Sea Kayak - Cypress Island

Participant Requirements:

• Previous kayak camping or backpacking experience
• Have taken Currents clinic and comfortable in current to 3kts and 1-2’ waves
• Able to maintain 2.5 knot paddling speed with loaded kayak for 11nm.
• Committed to safety and supporting the group.
• Committed to help keep group together, including towing or being towed as requested by leaders.

If you meet the participant requirements, you have permission to sign up.  If your Mountaineers profile doesn't show experience to match the requirements, please send me an email to explain.  If you partially meet the requirements (i.e. You have some experience with currents, but haven’t yet taken a class) then feel free to email me to discuss if this trip is a good fit.

Trip plan:

Aug 26:  5nm 

Meet at Washington Park in Anacortes at 8:30am.  Unload the kayaks and camping gear at beach next to boat launch.  Pack kayaks.  Park the cars in overnight parking lot.  Ready to launch in time for 9:45a shore talk.  Launch by 10:15am. Tide 5.1’ at launch and rising.

Start by heading northeast to buoy until in the current going up Bellingham Channel. Once in the correct channel, enjoy a current assist as we paddle the east coast of Cypress Island.  Watch for ferry and other ships while crossing Guemes Channel.

Follow east shore of Cypress Island to Cypress Head, landing around noon.  Sunset 8:01pm.

Set up camp. No fee.  No water available.  Optional hike to Cypress Island High point ~ 4mile, 1500’ elevation gain.

https://www.dnr.wa.gov/CypressIsland

Aug 27 : 11 nm 

Leisurely breakfast and pack up camp, ready for shore talk at 11:45am and launch at noon (tide  6.7 and rising). Paddle ~2.5nm along Cypress shore to Pelican Beach for lunch break (small current assist).  Launch again at 2:15pm. Paddle ~1nm along shore to north end of Cypress Island and then south ~4.5nm along west shore to Strawberry Island. Possible break along shore south of Tide Point and/or south end of Strawberry Island.  Continue south (~4nm) along shore to Reef Point and then cross Guemes Channel back to Washington Park; arriving around 6p (tide 7’).   Watch for ships when crossing Guemes Channel. Sunset 8:01pm.

Meet at the Washington Park Boat Launch at 8:30a.  Boats packed and ready for a 9:45am shore talk and launch by 10:15am.  

You will need to move your car to the overnight parking before the shore talk.  Payment is by credit card at the automated pay-station.