Secluded islands, great food and a lifetime of memories. Alaska small ship adventure cruises get closer to glaciers. The following awesome people are the official bloggers of the the trek. Hitting the open seas is entirely another and if you do much research about kayaking in the san juans youll quickly learn that it has potential to be quite dangerous. But with intermediate skills and good judgment it is very manageable. Sneak out midweek, or enjoy a weekend getaway to explore the beautiful waters and shorelines of the san juan islands. We learned so much which gave us a deeper appreciation of the wildlife, the islands, and the sea. Renowned as the number one sea kayaking tour destination in the pacific northwest, the san juan islands offer an experience to enjoy abundant marine life, protected waterways and beautiful scenery. Lopez island sea kayak and bicycle works are located on the shore of beautiful fisherman bay in the heart of the san juan islands of northwestern washington.
Kayak san juan islands with discovery sea kayaks in friday harbor, wa. Kayaking the san juan islands for 3 days with 2 nights of camping is an amazing way to spend your time on san juan. Back aboard, sail east toward the hundreds of islands that comprise the san juans where your captain drops anchor in a quiet reach in preparation for tomorrows hiking and kayaking adventures. The san juan islands are one of the worlds top sea kayaking destinations. Traverse the waters of migrating salmon and keep your eyes peeled for eagles, seals, porpoises, and other wildlife that follow our keystone species of the pacific northwest. For the best chance to view orca whales and other sea life, plan your trip between april and september a number of tour operators are available throughout. Your guide will prepare lunch as you look out on the olympic mountains and explore the.
Kayaking puget sound, the san juans, and gulf islands. A fun guide to sea kayaking tours in the san juan islands. In the us, new trips include the elwha river, protection island, and paddling from kingston to point no point to name a few. Panoramic views plus giant oldgrowth trees, ferns, wild rhododendronthe flora is dense and diverse.
Each trip highlights the most popular destinations in the san juans. The chance to paddle in some of the pacific northwests worldrenowned crystal clear waters, always with the potential for exciting encounters with wildlife. The san juan islands are one of those iconic northwest paddling destinations i am lucky to say i have explored a number of times. Sail the san juans with these five breathtaking charters. I used a variety of the internet, a book or 2 i bought and map apps i have on my phone. Way back in the 70s i lived in the san juans on orcas island. Whether you arrive by land, sea, or air, this factfilled guide is a must for enjoying the best of the san juans.
Now in a fully revised third edition, the book covers everything you want to know about park and marina facilities, beaches, shorelines, historic sites, natural science, and marine life. Sign up for trip updates or book a private departure. Its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife make it a remarkable place to seek serenity and adventure. Its a magical mix of arts and culture, lush forests, pristine lakes and endless outdoor possibilities. The more than 170 islands and inlets are sheltered from the biggest ocean swells. Departing from anacortes allows you to spend more time kayaking and makes the most of your vacation time. The company is committed to providing experiences for families with kids of almost any age. Our route is designed to take us through the best kayaking the san juans has to offer. Our job is to live vicariously and envy their existence. Sea kayak tours from san juan island san juan excursions. Hello, my daughter and i are planning a kayaking and camping trip to the san juans this june.
Along with two buddies, steve kennedy and lance joyner, we formed the real log cabin company and built cabins on the islands, from felling to finish. Kayak the san juan islands on a three, four or six hour tour. Anacortes kayak tours is located on fidalgo island, and has provided familyfriendly kayaking tours for 10 years. We will either shuttle you to the beautiful western side of san juan island for a day of sea kayaking or you may choose to go on a whale watch wildlife cruise aboard the odyssey. Roche harbor 3 hour family kayak tour san juan outfitters. Friday harbor, roche harbor and san juan islands premier sea kayaking outfitter. Because we run the smallest group sizes in the industry these trips fill quickly. Kayak in search of seals, sea lions, porpoise and more. You can rent kayaks by the hour for unguided exploring or take a three or fivehour guided tour. Kayak in prime marine wildlife habitat along the haro strait, bordering the west side of san juan island and vancouver island.
The island has beautiful hikes, lovely beaches, and great free camping, making it a. San juan islands kayak tours kayaking san juan islands. Leave your worries at home and let a tour group do all the work for you. Paddling along the calm coast lines of the san juan islands makes for a fun adventure for singles, couples, groups, and families.
With a group tour, you may be sailing with other passengers on the boat. Kayak camping the san juan islands with a tentipi safir 7 light. Join us for guided sea kayaking tours in the san juan islands. The glacierpacked cruise from juneau to sitka features visits to leconte, sawyer, south sawyer, and baird glaciers. There are unguided, guided, and overnightcamping options for kayaking in the san juans. We also offer 3 hour, full day, and multiday sea kayaking tours departing from the westside of san juan island. The san juan island sunset kayak tour is one of the best kayak tours on san juan island. The san juan islands marine trail, operated by the washington water trails association, connects islands and points of interest from olympia to canada, crossing from san juan island adjacent to haro strait to wrap around tiny islands, some too small to. Learn more about my book kayaking puget sound and the san juans, 60 trips.
