Chuckanut Bay  

Low tide at the at the Wildcat Cove launch site

Rating: SKIII

Distance: 10 NM

Date: July 11, 1998

Leader: Gary Knudson                        Participants: 6

Launch: 09:40                                    

Return: 3:00

Weather: Overcast, ~70F with southerly breezes building to 5-10 knots. Take care. This is a long fetch and can quickly become dangerous.

Description: Launched at Wildcat Cove and paddled across Chuckanut Bay. Explored Chuckanut Island and paddled over to a lunch stop past the RR tracks. Unfortunately, the tide was too far out and the bay beyond the tracks was a vast mud flat so we paddled back to Chuckanut Island for lunch. There’s a nice little beach to land on at a point where the Island almost separates at high tide. As the wind began to pick up we skirted the shoreline inside Chuckanut Bay. Returning to Wildcat was fun as the waves had built to 1 to 1 ½ feet.

Tides/Currents: Currents are light and variable in this area – but – the long fetch can make for dangerous conditions. Watch the weather closely.

Charts:

Waterproof Chart #43 – San Juan Islands.

San Juan Current Guide, Page 3.

Chart # 18423 – Bellingham to Everett including San Juan Islands.

Notes:

1. Shoreline in this area is quite rocky and affords few landing spots.
2. Coves on the north side of Chuckanut are the place to see fossilized palm trees.
3. Beautiful trip. Bald eagles, tons of starfish, sea anemones, herrons, ducks etc.

Directions to Launch Site: About 2 hours and 10 minutes from I-5 @ Hwy 16 (115 miles). Take I-5 north. After you pass highway 20 (Noth Cascades Hwy) take the next exit, Exit 231 (Hwy 11). Take the road back over I-5 and stay to the right. This is Chuckanut Drive. After you get to Larabee State Park (14.7 miles from I-5) drive another ½ mile and turn left at the boat launch sign – this (Cove Road) leads down to the RR tracks – turn left and go about a block and bear off to the left again at the ‘boat launching’ sign. This leads to the parking area at Wildcat Cove ($3.00 fee).

Facilities:

1. Wildcat Cove has and outdoor toilet.
2. The parking area is large and has a $3.00 fee box located near the top of the launch ramp.

Sample Magazine Submittal: Chuckanut Bay (SKIII). 10 NM. Put in at Wildcat Cove in Larrabee State Park and explore sculpted sandstone formations and the protected marine ecosystem of Chuckanut Island.

References:

Scott, James W., and Melly A. Reuling. Washington Public Shore Guide. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 1986. pp. 38-41, 46-47.

Washburne, Randel. Kayaking Puget Sound, the San Juans, and Gulf Islands. Seattle: The Mountaineers. 1996. pp. 127-130.