Trip Report
Sea Kayak - Totten Inlet & Oyster Bay
A fine long winter outing on this scenic inlet at the tail end of the chum salmon run.
Will Greenough
- Sat, Nov 29, 2025
- Sea Kayak - Totten Inlet & Oyster Bay
- Totten Inlet
- Sea Kayaking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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It was cold in the morning, but there was no wind making the water like a mirror at times. The tide was a good level when we reached the end of the inlet to paddle a ways up Kennedy Creek.
There was no competition for the ramp as we dropped our boats off. Only one other boater launch as we were getting ready. On the return there was only one boat being retrieved just before we arrived. Another kayak group arrived as we were packing up.
A great group of paddlers arrived on time to let us launch right on time at 8:00am. For several arriving a bit early, there was a spectacular sunrise lasting only about 15 minutes with Mt. Rainier in the background. 
We had a please paddle south up the inlet in mostly flat calm conditions stopping for breaks at Baron Point and Burns Point for breaks. At the end of the inlet we explored the shoreline and up Kennedy Creek until the current turned us back. There were only a few battered chum salmon left from the run, but lots of eagles around. The tide was too high to stop for lunch at the Preserve overlook on the west shore, so we paddled north to a small grassy beach at a Christmas tree farm to stop for lunch.
After lunch we continued back north, stopping for a break just south of Windy Point and arrived back at the launch at 3:30pm. Before getting out, Sara successfully did her rescue demonstrations for equivalency with me - quite a challenge at the end of a 20nm paddle!
Total distance paddled: 20.3nm
Average moving pace: 3.2kt with a little tidal assist.