Bellingham Sea Kayak Day Trips 

Same delicious views, considerably smaller portions. these trips along the coast of Bellingham are a convenient way to explore out-of-the-way destinations when your schedule is tight.

Nightly Sunset Paddles!  (Wednesday-Sunday evenings)

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

$60/adult, $35/youth (7-13), children (6 & under) free.
   

Join the knowledgeable Elakah staff on lovely paddles around Bellingham Bay every evening, Thursday-Sunday, from 5:30 - 8:30 pm!  There is nothing like sitting in a kayak on a perfectly calm evening watching the sun approach the horizon!  The colors are more vibrant and the flora and fauna are easier to see and approach.  These trips tend to give the best chance at calm winds and mild currents.  The Sunset Paddles are often run at a more leisurely pace, with a focus on enjoying the calm that often accompanies the end of our days here in the Salish Sea.  Sit back, feel the roll of the vibrant water beneath you, and enjoy the sunset!  Call 360-734-7270 to reserve your spot now!  I must meet a minimum of 3 people or equivalent charge in order to run (sorry all you lone couples!).

 

Bellingham Cultural and Natural History Half-day Tours! 

10:00am - 1:00pm or 2:00pm - 5:00pm,  $60/adult, $35/youth (7-13), children (6 & under) free.  

Our Bellingham Cultural and Natural History Half-day Sea Kayak tours are appropriate for all skill levels and abilities. Our tours are scheduled for 10 am until 1 pm OR 2 pm until 5 pm, Wednesday-Sunday.  Call 360-734-7270 to reserve your spot now! If you have your own group (again, I must meet a minimum of 3 people or equivalent charge in order to run), we'll schedule a trip just for you. 

This 3 hour paddle is one of the most scenic and varied available in the Bellingham area.  We start out at the Wildcat Cove Boat Launch in Larrabee State Park (348 Pleasant
Bay Rd, Bellingham, WA 98229).  From here, we travel along impressively scalloped sandstone cliffs.  We often see river otters, seals, cormorants, eagles, loons and oyster catchers along this relatively pristine shoreline.  Our destination is Chuckanut Island in beautiful Chuckanut Bay.  This island is an archaeological site owned by the Nature Conservancy and is well known for its visible shell miden (refuse from 10,000 years of native Salish people’s use).  We can stretch our legs on its beaches and trails, before reloading our boats for the trip back to our launch site.  A lot to see in a relatively short paddle!

We also offer several interpretive or educational half-day trips out of Semiahmoo, Birch Bay and Lummi Island.  Inquire about these great tours by calling 360-734-7270.   All trips are operated on a first to sign up, first served basis, so sign up early!

 

 

 

Custom Trips - Non-scheduled trips can be arranged by appointment. A minimum of 3 people or equivalent charge is required.  (ex. $180.00 per half day tour)   Call 360-734-7270 to schedule.

**Please note... we require at least 3 people in order to run one of our Half or Full Day Trips.  Please call 360-734-7270 before you register online, to be sure we have enough folks to run the trip.  It is possible to run a trip with only 2 people, however we would need to charge you for the cost of three (sorry all of you lone couples!).

 

Return to the main schedule

Sample Itinerary

Through of a mix of learning, hands-on study and group sharing, we will:

Arrive at Wildcat Cove Boat Launch in Larrabee State Park by 10:00 am for morning trips, 2:00 pm for afternoon trips, or 5:30 pm for sunset trips, gather your gear and meet your guide next to the vehicle full of bright yellow boats.  Please arrive, with clothes ready to go kayaking.  For example non-cotton pants or shorts with long johns/tights; soakable footwear (See “What to Bring” below); T-shirts okay if sunny, but have a heavy wool or synthetic shirt or jacket, and a raincoat in your "Day Bag."  We'll unload the boats and gear off of the trailer, learn some skills, and head out on the water. 

