San Juan Islands Kayaking Weekend

San Juan Islands Kayaking Weekend - Classic Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Friday Harbor, Washington.  Depart your hometown and travel to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. Ferry or floatplane transfers are available from Seattle. We meet as a group around 11am at the ferry terminal in Friday Harbor. We’ll drive to our put-in where guides discuss paddling basics with the group and thoroughly review essentials. After loading the kayaks with our gear and provisions, we paddle a short distance to picturesque Posey Island.  Posey Island supports only one group of campers at a time, so we’ll look forward to having the island all to ourselves. We’ll set up camp and eat an amazing dinner as we watch the sun sink into the horizon.  Paddling distance: 3 miles; paddling time: 1 hour; Dinner included.

• Day 2

  After a hearty breakfast we’ll paddle and explore the waters surrounding Posey Island.  A circumnavigation of Henry Island affords great paddling and an opportunity to journey into Haro Straight, a favorite salmon-hunting ground for resident orca whales.  We may alternatively choose to explore the protected waters of Garrison Bay and attempt a hike to the top of Mt. Young for sweeping views of the U.S. and Canadian San Juan Islands. If conditions are favorable, though, we plan to paddle open water today, with waves, tides and currents.  Most often the paddling is moderate, but can be more difficult if conditions are rough.
  
  After a day of kayaking we’ll return to our Posey Island campsite and a well-earned dinner. After dinner, if there is interest, we’ll go for an amazing evening bioluminescence paddle. Paddling distance: 8 miles; paddling time: 5 hours; All meals included.

• Day 3

  After another delicious backcountry breakfast, we break camp and prepare for our final day of paddling.  Depending on where we’ve previously toured, our guides will select a route for today’s last paddle that will provide more opportunities to watch for Salish Sea wildlife, which may include Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals, bald eagles, rhinoceros auklets, marbled murrelets, harlequin ducks and more.  While there is no guarantee you’ll see wildlife while kayaking in the San Juan archipelago, it is a rich, diverse ecosystem and participants typically enjoy great wildlife viewing opportunities.  After a day of paddling we will get you back into Friday Harbor in time for an evening ferry ride or flight home.  Flights departing Friday Harbor should be scheduled for after 5:30 p.m.  Flights home from Seattle should be scheduled for after 9 p.m.  We recommend allowing plenty of flexibility on your return to Seattle.  While we plan on returning to Friday Harbor in time for the 5:00 p.m. ferry back to Anacortes, we cannot guarantee that the ferries will run on time.  REI Adventures always recommends purchasing travel insurance, especially if you’ve planned your air itinerary around the 5:00 p.m. ferry departure.

San Juan Islands Kayaking Weekend - Island Hopper Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today at 11:00 am at Memorial Circle in Friday Harbor, WA, 100 meters north of the Ferry Terminal. Depart your hometown and travel to Friday Harbor, San Juan Island. We'll proceed north along the waterfront to our exclusive kayak launching facility on the north end of the Port where we will review gear and basic itinerary details. We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the waterfront while discussing paddling technique and reviewing navigation charts of the upcoming adventure. After loading the kayaks with our gear and provisions, we paddle along the undeveloped eastern shore of San Juan Island along the University of Washington Nature Preserve. We will cross the channel and paddle through the Wasp Islands before taking a break for a short hike on Yellow Island, a remote nature preserve managed fulltime by the Nature Conservancy. Yellow Island is know for it's rich history and spectacular early summer wildflowers. After our short break, we'll continue paddling northeast towards Jones Island State Park, our camp for night one of the journey. We'll set up camp and enjoy a wonderful, homemade meal with locally grown organic ingredients.

• Day 2

  After a hearty breakfast and hot cup of coffee or tea, we'll pack up our camp and load the boats before heading out on the next leg of the trip. Depending on tides and weather, we will plan to paddle and explore the scenic northern shorelines of San Juan Island. We'll cover approximately eight miles today, heading northwest through one of the most spectacular sections of the islands, wildlife abound. We will stop for a waterfront lunch along the northern coastline of San Juan Island. Our tour will take us through the Speiden Channel on the north end of the archipelago, passing along the expansive shorelines of Cactus Island and John's Island. Adjacent to the famed Haro Straight, a favorite salmon-hunting ground for resident orca whales, we may encounter waves, tides and strong currents. We will land on Stuart Island via Reid Harbor, where we will set up camp for the night and enjoy another thoughtfully prepared dinner. Our guides will take us out on a short hike to Turn Point lighthouse for sweeping views of the U.S. and Canadian San Juan Islands and the best sunsets in the country. Most often the paddling is moderate, but can be more difficult if conditions are rough.

• Day 3

  After another delicious backcountry breakfast, we break camp and prepare for our final day of paddling. Depending on tides and weather, we may decide to venture out on a morning hike led by our knowledgeable guides. We will paddle south through Reid Harbor and cross the Speiden Channel once again. When weather permits and group endurance is high, we may paddle through John's passage and circumnavigate Stuart Island before saying goodbye to this beautiful place. We will paddle between Stuart and Henry, one of the most breathtaking paddles in the Pacific Northwest. We will stop on the west side of Henry Island for lunch, highlighted by expansive views of the North Cascade Mountains to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the Southwest. Our tour will finish today between 3-4pm in Roche Harbor where our luggage and shuttle van awaits. Our guides will transport us back to Friday Harbor ferry terminal, or local lodging. Flights departing Friday Harbor should be scheduled for after 5:30 p.m. Flights home from Seattle should be scheduled for after 9 p.m. We recommend allowing plenty of flexibility on your return to Seattle. REI Adventures always recommends purchasing travel insurance, this is especially true if you have planned your air itinerary around ferry schedules.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. The final paddling route is left up to the discretion of the guides, and is based upon trip members’ skill and weather conditions, including wind, waves and currents.

Major: Seattle-Tacoma International, Seattle, WA
Smaller: Friday Harbor, WA (serviced by Kenmore Air)

This trip begins in Friday Harbor, Washington on Day 1. In order to arrive at the start point of the trip on time, you may be required to depart your hometown one or more days prior to Day 1 and travel on an overnight flight.  Before purchasing any airline tickets, carefully check to see that your arrival date in Washington coincides with the start date (Day 1) and time on the itinerary. Please contact us to confirm your trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate prior to purchasing your airline tickets and with any additional questions regarding your travel schedule. This trip ends in Friday Harbor, Washington on Day 3.

Professional instruction and guiding; all meals from dinner on Day One through lunch on Day Three; 2 nights camping accommodation, double kayaks including all kayaking equipment.

Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; park entrance fees where required; insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

The San Juans average 50% less precipitation than Seattle. This is due to the rain shadow effect of the Olympic Mountains located to the south and west.  During summer months, expect moderate to warm daytime temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s with evening temperatures in the 50s. Most days are sunny with occasional fog in the early morning. Rain is always a possibility in the Northwest, though, so adequate raingear is still important.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

The San Juans average 50% less precipitation than Seattle. This is due to the rain shadow effect of the Olympic Mountains located to the south and west.  During summer months, expect moderate to warm daytime temperatures in the upper 60s and 70s with evening temperatures in the 50s. Most days are sunny with occasional fog in the early morning. Rain is always a possibility in the Northwest, though, so adequate raingear is still important.

Gear Checklist