Tulalip Casino Orca Display North Of Everett WA

Sea Kayaking Orcas Island WA

Visitors Guide - Hotels - Attractions

The Ultimate Kayaking Destination

If you're thinking of Kayaking around  Orcas Island and the San Juan's you are certainly not alone.   Thousands of people come here each year to experience for themselves the incredible beauty of the islands and to get a glimpse of the abundant wildlife.     As your kayak silently glides along you are likely to see bald eagles soaring overhead, dolphins jumping nearby, and curious seals swimming over for a look-- you might wonder who's doing the sightseeing and who's being watched.   If you are extremely fortunate you may be visited by a  pod of Orcas making their way around the island.    

Orca Whales   

With a name like Orcas Island you would think the surrounding waters were teaming with Orca whales, and while the whales are free to swim anywhere they choose and do eventually make their way just about everywhere, they do have their favorite areas where they seem to prefer.      One of the most consistent places for whale sightings is right along the west and southwestern shores of  San Juan Island.    There is a voluntary no-motorboat zone offshore from the Lime Kiln park where the Orcas are free to relax and not be bothered by the constant buzzing of motorboats like in other busier waterways.     If you're dreaming of kayaking amongst a pod of Orcas you need to have realistic expectations.   First of all, it is illegal to approach the whales directly or to bother the whales in any way.    The Orcas can be very curious and will sometimes approach a kayak for a swim-by or even dive under your boat, but you need to understand that this doesn't happen every time.          

Orcas island is uniquely suited for kayaking due to its relatively protected bays of East Sound & West Sound, as well as its proximity to the very popular  Sucia, Patos, and Matia Islands located off its north shore.    These three marine parks are reachable only by boat or floatplane and are amongst the most beautiful in all the San Juan's.    These islands are also the perfect destination for a a multi-day kayaking trip.                                    More Information About These Islands

Driving Directions From Seattle To Anacortes Ferry Terminal   MAP IT 

• Take I-5 North  64 1/2 Miles
• Take the WA-20 exit-  AND EXIT 230 toward BURLINGTON - ANACORTES 
• Turn LEFT onto WA-20 / W RIO VISTA AVE / AVON CUTOFF. Continue to follow WA-20 W.   11.6 miles
• WA-20 W becomes WA-20 SPUR W.  2.6 miles
• Turn Right onto COMMERCIAL AVE / WA-20 SPUR.  1.2 miles
• Turn LEFT on 12th street. (After you pass a McDonalds on your right)
• Continue  on 12th which becomes Oaks Ave and keep going until you see signs for the Washington State Ferry Terminal and you will veer right into the toll booth lanes.  

Orcas Island Kayak Rentals

Some things to consider:

• The time of year of your visit may determine what kind of weather to expect.  Although in the Pacific Northwest you never know what to expect.

• Do you own a kayak or will you be renting one?   There are numerous kayak rentals scattered around the island that offer everything from hourly rentals to overnight multi island tours. 
• How much time will you be spending on Orcas?  Orcas is a big island so If you're only going to be there a short time you will want to begin your kayaking near the areas that interest you most.    Don't think you can paddle around the island in just a few hours.  
• Do you want the safest and most protected journey or something more exciting?  When the wind picks up, anywhere around the island can get wild, however there are places off the northern shore that even a 50 ft yacht wouldn't want to be during a storm.   The inner bays offer a pretty good level of protection from wind and waves but they too can get rough when there is a southerly wind or during an especially bad storm.
• Are you content with paddling around with puffins and harbor seals or do you just gotta be with the dolphins andwhales? 
• Do you break out in a sweat after a 10 minute paddle or can you go for hours?  The tidal currents around the San Juan's can be very swift so you should always be aware of the tides when planning your crossings to other San Juan Islands.

MULTI-ISLAND PADDLING TRIPS

The 3 most popular islands north of Orcas island for kayakers are  SUCIA ISLAND MARINE PARK  - MATIA ISLAND - PATOS ISLAND

ORCAS ISLAND MAP              Orcas Island Moran State Park