Trip Report
Sea Kayak - Leque Island Wildlife Area
Scenes from yesterday's 13.8 nMi paddle from Cavalero County Park to Maple Grove County Park on Camano Island...
Doug Palm
- Wed, Feb 25, 2026
- Sea Kayak - Leque Island Wildlife Area
- Camano Island
- Sea Kayaking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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As predicted by the various forecast models, winds started the day at around 9 knots and faded down to around 5 by the end of the trip.
The long south fetch across the mudflat region of Port Susan resulted in somewhat bumpy conditions as we approached Barnum Point, even with a fairly high tide. Not quite in the "sporty" wave action category, though.
Gearing up for our 7:30am launch from Cavalero on Port Susan after staging cars at the endpoint.
Winds were predicted to be around 9 knots for most of the morning then dropping to around 5 by the end.
The long south fetch across Port Susan resulted in somewhat bumpier conditions as we approached Barnum Point.
Arriving in the lee of Iverson Spit after a bumpy ride around Barnum Point that was just shy of sporty. Along the way to South Pass we had two occasions to tow a member of our group. Nothing serious, just that the paddler’s boat was a very old model with no skeg or rudder and what seemed like an unusually high profile to the wind. Adding weight to the “corky” boat did not help with the windage or weathercocking. As a result, it was hard for the paddler to control the boat in the winds and waves during the paddle along Barnum Point and on the last three quarters of a nautical mile or so of the crossing of Livingston Bay. The towing helped the paddler stay on track and did not seem to slow us down at all. Good practice for the leaders, and a potent reminder to make sure paddlers have a proven way to control their boats in wind before they show up for a trip.
As we approached the south side of Leque Island the seas began to calm.
Trumpeter Swans greeted us as we started up South Pass...
The waters continued to calm as we rode the tide up to Eide Road Park for our second break.
The Great Blue Herons have returned to their rookery on Zis a Ba..
Stopping at Eide Road Park.
Oregon Grape in bloom south of the Camano Gateway Bridge.
Looking south from the Eide Road Park. West Pass on the left, high tide waters over Leque Island to the right. The dike in the middle was built to protect Stanwood from storm surge. Perhaps these giant concrete Legos were added to thwart Godzilla.
Setting out again.
Arriving at English Boom after a nice ride on the ebb.
After lunch we continued to our take out at Maple Grove.
Sunny skies and calm seas continued until we reached Utsalady Point where west winds running counter to the ebb whipped up rougher waters. We moved closer to shore at that point and handrailed our way to Maple Grove.
