North Lake Washington

Fresh water marsh at the southern terminus of Cozy Cove

Rating: SKII

Distance:  SKII

Date:  Jan. 27, 2001

Leader:  Pete Schwab                        Participants:  11

Launch:  09:15                                   Return:  14:30

Weather:  Mostly clear with a little haze, light breezes, ~45 F.
                                
 Description:  This is a really pleasant trip for the winter months when the power boats and jet skis (most of them) are out of the way.  We launched from Magnuson Park and explored the mostly urban shores to the south before crossing the lake to Fairweather Bay.  There are three little bays just north of highway 520; Fairweather Bay, Cozy Cove, and Yarrow Bay.  Great little places to tour.  At the southeast end of Yarrow Bay there's a very shallow entrance to a fresh water marsh.  It's a nice place to visit and can, at times be filled with wildfowl.  On our trip we only saw a couple of blue herons (one was standing in a moored power boat while the owner was away).  Following the shore northward there are several small parks that afford a place to rest or lunch (Houghton Park, Everest Park, Marina Park, and Juanita Beach Park).  Off season the bathrooms are locked.  We paddled north rounding the marina and stopped at Houghton Beach Park for lunch.  There's a nice sandy beach, a seawall to sit on, and, while the bathrooms were locked, there was a port-o-let hidden behind some bushes at the north end of the park.  After lunch we continued north to Juanita Bay.  From Juanita Point we again crossed the lake, to Sand Point, and traveled south to our launch point at Magnuson Park.           

                                                       

Who says Lake Washington isn't dangerous?????

Tides/Currents:  Fresh water. No wind, no waves.

Charts:

Chart #18447 - Lake Washington Ship Canal and Lake Washington, Side B.

Directions to Launch Site:  From I-5 at Highway 16 it takes about 45 minutes (43 miles) to get to the Magnuson Park launch site.  Take I5 north through Seattle.  Take exit 170 and follow the exit on down until you get to 65^th, turn right.  You will follow 65^th all the way to Magnuson Park.  However, about a mile and a half or two from I5 you’ll be going up a hill on 65^th.  Just near the top of the hill, about 50 feet past Ann Arbor Street the main road bends sharply to the right.  Stay on it!  You’ll bend to the right, back to the left, and back to the right again.  That’ll keep you on 65^th!  Then just continue on down and into Magnuson Park.  Just drive straight to the water, you won’t be able to miss the parking and launch area.

Facilities:

1.  Magnuson Park has two launch ramps and lots of small, rocky beach areas to launch from.  Lots and lots of parking and port-o-lets down by the launch pads.  There is also a covered picnic area.
2.  On the east side of the lake public parks are small but there are several you can land on for lunch.
3.  Parks in the Kirkland area are generally small and most restrict parking to 2 or 4 hours, hence our launch from the west side of the lake.

Sample Magazine Submittal:  North Lake Washington (SKII). 10 NM RT. While the jet skis and power boats hibernate we’ll paddle the northwestern and northeastern shores of Lake Washington. We’ll visit Fairweather Bay, Cozy Cove, Yarrow Bay, Juanita Bay, and Sand Point. The lake will be crossed twice. Wet or dry suit required. 

References: 

    Bailey, Jo, and Carl Nyberg. Gunkholing in South Puget Sound. Seattle: San Juan Enterprises, Inc.
1997. Pp.55-68.