Our tours depart from custom kayak docks and are led by naturalist guides. Friday harbor lodging, san juan island hotel near seattle and. We are proud to offer our guests an elegant, intimate experience and the opportunity to destress and restore in a beautiful, natural setting. Today, the san juan islands are an important tourist destination, with sea kayaking and orca whalewatching by boat or air tours two of the primary attractions. Alaska fjord charters guides you to the best mix of kayaking, glacier viewing, whale watching, and fishing, all in one leisurely tour. Enjoy gourmet meals, camp under the stars, and experience the san juan islands from sea level. Afternoon 1 day san juan island kayaking trips we are one of only three companies to offer kayak tours on the west side of san juan island to lime kiln whalewatch state park, the best place in the us to see killer whales. September is an amazing time to visit friday harbor and the san juan islands as it marks the beginning of the annual savor the san juans festival. Hike along bairds terminal moraine, a lunar landscape of ice and shimmering rocks.
Our journey highlights the best of the san juan islands. Select routes with scenic coastlines and abundant wildlife opportunities, this is the best kayak tour for those preferring a shorter kayak trip. Quality kayaks, ideal group sizes, wildlife and whale watching kayak routes. Enjoy an unforgettable whale watching tour on one of the islands. Sea kayaking san juan islands 5day adventure tours. San juan islands 6day bike tour bicycle adventures.
Book flights, accommodation and experience packages. Looking to see more of the san juan islands on a kayak. Washingtons san juan islands are nothing short of magical. Among the most popular sea kayaking spots is the san juan islands. The edenwild boutique inn is your perfect island escape located in the heart of lopez village. One evening we stayed in a slip at a marina versus at anchor. We are binginner moderate kayakers and wanted to know which island will give us. The best things to see and do on washingtons san juan islands. Crystal seas kayaking san juan islands washington visitors. Washburns now called waggoner is the indispensable resource for sailing or paddling in the san juans. How to pack for your kayaking adventure in the san juan. You will paddle with small groups using only quality sea kayaks and gear, enjoy spending time with our fun, knowledgeable guides and explore a wide variety of island ecosystems. San juan islands small ship cruise uncruise adventures.
Learn sea kayaking skills, chart reading techniques and predicting tides and currents. I dont know that anywhere in the san juans on a summer weekend will be really remote, as in devoid of people, but the. Experience the magic of the islands by renting a kayak for an hour or a week, or getting outfitted for a multiday kayak adventure. This book features 60 trips with information on routes, stand up paddling, details on the regions marine trails, finding launch sites, a routes ataglance chart to choose a route for your level of fitness, skills, and available time and more. Kayak guides love getting children interested in the marine ecosystem and are great at reading children. Our san juan islands 5day adventure tours offer regularly scheduled departures for you to choose from. Aug 08, 2019 its true that the san juans are busiest during the summer months, but that means you can enjoy various farmers markets and arguably the best fourth of july fireworks anywhere. I was invited on a sea kayaking adventure in the san juan islands of the pacific northwest. Many years ago a friend and i kayaked into the san juan islands for a quick overnight trip. I would never go kayaking again without a biologist guide. Nowhere else in north america can you experience the variety of unique and even endangered species on a day or an overnight kayak tour. In the protective rain shadow of vancouver island and the olympic mountains, the islands receive half the rain as seattle, about 15 to 20 inches per year.
Meet us at our launch site at snug harbor or use our complimentary shuttle from the ferry in friday harbor. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Our family tours stay in the protected waters on the northwest corner of san juan island. How to pack for your kayaking adventure in the san juan islands if you look at many peoples bucket lists, kayaking in the san juan islands is often near the top. Gourmet san juan islands kayak tour kayak food tour. Paddle your own kayak or paddleboard, or set out with one of the many knowledgeable outfitters on san juan, orcas, or lopez island. Experience the very best of life on the salish sea. This is a fully outfitted and catered kayak tour that allows you to travel with next to nothing to join the tour. Youll have a greater opportunity to kayak with our beloved orcas, humpbacks and bald eagles which call the san juan islands home. The san juan river is a spectacular, the most scenic river i have paddled thus far the current is strong, so paddling is effortless when no wind is blowing. San juan kayak expeditions multiday guided kayak trips.
