Trip
Sea Kayak - Circumnavigate Puget Island
Circumnavigate this largest island in the lower Columbia River. Launching from Cathlamet marina, we'll go around the island in a clockwise direction to take advantage of the tides and river flow. We'll paddle under picturesque cliffs, past a few waterfalls, along sandy beaches and quiet sloughs and hopefully see abundant sea and bird life along the way.
Contacts
- Tue, Dec 16, 2025
- Olympia Sea Kayaking Committee
- Sea Kayaking
- All Who Qualify, Adults
- Sea Kayak III
- Moderate
- Mileage: 15.0 nm
- Maximum Wind: 15 kts
- Maximum Waves: 2 ft
- Maximum Currents: 2 kts
- Pace: 3
- FULL (6 capacity)
- FULL (2 capacity)
- Thu, Nov 27, 2025 at 9:44 PM
- Sun, Dec 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
- iCal Google
This is a mentored trip.
Please be prepared for winter paddling with plenty of warm gear, food and drinks. Dry suits are required. Bring a headlamp or other white light just in case we are late getting back to the takeout at the boat ramp.
Meet at the Elochoman Slough Marina in Cathlamet in time for a on shore trip discussion and safety talk at 9:00 AM. Launch by 9:30 AM or before on a slight flood current. There are bathroom facilities on site and there is a $5 kayak launch fee.
Brief shore breaks can be taken as needed, especially when paddling along the shore of Puget Island which has easier landings than the shoreline along the main river channel.
Should get to the upstream end of Puget Island about 11:30 AM, which is about when the current flow changes to an ebb.
About 5 hours of paddling at 3 knots average. Maybe 1 hour or so of on shore time.
Should be back to the boat ramp around 3:30 PM.
Sunset is about 4:30 PM. Bring a headlamp or other suitable white light just in case we are delayed getting back to the boat ramp.
Required Equipment
These eight essentials plus The Ten Essentials are required on all sea kayaking trips. All but the whistle and clothing should be provided with any kayak rental.
- Floatation in both ends of the kayak
- U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
- Paddle
- Spray skirt
- Bilge pump with floatation
- Self-rescue paddle float
- Waterproof whistle
- Appropriate clothing for the conditions encountered seasonally