Washington State Kayaking & Canoeing
With so many acres of water—streams, rivers, and its extensive coastline, Washington is a water sportsman’s paradise. From boating to kayaking and white water rafting to canoeing, there is a multitude of water adventures just waiting to be experienced. If you already know the basics of water sporting, then you will be pleased at the many opportunities in Washington. However, if you are a novice looking to improve your skills or you are beginning the journey from rookie to pro, then there are several groups happy to assist you in your quest for Washington state kayaking lessons.
Kayaking Adventures
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge - This is a sensational spot for kayaking and boating. As you travel the rapids you will see a variety of marine life and waterfowl as well.
Forks - Here kayakers can see the impressive scenery along the Quillayute River or surf the waves at LaPush.
San Juan Islands - Even if you are well-versed in paddling technique, you should still hire a guide before setting off on your San Juan kayaking adventure. Many outfitters offer multiple day trips. As you paddle, be aware that there can be erratic winds and that you may see whales and dolphins along the way. Trips often begin near Anacortes on Fidalgo Island and head to Burrows Island.
Cascadia Marine Trail- Established in 1995, the 140 mile watery trail stretches from Olympia to Bellingham. Along the way are shoreline campsites, access points and area attractions.
Little Spokane River Trail - A 6 mile inland kayaking trail. Along the route you are likely to see moose, bear, deer, eagles, and trout.
Other kayaking opportunities can be found at Hanford Reach in south central Washington, in the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge which has 35,000 acres of islands and sloughs, and the 500 acre White-tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge.
Kayak guides services in Washington
- Moss Bay Rowing and Kayak Center (Seattle, 206- 682-2031)—provides tour trips of the San Juan Islands as well as kayak lessons year round.
• - Outdoor Odysseys Kayak Tours (Friday Harbor 800-6474621) the experience guides at Outdoor Odyssey offer guided kayak trips in the San Juan Islands for large and small groups.
• - San Juan Safari's (Friday Harbor, 1-800-450-6858)
• - Anacortes Kayak Tours (Anacortes 1-800-992-1801)
• - Ocean Kayak (Ferndale, 360-366-4003)
• - Secondwind Sports (Olympia, 360-352-0764)
• - Vashon Island Kayak Company (Vashon, 206-463-9257)
• - Vision Quest Kayaking (Tacoma, 253-752-6585)
• - Whidbey Island Kayaking Company (Clinton,1-800-233-4319)
Washington State Kayaking Lesson providers
- Wet Planet Kayak School —877-390-9445
• - Discovery Sea Kayaks (Friday Harbor, (360) 378-2559) - Here you will find an assortment of trips like whale watching tours and kayaking adventures. You can also take kayaking lessons and other training classes.
• - Kayak Academy, Inc. (Issaquah {20 minutes E. of Seattle}, 866-306-1825)—Here you can learn kayaking from the pros and before you know it, you will be paddling with the experts. They offer basic paddling courses through advanced levels so no matter what level you are, you can always learn something helpful when you sign up with the Kayak Academy.
• - Wave Trek (800-543-7971) – For whitewater rafting, rescue training and kayaking instruction this is the place. They also offer extended day trips, and exploration trips to some of the lesser known areas of the San Juan Islands. In addition, if you are looking for an assortment of fun, they have trips that include biking, hiking, and climbing as well.
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Canoeing in Washington State
If you are a neophyte canoeist, then be sure to spend some time on the Spokane River as it is known for having many class I & II sections. For more taxing river rapids (class V+) take on the challenges of the Souk River. Families enjoy paddling the exciting Skagit River as it is a great balance of waves, as well as wildlife viewing opportunities.
Diablo Lake (North Cascades Hwy) - The sparkling green waters, caused by the glacier silt, are quite cold but very beautiful. Consequently, it is recommended that you have your water adventure during the morning due to the heavy winds later in the day.
Bowman Bay at Deception Pass - A great place for paddling adventure! To the north are cliffs and to the south is the Deception Pass Bridge. Water currents near the bridge can be challenging as are the strong currents, so it is best paddled when waters are calm.
Mukilteo Lighthouse Park - Here in the Puget Sound, you can enjoy incredible scenery like the Boeing docks and the Mukilteo Lighthouse. As you sail along, you may see bald eagles and whales. This is also the site of the Mukilteo-Clinton ferry launch.
Jelly Island (Everett)- The best time to put in here is at slack tide as there can be as much as a 15 foot variance between high and low tide. This is a great trip from the Snohomish River channel to Jetty Island; to the north is a natural preserve.
Additional locations for canoe trips are Olympia’s Black River, the 24 mile Long Ross Lake, the Snohomish River, Lake Chelan, western Washington’s Clearwater River, Wenatchee (a class III-V) and the Skokomish River.
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