More alaska fjord charters private multiday adventures. Those looking for a leisurely day of riding can tool around the mostly flat, rural lopez island. The girls went ashore for groceries and the guys were walking the docks. While the book does not lay out extended trips other than short overnighters, it was very simple to use a chart in conjunction with this book to plan our extremely successful trip. Inside passage cruises best classic alaskan cruises. If you want to expand your san juan excursion to a nearby island, this might be just the perfect way. Book either a group or a private tour with their crew. This is thanks to their neighboring landmasses the olympic peninsula and vancouver island. You have a slightly better chance of spotting an orca whale from your kayak, as the three southern resident pods frequent haro strait or boundary pass.
Crystal seas kayaking san juan islands kayak tours and. San juan islands kayaking trips anacortes kayak tours. In other words, theyre the renegade trailfolk who will be blogging their thruhikes right here on. Take scenic hikes to panoramic views of the surrounding islands and peaks, and bike the quiet back roads of orcas island to reach the highest peak in the san juans.
San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching whale. Spend a halfday kayaking the placid waters of roche harbor with a naturalistguide. We are planning a trip to the islands in midoctober. Their job is to be adventurous and share their experiences in vivid detail. I also offer sup and kayak lessons available throughout the year at salmon bay paddle. From wine tastings to a brew fest, farmers markets to farm tours, the 12th annual savor officially kicks off september 21. Our experience of nearly four decades will ensure a safe, educational and rewarding experience. Kayaking puget sound, the san juans and gulf islands. San juan islands lime kiln point state park is a prime whalewatching site with knowledgeable interpreters often on site. Half day kayak trips also work well for people who arent sure if they will enjoy sea kayaking and want to get a brief first taste of the sport.
Even though these islands are located very close to where i live near seattle, this trip was the first and only time id ever actually kayaked in the san juans. The outfitters give you a quick lesson in kayaking or paddleboarding and safety before you settle into your vessel. Half and full day kayaking tours, sunset and bioluminescence kayak tours and camping kayak tours. With the proper amount of planing and initiative you can tackle the san juans without a guide. Kayaking the san juans marine trail outdoorsnw magazine. Step onto horseshoeshaped orcas island, drop your suitcase or backpack, and drink in the green paradise the locals call the gem of the san juans. Day 3 kayak the west side of san juan island or whale watch cruise this morning you can enjoy breakfast and then get ready for a great day on the water. Requiring only 4 hours door to door, our san juan island half day kayak tours are the perfect blend of time and adventure. Children that are at least 6 years of age and their families will have a blast on this tour. The surrounding marine environment is ideal paddling for all experience levels. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers.
Halfday morning and sunset kayak tours are the perfect choice for those who have very limited time but really want to experience sea kayaking in the san juan islands. San juan island sunset kayak tour spectacular colors and. Whether its whalewatching and sea kayaking, touring an art gallery or browsing a local farmers market, the san juan islands offer pleasing diversions for every age and interest. Kayaks await passengers on the san juan islands marine trail. A 3 day sea kayaking expedition in the pnw islands youtube. Lopez island has so much to offer from beachcombing, biking, hiking, kayaking, whale watching, exploring and. Cypress island is one of the wildest and unpopulated large islands due to the fact there is no ferry access and most of the island is department of natural resources, dnr land. San juan island half day kayak tours our most popular. Extraordinary sea kayaking in the beautiful san juan islands. Visit the village of kake and count the many totems on their 2foot pole, dancing, and telling stories that reveal a new perspective of the.
Coast by sea kayaker magazine, crystal seas kayaking offers 26 day tours in the san juan islands. Contact us to learn more about our nationally recognized kayak tours. San juan outfitters is the only company in the san juan islands that offers family specific kayak tours. Signup for half, full day, or 24 day kayaking tours.
Crystal seas kayaking specializes in guided 3 hour, full day, sunset and multiday kayaking and multisport trips in washingtons san juan islands from april to october. And though tucked in the wet pacific northwest, this remote archipelago is located. Often stopping at posey island state park for tide pooling and exploring, the. Relied on this book to plan an eight day kayaking camping trip through the san juans. Our routes take you where orcas and diverse wildlife dwell, where scenery inspires and where others dont go. Join a guided overnight kayak trip and camp on one or more of the san juan islands. The ww is somewhat challenging and i would not recommend running it in canoes with no ww experience. Kayak trips from san juan island offer unobscured views of the olympic mountains and of vancouver island, just the other side of the canadian border. Explore orcas island washington san juan islands visitors.
Kayaking the san juan islands outdoor odysseys kayak tours. We are locally owned and operated by second generation islanders on san juan island and proudly. Hop on the interisland ferry to orcas island for your sailing trip with northwest classic day sailing. After refueling on shore, well explore the rocky shores and eventually arriving back at san juan county park. Kayaking san juan islands outdoor odysseys kayak tours.
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