Sea Kayak - Marrowstone Island: Indian Island Park to Fort Flagler

Meet at 8:45am at Indian Island County Park. From the Hood Canal Bridge, continue north and turn right on SR 19. Follow this to the four-way stop in Chimacum, then turn right on Chimacum Road. In Hadlock, turn right on Oak Bay Rd (SR 116). Turn Left on Flagler Rd (SR 116) signed for Fort Flagler. From the center of  the bridge over the Port Townsend Canal, drive 0.7 miles and turn right onto Indian Island County Park access road. Go to the parking lot at the end. No parking pass or permit is needed here. There is a port-a-potty.

We will set up a shuttle after unloading gear at Indian Island County Park. The takeout will be at Fort Flagler (bathrooms), so a Discover Pass is required for those cars parked there.

I expect this sea kayak trip to have this difficulty,  and we will do this trip in up to these conditions.  View the sea kayak difficulties definitions on the Activity Types page.

• Difficulty:  SKV
• Wind: 17kts, gusts to 23
• Waves: <3ft
• Route: From county park to Kinney Point, Liplip point, Marrowstone Pt, take out at Fort Flagler
• Distance:  10nm
• Pace: Brisk
• Immersion wear: dry suit required

• Have the skills and fitness required for the trip. We will have up to about two knots of current to paddle against for the first 2.8nm. Requires a reasonable forward stroke and good boat control to stay close to shore and paddle against current and wind.
• Have paddled previously in tidal rapads such as at Cattle Pass
• Experience paddling in sustained 15 kt winds in following seas
• While a roll is not required, you must have strong rescue skills. You should be able to normally get back in your boat within a minute from when a rescuer contacts your boat
• Be able to paddle as a close group even in challenging conditions
• Able to paddle Deception pass in 5kt current and cross eddylines
• Good brace reflex
• No history of sea sickness paddling in waves or swell, or well controlled with medication
  If you are close to meeting these expectations but maybe not quite, it might work depending on the remaining group makeup. My cell number is 360-710-0616.
   We'll plan to have lunch between Kinney Point and Liplip point. After the 5-1/2 mile wind run up the east side of Marrowstone, we'll play in the tidal rapids at Marrowstone Point (max ebb  3.7kts at 3:35pm). Sunset is 4:35pm, so we'll leave by 4:00pm and paddle the remaining 1.7nm to Fort Flagler. Since we will be loading and shuttling boats after dark, have your head lamp handy.