Central Hood Canal

launch & landing points

• Quuilcene (Herb Beck) Marina at the end of Linger Longer Road.
• Point Whitney Boat Ramp (see also Point Whitney Shellfish Lab)
• Seal Rock Campground
• Dosewallips State Park
• Misery Point Boat Launch
• Pleasant Harbor Boat Ramp
• Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve
• Triton Cove State Park
• Holly: park along Old Holly Hill Road (no toilets), just 0.6 miles from the Seabeck-Holly Road.
• Mike's Beach Resort
• Dewatto

on the water

Hood Canal Triple Cross

13 NM Loop, Difficulty: Sea Kayak IV

Paddle from Misery Point and visit Toandos Peninsula, Dosewallips, and Pleasant Harbor. From Misery Point traverse to Tskutsko Point and then head to Dosewallips State Park. Be aware of huge tide flat—the approach from the southern end allows paddling up the slough, but a mid to high tide is required to enter. Picnic tables and toilets available at the park, and in the fall, salmon may be running. At Pleasant Harbor, the first dock is Pleasant Harbor State Park (no services), then Homeport Marina, the Pleasant Harbor Marina. Consider calling ahead and asking the the cafe if it is open, and where to tie up or pull out on the dock.

Dewatto to Holly

11 NM One-way, Difficulty: Sea Kayak II/III

Paddle from Dewatto Bay to Holly in central Hood Canal. Travel along miles of roadless, undeveloped shoreline, and cross the canal at Chinom Point for a closer look at the Hamma Hamma River delta. Winds are common in the afternoons on Hood Canal. Plan your direction of travel accordingly. This is best done a a one-way paddle with car shuttle.

Holly to Misery Point

10 nm one-way, Difficulty: sea kayak III

A 10 nm one-way paddle or "wind run" with visitation at several ecological preserves, parks, and lagoons. It is best done as a shuttle but can also be done as an out & back. Plan this trip to be done with the wind at your back. Hood Canal is notorious for wind and waves due to its long fetch, and wind can blow in either direction along the Canal.

• From Holly, head north. Once you round the first corner, check out the Wilcox House pier and dock, which sometimes hosts a sea lion. A mansion built in 1938 by Col. Julian Wilcox, it has hosted celebrities such as Errol Flynn and Clark Gable.
• At 3.6 nm note a large estuary. Formerly a tree and shellfish farm owned by Charlie Michel, this site had the bulkhead, buildings, boatramp, and road removed and is now part of the Stavis Natural Resources Conservation Area owned by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. The apple, kiwi, and pear orchard still bears fruit. 
• At 4.1 nm (Frenchman's Cove), is the Kitsap County Guillemot Cove Nature Reserve. 
• At 7.0 nm is Stavis Bay, the centerpiece of the Stavis Natural Resources Conservation Area.  The estuary leads to Stavis Creek.
• At 7.3 nm is Clark's Lagoon, accessible only when the tide is about 5ft or greater. The owners sign requests people respect the surrounding property so don't land here.
• At 8.5 nm, pass Scenic Beach State Park. Steps lead up to the State park. While you can take out or launch here, Misery Point is far better and only 0.2nm further.

Holly to Triton Cove

9 nm loop, difficulty: sea kayak iii

Much of the shoreline on this paddle is on undeveloped timberland.  The itinerary entails crossings, to the Hamma Hamma delta from Chinom Point area, and from Triton Cove to Tekiu Point. 9 nm circuit of east and west shores in mid-Hood Canal region (SKIII).  Scenic paddle from picturesque cove at Holly,including a tour of the Hamma Hamma River delta.   Triton Cove is a state park on the west shore of Hood Canal.

Quilcene to Bolton Peninsula

9 nm round trip, difficulty: sea kayak iii

Paddle south from boat ramp at Quilcene Marina, then cross over and round the Bolton Peninsula.

Quilcene Bay to Toandos Peninsula

11.0 nm, difficulty: Sea Kayak I/II

Launch from Point Whitney and paddle south along the western shore of Hood Canal from Whitney Point, at the mouth of Quilcene Bay. Then cross 2 nm to Toandos Peninsula and explore it's shores.

information for leaders

scheduling

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. If so, please coordinate with them to ensure you are launching and landing at different areas.

permits

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.

• Suitable Activities: Sea Kayaking
• Seasons: Year-round
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Sea Kayak III
• Length: 9.0 nm

• Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 8
• Maximum Party Size: 15
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 115