Annas Bay

Rating: SKII

Distance: 9 NM

Date: Nov. 7, 1998

Leader: Julie Beck Participants: 12

Launch: 09:30 Return: 3:00

Weather: Mostly clear, no wind, ~50F.

Description: Launched from Union and paddled up the Skokomish estuary viewing salmon, mostly dead, and lots of gulls. Leaving the Skokomish, we headed west, past a large seal colony, towards Potlatch State Park. A back problem in the group caused us to turn back towards Union (got in some towing practice) for lunch. After lunch the back problem had cleared up so we paddled the shore to the east towards Bill Gate’s house where we pulled up right next to the beach. Nobody home. Returned to Union.

Tides/Currents:

  1. Current in the Skokomish can easily become to difficult to paddle against.
  2. Max flood at the big bend was 1 knot, but, with shallow water at the south end of the bend you can easily get 1 ½ to 2 foot waves with no wind.

Notes:

  1. The river bottom and banks were littered with dead salmon. Some live salmon swam by within a foot of our boats.
  2. There’s a huge seal colony up on a mud bank just west of the confluence of the Skokomish.
  3. A local told us a gray whale had come by, close to shore, just before we had arrived at Union. No Luck. Never saw a thing.

Directions to Launch Site: From I5 @ Hwy 16 it takes about an hour and 10 minutes to get to the Union launch site (50 miles). Take Hwy 16 across the narrows bridge and turn off at the Hwy 302 exit. Take 302 to Hwy 3 and go north to Hwy 106. Turn left and drive to Union. The Union public launch (a little difficult to see) is located just past a marina. There is a sign out by the road indicating "Mason County Public Launch".

Facilities:

  1. Launch site is a small beach. There is a port-o-let available.
  2. There are bathrooms at Potlatch State Park.

Sample Magazine Submittal: Annas Bay (SKII). 9NM. Bring your binoculars and lots of good humor for a fun day of paddling. Prepare your acute senses for observing migratory birds, a seal colony, and the salmon of the Skokomish River.

References:

Campbell, Ken. A Sea Kayaker’s Guide to South Puget Sound. Tacoma: Self-Published. 1997. P. 78-81.

Scott, James W., and Melly A. Reuling. Washington Public Shore Guide. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 1986. pp. 236-239.