Three Kayak Adventures in Washington
Get out on the water in a kayak this summer and enjoy the waters of Washington State with one of these three great adventures. Paddle down a gentle river, take a guided tour in the Puget Sound, or paddle in a lake while enjoying views of the Space Needle and downtown Seattle.
1. Kayak the Yakima River’s Tapteal Greenway Water Trail.
Photo credit: Tapteal Greenway
If you like the idea of paddling down a gentle river, enjoying the feel of the summer sun and the sounds of the river, consider the Tapteal Water Trail on a bend of the lower Yakima River. This water trail, which runs 31 miles along the lower Yakima River from Benton City to Bateman Island, was established by the Tapteal Greenway Foundation. There are ten well-spaced launch sites which include three paved launches, three WDFW launches which require a Discover Pass to use, and four more primitive access sites. Kayak the entire trail, or enjoy just one or two of the three sections.
The first section of the trail runs North from Benton City around the bend of the Yakima River along open space and park land. At the top of the bend, you will need to portage around the Wanawish Dam and irrigation diversion dam. Exit on the right/north bank and get back in below the dam. Do not try to float over the dam—it is extremely dangerous.
The middle section, from Snively Road to Hyde Road, has lots of twists and turns. It travels through a more suburban setting and is the best stretch for birdwatching and fall colors.
The lower section, from Hyde Road to Wye Park, is the most urban. This reach of the river has the slowest water, particularly below the Duportail Launch, as it is influenced by the McNary Dam on the Columbia River.
If you want to explore the Greenway but do not have your own equipment, you can rent from Kayak Bateman. They have single and double kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats. No need to transport your kayak; they deliver and pickup from the launch sites.
Photos credit: Tapteal Greenway
2. Explore the Puget Sound near Tacoma on a guided tour.
Photo credit: Metro Parks Tacoma
If a guided kayak tour is more your thing, there are several opportunities in the Tacoma Area this summer.
Explore the iconic Foss Waterway and learn about its history with a two-hour tour with Pretty Gritty Tours. The two-hour long tours, which include kayak rental and life jackets, will be offered on Wednesdays on July 19th and August 3rd at 4:30pm, and on Saturdays on July 22nd and August 5th at 10:30am.
Join a Metro Parks Tacoma guided kayak tour. Tours are available for both beginner and intermediate kayakers, including tours of Boston Harbor Harbor, Blake Island, the Foss Waterway, and a sunset paddle through the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Check the schedule and sign up for tours here.
If you prefer to explore the waters around Tacoma on your own, rent a kayak from the Metro Parks Tacoma rental booth at Owens Beach in Point Defiance Park.
3. Experience the Mercer Slough: A taste of wilderness in the middle of the Seattle metro area.
For a different type of Kayaking experience, try paddling through Mercer Slough. A slough is a swamp or shallow lake system that is a backwater to a larger body of water. Mercer Slough, where Kelsey Creek flows into Lake Washington, was formed in 1917 when the lake level dropped 8 feet with the completion of the Hiram Chittenden Locks. Keep your eyes out for otters, herons, turtles, and other wildlife as you cruise through the waterway. The Slough is part of the 320-acre Mercer Slough Nature Park. Access the slough from the Enatai Beach Park, tucked in under I-90. It is just a short paddle along the shores of Lake Washington into the entrance to the Slough. You can normally launch a kayak directly into the Slough at the Sweyolocken Boat Launch, but that launch is closed for the summer of 2023. If you don’t have your own kayak, rent one from the REI Boathouse at Enatai Beach Park Thursday to Sunday 10am-8pm—reservations are highly recommended. For more information about navigating the slough, check out this blog post from the Outdoors Project.
Be prepared before you head out on a kayak trip. Washington State law requires that vessels of any length have life jackets (aka personal flotation devices) and all passengers 12 years and under must wear life jackets when on the water. Washington State water can be very cold and people drown every year, even when not far from shore. Make sure to bring drinking water and use sunscreen and ask about conditions and hazards before launching if you are not familiar with the area.
