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Trip Report    

Sea Kayak - Hammersley Inlet

A beautiful winter day to ride the currents in Hammersley Inlet and explore the depths of Oakland Bay. Mostly calm conditions and swift currents to push us along provided ample time to poke around the bay.

Will Greenough Will Greenough
January 03, 2026
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Tides: Shelton
    Low  0512  2.3'
    High  1134  15.7'
    Low  1902  3.3'

    Currents
    Libby Point: S 0533 / F 0805 2.6kt / S 1122 / E 1434 -2.8kt
    Skookum Pt: S 0517 / F 0846 2.1kt / S 1203 / E 1903 -1.3kt

    Weather: Partly sunny, variable wind 0-5kt, 32-42 degreesScreenshot 2026-01-03 092353.jpg

We all arrived on time and packed out boats under a gorgeous sunrise.

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Sunrise from Arcadia Point
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Heading out from Arcadia

Launching on time at 7:58, we paddled into Hammersley inlet in calm conditions. The current in Hammersley was strong and consistent and we averaged a little over 5kt all the way to our first stop at Jacobys County Park, arriving at 9:06am. After a brief break, we headed out again around the corner and into Oakland Bay. The bay was so calm on this leg that it was like paddling on a mirror. We stopped for another break at 10:32am at Oakland Bay County Park.

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Paddling on a mirror in Oakland Bay

After a 20 minute break we launched again to explore into Deer Creek. The very high tide made route finding a bit challenging, but we made it about a quarter mile up the creek before a fallen tree blocked further progress. We then paddled north and into Cranberry Creek, but again were blocked in a short distance by tree branches and the high tide level. Leaving  the head of Oakland Bay, we then paddled out to a beach on the north side of the entrance to Chapman Cove where we stopped for lunch at 12:10pm.

After lunch we headed across the inlet to Walker Park. The wind had picked up to around 5kt by this time. We arrived at the park at 1:25pm and took another short break before heading back out Hammersley. Leaving Walker Park at 1:38pm, we made quick progress out the inlet with a good push from the ebb current. We arrived back at the Arcadia Point boat ramp at 2:54pm, averaging about 4.6kt for this leg.

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Off Church Point on the way out the inlet
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Dramatic clouds from just west of Libby Point

Total distance: 21.7nm
Average moving speed: 4.0kt