Trip
Sea Kayak - Jones & Yellow Islands
A spring paddle & camp to see the wildflowers at Yellow Island. Saturday morning we'll walk our kayaks onto the ferry to Friday Harbor. From Friday Harbor we'll paddle to Jones Island and set up camp. Sunday morning we'll paddle to Yellow Island and spend 2-3 hours exploring (photographing) the Nature Preserve. We'll take a lunch & afternoon paddle either be around the Wasp Islands or circumnavigating Shaw Island before heading back to our camp on Jones Island. Monday morning we'll paddle back to Friday Harbor to catch a ferry back to Anacortes.
Contacts
- Sat, May 11, 2024 — Mon, May 13, 2024
- Seattle Sea Kayaking
- Sea Kayaking
- Adults
- *Varies*
- Moderate
- Mileage: 29.0 nm
- Maximum Wind: 20 kts
- Maximum Waves: 3 ft
- Maximum Currents: 3 kts
- Pace: 3
- 4 (4 capacity)
- 2 (2 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
We'll meet at the parking lot right next to the Anacortes Ferry Terminal at 10.45am (to load Kayaks, secure kayaks to carts, park cars, get Ferry Ticket & be in line ready to board by 11.25am). We'll roll our Kayaks onto the 11.55 am Ferry to Friday Harbor (Ferry schedule). participants are responsible for their overnight parking fees & their WSDOT ferry fare. We'll launch from the Friday Harbor Kayak Launch Dock (there is an $8 launch fee per kayak; we are able to leave our wheels with the harbour master until our return).
As with standard Mountaineers Sea Kayaking activities, participants are responsible for making arrangements for their boats, gear, camping equipment, food, and water. Note that State Park water is not available until May 15th so bring sufficient water for the trip.
In addition, paddlers will need to pay for their own ferry tickets to/from Friday Harbor, as well as for overnight parking at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, Friday Harbor kayak launch fees & Jones Island camping fees.
Also, all paddlers will need a folding kayak trolly/cart for moving their own boats from the Anacortes Ferry Terminal to Friday Harbor.
*When requesting permission for this trip - please outline your kayak camping experience and your spring kayak conditioning activities.*
Tentative Trip Plan:
Saturday May 11 : we'll load & wheel our kayaks onto the Friday Harbor ferry departing Anacortes at 11.55am arriving Friday Harbor at 1.20pm. We'll wheel our kayaks over the launch dock & aim to be launching no earlier than 2.30pm paddling the 5.24nMi to Jones island arriving around 4.15pm to then set up camp.
DeepZoom trip: Friday Harbor to Jones Is (trip animation with currents) https://www.deepzoom.com/trip/qs4rm4ky
Sunday May 12: Depart Jones island around 9am & paddle to Yellow Island 2.99 nm (approx. 1 hr) Wildflower photo & exploration time 10am - 1 or 2 pm.
PM travel plan A: Depart Yellow Island (lunch on water, or determine lunch locale in the wasp islands) Figure 8 paddles around yellow, McConnel & reef islands & then return to Jones Island 5.16 nm (approx. 1 3/4 hours + lunch time)
DeepZoom trip: Jones to Yellow Island - AM Yellow Is - Wasp Islands - Jones Is PM https://www.deepzoom.com/trip/x5efpcdd
PM travel plan B: circumnavigate Shaw Island & return to Jones Island– 14.7 nm
DeepZoom trip: Jones to Yellow Island - AM Yellow Is -Shaw Islands - Jones Is PM https://www.deepzoom.com/trip/6d78v86k
Monday April 29: Depart Jones Island 10.30am Paddle 5.5 nm arrive Friday Harbor 12.20pm. Catch the 1.55pm ferry back to Anacortes (arriving at 3pm)
DeepZoom trip: Jones Island to Friday Harbor: https://www.deepzoom.com/trip/qatv637x
San Juan Islands from Anacortes
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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.
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.
NOTE: This activity requires camping gear, including food, water, shelter, and comfort items suitable for island State park camping.
- 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