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Marrowstone & Indian Islands

Trip

Sea Kayak - Marrowstone & Indian Islands Circumnavigation

Paddle around Marrowstone and Indian Islands on the Olympic Peninsula. Enjoy beautiful scenery, possible rip tides, and paddling through the cut between Indian Island and the mainland.

Contacts

Marie Mills
Marie Mills
Primary Leader
  • Sea Kayak III/IV
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 16.0 nm
  • Maximum Wind: 15 kts
  • Maximum Waves: 3 ft
  • Maximum Currents: 5 kts
  • Pace: Moderate

Meet 9 am for 10 am launch from Indian Island County Park. Allow one hour to drive from the Kingston ferry to the put-in. Summer ferry lines can be long. The park has a sani-can. No parking permit required. If you arrive early, QFC in Hadlock has a Starbucks and nearby Chimacum has a cafe and a grocery store. Beware - local speed limits are enforced. 

NOTE: Route details are described below. The link to "See full route/place details" will take you to another page with details that do not apply to this trip. 

***I will be offline for a few days during the registration period. I will respond to you as soon as I am back online. 

Route Details: All participants should be comfortable paddling in open water, in waves and currents, and possible rip tides. This will be a long day and an efficient forward stroke will serve you well. 

We will launch from and return to Indian Island County Park and paddle counter-clockwise along the east shore of Marrowstone. We may be at least 1/2 a mile offshore to escape the large back-eddy and take advantage of the current assist.

The rip tide off the lighthouse at Fort Flagler can be large. We will take a break beyond the rip at the park, then round the top and paddle down the west side of Indian Island, staying well away from the long Navy pier.

We should have current assist as we ride through the cut and back to the parking lot. We will aim to return to the cars to minimize how far we carry/wheel boats up the beach.

Route/Place

Marrowstone & Indian Islands


  • NOAA Port Townsend No. 18464
    NOAA Bellingham to Everett No. 18423
    NOAA Approaches to Admirally Inlet Dungeness to Oak Bay No. 18471
    Sea Trails North Hood Canal, Dosewallips to Port Ludlow WA105
    Sea Trails Port Townsend, Dungeness Spit to Marrowstone Island WA103
    MapTech Cape Flattery to Whidbey Island No. 103
  • See full route/place details.
Roster
Required Equipment

Required Equipment

These seven 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 (if you do not have bulk heads)
  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. Dry suit required.

Due to potentially rough water, a helmet is a good idea, but not required.

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