South Hood Canal, Annas Bay & Lower Skokomish River

Pleasant, easy to moderate sea kayak journeys near and from The Great Bend at the south end of Hood Canal.

launch points

on the water

Annas Bay & Lower Skokomish River

8.0 nm round trip, difficulty: II+

Paddle from Annas Bay 4 nm up the Skokomish River or as far as desired.

  • Avoid paddling on the Lower Skokomish River during salmon season. There will be hundreds of fisher folk in the river.
  • Members of the Skokomish Tribe fish all year but it is easy to stay out of their way.
  • Watch for and avoid gill nets that may run part way across the river.

Twanoh State Park to Belfair State Park

11 nm round trip, difficulty: Sea Kayak II-III

Paddle to Belfair on a rising tide and return on a falling tide or paddle the reverse, depending on tide cycle.

Belfair State Park to Potlatch State Park

 13 nm one-way. Sea Kayak II-III

Paddle from Belfair State Park to Potlatch State Park with a car shuttle for a day trip or the reverse, depending on tide cycle.

Potlatch State Park to Triton Cove State Park

17 nm one-way, Sea Kayak II-III

Paddle from Potlatch State Park to Triton Cove State Park with a car shuttle possible for a day trip or the reverse, depending on tide cycle.

South Hood Canal to Central or North Hood Canal

Mileage and difficulty vary based on the trip

Paddle multiple days on Hood Canal camping at Cascadia Marine Trail sites along the way. There are marine trail campsites at Belfair State Park, Twanoh State Park, Potlatch State Park, and Triton Cove State Park. See Central Hood Canal and Port Gamble Bay for more information about points further north.

notes

  • Winds are often 10+ knots in the afternoon.

Information for Leaders

Scheduling & permits

  • This route allows multiple bookings. Please check scheduled trips listed below in the "Activities" tab to see if there is another group already booked on the same day. Leaders are expected to contact the leader(s) of existing trips to ensure there are no concerns or conflicts, according to The Mountaineers Outdoor Ethics Policy. Please review our Group Size & Multiple Bookings page for guidance.
  • The Mountaineers has a commercial use permit with Washington State Parks for all free and fee-based outings at state parks. Leaders should carry a print or digital copy of our  commercial use permit to show rangers they may encounter. 
  • Difficulty: *Varies*
  • Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
  • Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
  • Recommended Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Party Size: 12
  • Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
Map
  • Sea Trails South Hood Canal Dabob Bay WA201
  • MapTech Puget Sound Chart No. 100
  • NOAA Puget Sound: Southern Part No. 18448
  • NOAA Hood Canal and Dabob Bay No. 18476
Activities

Upcoming Activities

There are no activities scheduled at this location.

Trip Reports
Titles

This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.

  • Annas Bay
  • Lower Skokomish River
  • Annas Bay & Lower Skokomish River
  • Twanoh State Park to Belfair State Park
  • Belfair State Park to Potlatch State Park
  • Potlatch State Park to Triton Cove State Park
  • South Hood Canal to Central Hood Canal
  • South Hood Canal to North Hood Canal
Resources

There are no resources for this route/place. Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.