Mercer Island Circumnavigation

 

Rating: SKII

Distance: 13NM

Date: October 31, 1998

Leader: Pete Schwab                Participants: 8

Launch: 09:15                           Return: 3:15

Weather: ~55F, light breezes to none. No waves. Mist and occasional drizzle.

Description: Launched at Gene Coulon Park in the SE corner of Lake Washington and circumnavigated Mercer in a counterclockwise direction. A very easy 13NM with light breezes. Excellent trip for the off season – we only saw 4 or 5 boats all day and no jet skis.

Tides/Currents: None.

Charts:

Chart # 18447 – Lake Washington Ship Canal and Lake Washington

Any road map that show State and County parks.

Notes:

  1. An excellent off-season trip that avoids the heavy boat traffic encountered in summer.
  2. Bathrooms are all locked off-season except the main bathroom at Luther Burbank Park.
  3. Good trip for seeing fall colors.
  4. Lots of wildlife on this trip. Grebes, Coots, Herons.

Directions to Launch Site: Take I5 north to I405 and head towards Bellevue. Take I405 to Exit 5 which is Hwy 900 East Sunset/Issaquah (don’t take the previous exit which is Hwy 900 west). When you take Exit 5 go west down the hill toward the Boeing Renton plant. At the bottom of the hill turn right (an almost 180 degree turn) and follow the signs into Coulon Park. Once in the park, go all the way north along the road (sign says North Beach). The canoe launch is in a cul-de-sac at the extreme north end of the road. If you don’t want to use the dock, a better site is a small beach right in front of a parking area about 100 yards south of the cul-de-sac.

Facilities:

  1. Nice bathroom at Clark Beach, Luther Burbank, and Groveland Parks – BUT – they’re all locked in the off-season.
  2. The main bathroom at Coulon Park was open.
  3. The main bathroom at Luther Burbank is open (it’s located in the playground right next to the big brick administrative building).


The view from the southwest end of Mercer Island

Sample Magazine Submittal: Mercer Island Circumnavigation (SKII). 13NM RT. Enjoy the fresh water and wildlife of Lake Washington without the influence of jet skis and drunken power boaters. Fall colors should be prime, so bring your camera.

References:

Bailey, Jo, and Carl Nyberg. Gunkholing in South Puget Sound. Seattle: San Juan Enterprises, Inc. 1997. Pp. 56, 69-74.