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San Juan Islands from Anacortes

Trip

Sea Kayak - Cypress Island

Start your Sea Kayak Camping weekend with a circumnavigation of Cypress Island. We'll go clockwise, starting and finishing at Washington Park, taking advantage of current assist for much of the trip. We'll have a lunch break at Pelican beach, and may make quick stops on Strawberry Island and at Cypress Head.

Contacts

Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Primary Leader
  • *Varies*
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 15.7 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 15 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 3 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 3 kts
  • Pace: 3

Meet at the Washington Park boat launch at 9:30 am to prepare for a 10 am shore talk and launch.  Parking is limited at this location so we may move cars further back in the lot before departure.

This is a relatively long route so you must have the stamina and fitness to paddle at 3 kts for 5 hours (with breaks).   We have two, 2 to 3 nm crossings with current, boat traffic and significant fetch, so you must be able to paddle as a group in mildly challenging conditions.  I expect to have current assist for most of the first 8 nm but we may spend a short time paddling against the current as we round the top of Cypress on the way to Pelican Beach.  We'll have lunch there, while waiting for slack, and should be back at Washington Park by 5 pm.

Bring your lunch, and a VHF radio and tow-belt, if you have them.

Route/Place

San Juan Islands from Anacortes


  • Rosario Strait & Bellingham WA001
    Sea Trails Lopez, Blakely, Decatur & Shaw Islands WA002
    NOAA Bellingham to Everett No. 18423
    NOAA Strait of Juan de Fuca to Strait of Georgia No. 18421
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

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.

  1. Floatation in both ends of the kayak
  2. U.S. Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
  3. Paddle
  4. Spray skirt
  5. Bilge pump with floatation
  6. Self-rescue paddle float
  7. Waterproof whistle
  8. Appropriate clothing for the conditions encountered seasonally
Trip Reports