Explore middle Hood Canal - Paddle Trip #23

Dosewallips St Park, high tide (empties at low).

Warm water in summer, bucolic backwater views and great paddling best describe this section of Hood Canal.  North of Hoodsport stretching to Quilcene, this curvy section of Highway 101 has many campgrounds, B&Bs, tucked away marinas, and oyster farms.

Trip #23 in the book.

Hamma Hamma river delta

Quilcene, WA

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 Dewatto Bay on Hood Canal - Trip #22

Paddling Dewatto River

Dewatto Bay isn't really in the book, but is just outside of the map on Pg 135.  About six miles north of Union and across from Hoodsport, it's a protected cove tucked into the eastern shore of Hood Canal south of Seabeck.  Crystal clear water allows for great sea life viewing (see Lions Mane Jellyfish on previous post), and warm water in summer makes it a great spot to gunkhole and swim without a wetsuit.

A winding creek with multiple channels empties into the bay and is a great spot to explore. Several homes on stilts and some only accessed by the water or walking in align the shorelines north and south of the bay.

Dewatto Bay

Recommended Access:  
Rent a SUP or kayak for Union Paddle & Row (Hood Canal Marina) or hire Captain Lee Geist take you there with your paddle gear.  His boat is moored at Alderbrook Resort in Summer and is available for private trips on the Canal.  He also offers SUP tours of the bay.

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 rob@salmonbaypaddle.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 Southern Hood Canal - Trip #22

Called the 'Great Bend', the southern bend of Hood Canal at Annas Bay is also the mouth of the Skokomish River and it's expansive tide flats fanning out between Potlatch State Park and the tiny town of Union.  Camp at the Cascadia Marine Trail site at the State Park and rent a SUP or kayak from Union Paddle Center.  Bring a tide table to time the level correctly to avoid getting stuck in the mud below the river mouth.  Calm waters are the norm on Annas Bay with quiet paddling in the off season.  Use the Discover Pass to park along the road south of Union.   Photos by Union Paddle Center.

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