shoreline more once on the other side.

Nearing shore. 

Skiff Point. Looks like a great point break for waves.

Rob Casey is author of Kayaking Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, 60 Trips and Stand Up Paddling Flat Water to Surf and Rivers, both by Mountaineers Books.  He owns Salmon Bay Paddle a SUP school in Seattle.  

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

Paddling Seattle - Golden Gardens, Shilsole Bar to West Point Lighthouse - Trip #18 -

West Point at 30kts of Southerly Wind.

Sometimes the best paddle route is the one closest to where you live.  A friend once told me that he got bored paddling on Shilshole Bay from Golden Gardens to the West Point Lighthouse at Discovery Park.  For me, it's different every time, and I've been doing it nearly weekly for a decade.

6 Reasons Why I love paddling on Shilshole Bay:

Shilshole Bay

- I enjoy the light outgoing always present current below the Chittenden Locks. I can teach my SUP students to ferry across the current, use eddies to go upstream then get a sorta free float back downstream.  After heavy rain eddy lines form behind obstructions giving myself and students practice in currents up to 4kts.  Picturesque homes on stilts line the shores.  Know anyone selling one - give me a holler!  Note: SUPs aren't allowed to transit through the Locks.

- Freighters put off up to chest high (5') surfable waves across from Ray's Boathouse at low tides. We also surf tug waves in deep water offshore once a week.  Wave faces can reach up to 6' with rides nearly 1/2 mile long.  Read article on our surfing exploits in the Seattle Time, Here.  I also surf behind most boats coming out of or going into the Locks.  Learn to surf Freighter Waves

Tip: Give boaters the right of way and make eye contact before getting their wave.

- High wind days create fun conditions if you're into that sort of thing. North winds over 20 knots create surf at Meadow Point and at the mouth of Salmon Bay. Southerlies create surf on the south side of West Point and fun downwind conditions between the point and Golden Gardens. Friends and I have paddled in up to 41 knots, our limit.

Shilshole Bay, Seattle

- Wildlife. On every paddle I pass a section with a half dozen harbor seals who frolic below my board or kayak, or follow me around. Sea lions bark in the distance, and sea life dart below my water craft on clear days.  Whale sighting are few.

- Shilshole Marina, nearly 1.7 miles long provides protected paddling about 350 days a year.  I take my SUP students in there for calm water and to work on directional control weaving through the many channels and pathways.  Tip: Slow down for each aisle opening in case a boat is coming out.

- Paddling to West Point.  From my launch at the Elks Beach below the Locks, the lighthouse is about 1.7 miles. It looks easy but currents and back eddies can hinder your speed.  A straight line to the lighthouse isn't always the easiest route.  If there's an outgoing tide or strong southerly, the bay on the north side of the point becomes a big gyro or back eddy pushing current along shore to the point. Going point A to B would be bucking current the whole distance.

Webcam from a house on Magnolia: http://www.brichmond.com/webcam/mywebcam_loop.htm

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

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.

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