Island Beach Access

Whidbey Island Sea Kayakers (WISK) – Round the Island Paddle #22: CORNET BAY TO ALA SPIT

General area of island: NORTH – Eastside

Nearest town or community: Deception Pass State Park

Point to Point launch sites: #3 Cornet Bay to #5: Ala Spit

Difficulty: Skill level II-II (See chart below)

Paddle distance/time (one way): 2.9 mi

Access: Ref: Getting to the Water’s Edge

• Site #3: Cornet Bay Boat Launch: Lat/Long N 48: 24.064 W 122: 37.349
  Take E. Cornet Bay Rd. off Hwy 20 just across from Deception Pass Park entrance.
• Site #5: Ala Spit Lat/Long N 48: 23. 581 W 122: 35.200
  Turn E off Hwy 30 2 mi S. of Deception Pass Bridge onto Troxell Rd. Travel 4 mi. to Geck Rd. Drop down to road end. Site has limited parking and a porta-potty. Carry kayaks over a few longs. Not bad

Special features, attractions, points of interest, warnings: (e.g., best times to paddle, wildlife, scenery)
Cornet Bay is a well developed Deception Pass State Park site. There are picnic tables, rest rooms, drinking water, boat ramps, lots of parking, a store, etc. The waters of Cornet Bay are protected and a side paddle over to the shores of Ben Ure Island might be considered. Lots of shore birds may be observed around Hoypus Point depending on the season. At Hoypus Point also look for the concrete remains of the ferry launch site that existed before the Deception Pass Bridge was built. If you are launching from Cornet Bay on a one-way paddle and wish to paddle a longer distance, consider paddling around Skagit and/or Hope Island before concluding your paddle at Ala Spit.

Warnings, precautions:
You can perhaps most easily launch from the beach at Cornet Bay on an incoming high tide, at least an hour or so before the current turns. A Tide Table should be checked for timing. Stay close to shoreline to avoid swift currents pouring through Deception Pass. At low tide Cornet Bay empties out west of the boat launch. At Ala Spit, launching at a high tide is almost a must.

Large pile-up of huge logs on south side of Ala Spit makes for difficult carrying of kayak between beach and parking lot. This can change from year to year however. North side of spit is soft mud. Carefully approach Ala Spit on the S. side for an exit, and exit close to the mainland to avoid most logs. Note that the current passing between Hope Island and Ala Spit can be strong, as a large body of water squeezes through this narrow opening. Adjust your direction accordingly. Interestingly, a southerly current will move you southward as you paddle, but an almost equally strong eddy current will bring you back on track.

KAYAKING SKILL LEVEL MATRIX (from Hole in the Wall Paddling Club newsletter)

Information supplied by Whidbey Island Sea Kayakers – May the kelp be with you.