With balmier weather and longer days, it is time to get outside and explore the shores and waterways of Hood Canal and the inlets of Mason County. Kayaks, canoes and stand up paddleboards are a great way to be on the water without the expense or headache of a powerboat.
ITS PADDLE TIME Stella Wenstob| contributor
Get on the water
Whether you seek tide-ripped saltwater passages, challenging whitewater, or lakes big and small, Hood Canal is a kayaker, canoer, or paddleboarder’s ideal destination. Few places in the world can match the stunning scenery and easy access of the Hood Canal region. Sea kayakers can explore seemingly endless miles of pristine saltwater shoreline, cruise the reaches of lakes Cushman and Kokanee in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains, or ride the gentle currents of the Skokomish and Tahuya Rivers.
Paddle the lower reaches of the Skokomish near Union, explore the shores of Hood Canal or explore any of the lakes. A great Mason County destination is Lake Kokanee, or Lower Lake Cushman; this scenic lake channel wind, so watch the weather.
Wet your paddle with these adventure ideas: Explore Skokomish River, using public put-in on Sunnyside Rd, just north of the Skokomish Valley Rd. Launch at Shelton Marina or Walker Park and paddle (with the tide) out Hammersley Inlet to Hope Island. Ride the tide back for a little help with the paddling. There is a strong current in this passage that is difficult to paddle against but great to use to your advantage. It is necessary to be aware of the tides. If you miss the tide, head to the inlet shores to escape the prevailing currents. Hope Island can also be reached with an easy paddle from Arcadia Point boat launch. At the launch you will find plenty of parking and easy access to the water. Hope Island has sandy beaches all around the island for easy landing and plenty of trails to explore.
An interesting two-hour paddle starts at the boat launch at Lake Isabella. At the far end of the lake, enter Mill Creek through a patch of water lily pads. Glide through the willows for half a mile before the stream drops and becomes too shallow to navigate. The rivers of Olympic Peninsula are renown for their great beauty as well as their technically difficult white water rafting and kayaking routes. Placed high in the wilderness of the Olympics, the rivers that drain into Hood Canal are wild, steep and undeveloped. However, do you research before you go! Many are Class IV - V rapids and are not to be attempted by the novice paddler. For information on white water sites in the area, americanwhitewater.org provides excellent river classifications and
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descriptions. Gary Korb’s, A Paddlers Guide to the Olympic Peninsula (1997), is also an invaluable resource before attempting these rivers.
Kayak rentals
If you are just getting your paddles wet, or are a seasoned paddler, there are some great opportunities in Mason County for kayak or SUP rentals. Hood Canal Events offers organized excursions with catered meals. Hoodsport Kayak Rentals, offers hourly rentals and excursions with kayak or pedal boat drop off at nearby Kokanee Lake. Hood Canal Adventures, located in Brinnon, has a fleet of single and tandem vessels and offers biologist guided eco-tours by kayak or SUP.
Watch for paddling events
Hood Canal and south Puget Sound is often host to kayak and SUP races and events. SUPs, canoes, and kayaks lend themselves well to COVID sensitive planning with cute mottos like “keep a paddle distance apart.” Salmon Bay Paddle recently included Hammersley Inlet in their paddling competition series this May complete with a sea kayak paddling clinic in their event held at Shelton, Hammer the Inlet.
