Best Sea Kayaking in Washington

Trying to find the best sea kayaking in Washington? Bivy has great hiking, biking, paddling, climbing, skiing, riding and more, with hand-curated trail maps, as well as detailed driving directions.

1

Washington, San Juan County

08 :09 hrs
20.4 mi
18.084383 ft
SK III

A paddle around Shaw Island usually begins on Lopez Island because there is no beach access for kayakers taking the ferry to Shaw. Cross the usually non-turbulent Upright Channel via Canoe Island to reach Shaw Island. There is camping at Shaw Island County Park in Indian Cove, but it can only be reached at high tide without pulling your boat through mud. There is also camping on tiny Blind Island in Harney Channel and on outlying Jones Island and Turn Island. Shaw Island's shoreline is a mix of rugged cliffs and sandy bays and has plenty of forest cover. In places on the west side of the island where the land protrudes into San Juan Channel, such as Neck Point and Point George, be sure to stay close in to shore, as the current can be very strong there.

2

Washington, Skagit County

01 :01 hrs
2.5 mi
12.99149 ft
SK I

Bowman and Lottie Bays are both small, protected coves just north of the turbulent waters of Deception Pass. They offer placid paddling between the rocky and windswept expanses of Rosario Head and Lighthouse Point. If you are comfortable with the possibility of a stronger current, it's worthwhile to paddle around Lighthouse Point, viewing its many rocky nooks en route to Lottie Bay. Staying close to the shore will likely keep you out of the current. Otherwise, paddle to the north side of Lighthouse Point and portage across the tombolo connecting it to Fidalgo Island.

3

Washington, San Juan County

09 :18 hrs
23.3 mi
16.322166 ft
SK IV

Stuart Island is one of the more isolated of the San Juans, sticking out into Haro Strait in the northwest corner of the island group. Much of the island is undeveloped and a good part is state land. There is camping near the center of the island between Reid Harbor and Prevost Harbor that is accessible from either. To reach the island by kayak requires an overnight stay, and you might find that two or more nights on the island are desirable, as there is much to explore on both land and sea. Of particular interest is Turn Point Light on the northwestern tip and the tiny schoolhouse on the road leading there. Circumnavigating the island will probably also take the better part of a day as there are many rocky coves to explore on the island's articulated shoreline. The journey to the island, while having open water crossings of less than 1 mile, involves negotiating some of the strongest and trickiest currents in the islands, especially in the Spieden Channel between San Juan and Spieden Islands. If possible, avoid the eastern end of the channel, where 5 knot currents are likely. Time your crossing for the slack tide and ride the ebb west along the south shore of Spieden Island. Currents, wind, and boat wakes can also be strong near Turn Point.

4

Washington, Chelan County

13 :14 hrs
33.1 mi
13.758942 ft
SK III

Lake Chelan is the largest lake in Washington and a mecca for boaters from across the northwest. The majority of the lake, especially the upper end, is federally protected in parks and forests and is quite wild. Rugged mountains rise 7,000 feet from the shore and waterfalls tumble directly into the lake. The lake's upper end is especially remote; unless you plan to paddle from the lower lake, the only way to get to Stehekin is by plane or on the Lady of the Lake ferry. This loop tours the wild upper end of the lake, exploring the Stehekin River inlet, the little village of Lucerne, Domke Falls, and numerous creeks rushing from the mountains to meet the rocky shoreline. There are several good boat-accessed campsites along the lake, including one near Domke Falls and one across the lake at Prince Creek that are good halfway points. The trip can also be started at Lucerne. High winds are a major concern any time of year.

5

Washington, Chelan County

14 :13 hrs
35.5 mi
4.36261 ft
SK III

Lake Chelan is the largest lake in Washington and certainly one of the most scenic, especially on this stretch from Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park to the Prince Creek campground. The tallest mountains and steepest shoreline on the lake are found in this section, where Pyramid Mtn rises 7,000 feet from the shore in little more than 3 miles and the cliffs on the east side rise 4,000 feet in just over a mile. The shadier south and west shores harbor dense conifer forests while the eastern and northern shores are generally dry and rocky, with little vegetation other than grass and shrubs. There are multiple campgrounds along the lake with a dock or beach, making the lake ideal for a weekend or multi-day adventure. Watch out for wind, which is usually strongest in the afternoon.

6

Washington, Grant County

10 :31 hrs
26.3 mi
3.5672607 ft
SK II

Banks Lake is a large reservoir created as part of the Columbia Basin irrigation project. It occupies the upper portion of Grand Coulee, a great gash in the earth created by ice age flooding. The lake is surrounded by tall basalt cliffs and the Steamboat Rock monolith rises in the northeast corner. The best paddling on the lake is near Steamboat Rock, which is protected by a state park with ample facilities. The northeast section of the lake offers cliffs, narrows, islands and lots of coves sheltered from the frequent winds. The rest of the lake offers lots more paddling, but camping is limited and winds and waves occasionally fierce in the unprotected main lake.

7

Washington, Clallam County

11 :18 hrs
28.3 mi
2.7864237 ft
SK II

Lake Ozette is the third largest lake in Washington and lies little more than a mile from the rugged coast on the northwestern tip of the Olympic Peninsula. Its shore is entirely protected as part of Olympic National Park, so the lake maintains a wilderness character with almost no development. Trails from the boat launch area and also from Ericsons Bay lead to the coast, and are often part of visitors' itineraries. There is a campground at the launch area, at a secluded beach on Ericsons Bay, and on Tivoli Island. It will take more than one day to fully explore the area. During the spring, the lake level is typically several feet higher, making exploration of places like the marshes of Allens Bay easier. The lake is large enough to be affected by storm winds and waves.

8

Washington, Coupeville

04 :40 hrs
11.7 mi
5.229059 ft
SK II

The scenery on this loop is splendid and highly variable, including high bluffs, views of Mt Baker, quiet lagoons, mussel farms, and the village of Coupeville with its famous red wharf. Paddle east to the sandbar at Long Point before crossing the cove entrance to the other side, where you will encounter a high bluff and a glacial erratic called Klootchman Rock. The north shore has farms, vacation houses, and sand and gravel shores. Explore the lagoon at the northeast corner of the bay. Pass the picturesque Captain Whidbey Inn and then the Penn Cove Mussel farms floating in the water. The red wharf building at Coupeville comes into view just as you return. The cove is very well protected and winds and waves aren't a concern unless the wind is out of the east or northeast.

9

Washington, Island County

01 :38 hrs
4.1 mi
16.879623 ft
SK V

Deception Pass marks the northern boundary of Whidbey Island, which is very long and blocks a considerable amount of marine traffic, which must squeeze through this narrow passage surrounded by cliffs. Boat traffic and a very strong current, up to 8 knots at times, are the principal hazards of this channel. The challenge is great, and so are the rewards, like fantastic scenery, views of Mt Baker, sea life, and the chance for current play in eddy lines, breakers, and whirlpools for the skilled kayaker. Study current charts for the best predictions on the day of your outing. Most paddlers use the channel north of Pass Island (Canoe Pass) because of reduced boat traffic compared to the main channel. As always, the route suggested here is not always the best one for the conditions you find yourself in. Be especially aware of strong west winds and waves going against the west-flowing ebb tide.

10

Washington, Anacortes

08 :18 hrs
20.8 mi
18.814234 ft
SK IV

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.

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