Sea Kayak - Goat Island

Our journey will take us through the western part of the Skagit Bay Estuary Wildlife Area, with a stop at Goat Island to explore Fort Whitman. The hike takes about 10 minutes, including a short scramble up a muddy bluff before the trail flattens out. For the scramble, maintaining three points of contact is recommended, and hiking poles may be helpful if you prefer extra support on uneven terrain.

After the break, we’ll paddle around Goat Island and then make a straight crossing past privately owned Ika Island to Craft Island in the Skagit Bay Estuary Wildlife Area. We’ll take a lunch break on Craft Island and explore the area for about an hour. With some luck, we may spot early arrivals of Snow Geese or Trumpeter Swans on the waters or nearby lands. Afterward, we’ll continue navigating through the estuary, passing the mouth of the Skagit River’s north fork.

On our return to La Conner, we may encounter a blockage at the fishway in the dike between McGlinn Island and Goat Island. If floating through isn’t possible, we have the option of taking the longer route back around Goat Island or considering a portage, depending on how adventurous we’re feeling.

The total duration of the trip is expected to be around 6 to 7 hours, including two breaks totaling about 2 hours. We aim to be off the water by 4:30 PM.

Paddling Difficulty and Considerations: This is a SKIII paddle due to the overall distance, which includes a long section exposed to potential southerly winds. The goal is to explore and have a pleasant paddle, not to battle rough seas. If conditions are windy with whitecaps and bumpy water or high river levels I will either choose a different route or cancel and reschedule the trip.

We’ll meet at Conner Waterfront Park at 8:30 AM, located under the east end of Rainbow Bridge, just south of downtown La Conner. We will launch promptly at 9:30 AM. If you need more than an hour to prepare your gear, please arrive earlier than 8:30 AM to ensure you’re ready by launch time.