Cypress Island is a rugged and mountainous island with an interesting shoreline and several excellent campsites. It is one of the most popular overnight kayaking destinations in the state. There are campgrounds at Cypress Head, Pelican Beach, and on Strawberry Island west of Cypress Island. There is no water at any of the campsites. Pelican Beach is especially popular because of its access to the trail up Eagle Cliff and is often full in summer. Paddling with the currents is extremely important on a trip to Cypress Island. The currents in Bellingham Channel and Rosario Strait can be very fast with tide rips and eddy lines, and paddling against them can be nearly impossible. In general, flood tides flow to the north and ebb tides to the south. One particularly hazardous spot is east of Cypress Head. For this reason, it may be best to portage across the tombolo connecting it to the main island. Large ships are common in Rosario Strait.