This 3 hour paddle is one of the most scenic and varied available in the Bellingham area.  We start out at the Wildcat Cove Boat Launch.  We travel north from there along impressively scalloped sandstone cliffs.  We often see river otters, seals, cormorants, eagles, loons and oyster catchers along this relatively pristine shoreline.  Our destination is Chuckanut (Dot) Island in beautiful Chuckanut Bay.  This island is an archaeological site owned by the Nature Conservancy and well known for its visible shell miden (refuse from 10,000 years of native Salish people’s use).  We can stretch our legs on its beaches and trails, before reloading our boats for the trip back to Wildcat Cove.  If time and weather permit, it is also possible to visit petrified palm tree fossils and a bird sanctuary.  A lot to see in a relatively short paddle!

PADDLING TIME: Our paddling mileage/speed is based on the weather and general strength of the group.  For safety reasons, we travel at the pace of the most leisurely boat and stay together.  We will paddle for 1-2 hours at a stretch with interspersed stops on beaches to relax, view eagles, herons, native flora, and marine life, and to answer nature’s call.  Typically, we may cover 3 to 4 miles over the course of our half-day excursion.

BOATS: Our groups primarily paddle tandem (2 person) kayaks made by Current Designs.  They are very stable, very efficient, and offer our groups the best opportunity to see as much of the beautiful Lummi Island coast as possible in a short period of time.  We do have a couple singles available for use by experienced paddlers, however, it is very hard for a single to keep up with a group of tandem kayaks, so that person would need to be quite a strong paddler.  We reserve the right to choose appropriate boats based on group requirements and individual skill.

Plan for a full, exciting morning or afternoon outdoors. Please be prepared for any kind of weather and bring plenty of warm clothes, snacks and a fun-loving attitude. 

Wildcat Cove Meeting Place Directions:

MEETING TIME AND LOCATION:
Our group will meet on the day of the tour at the Wildcat Cove boat launch (348 Pleasant
Bay Rd, Bellingham, WA 98229) at 10:00 am for morning tours, 2:00 pm for afternoon tours, or
5:30 pm for evening tours. Look for the white van carrying large bright yellow kayaks.

MEETING PLACE DIRECTIONS:
From I-5 Southbound, take the Hwy 11/Chuckanut Drive exit #250 off of Interstate 5 and
head south. Follow Chuckanut Drive through Fairhaven. After leaving Fairhaven, proceed
approximately 5 miles and turn Right at the boat launch sign onto Cove Rd (approximately
1/2 mile before entering Larrabee State Park).

From I-5 Northbound, take exit #231 (Just past Burlington). Turn right onto SR
11/Chuckanut Dr., and drive north 14 miles. Drive past the main Larrabee park entrance and
proceed another 1/2 mile to Cove Rd. Take a left onto Cove Road.

Cove Rd leads down to the RR tracks. Cross the tracks and then turn left and go about a
block and bear off to the left again at the ‘boat launching’ sign. This leads to the parking area
at Wildcat Cove. Please don’t be late because it will reduce everyone’s paddling time. In the
event of an emergency, please call Elakah’s emergency cell phone at 360-734-7270. Look
for a white van and trailer full of yellow kayaks.

PARKING:
Parking is available at the Wildcat Cove Boat Launch.  PLEASE NOTE: The state has recently instituted the requirment for a "Discover Pass" in order to park on any state lands.  The pass costs $10 per vehicle for one day, and $30 for an annual pass.  You can pay for a single day launch at Wildcat Cove in the provided fee envelope.  Or, you can purchase an annual pass ahead of time at Yeager's Sporting Goods and other locations around the state.  Click HERE for more information about the Discover Pass.

ENDING TIME AND LOCATION:
At the end of your trip, we will be taking off of the water by 1:00 pm for morning trips, by
5:00 pm for afternoon trips, and by 8:30 pm for evening trips. The group will empty and
clean the boats, and then if there is no other trip scheduled for the day, we will load them
onto the van.

What Should I Bring?

What should I wear when paddling?

Our general mantra is "Cotton Kills!"  That might be a little extreme, but it is best to avoid cotton if possible in your clothing and sleeping bags.  Cottons retains no thermal capacity when wet and takes forever to dry once it is wet.  Polypropylene, wool, silk and other synthetic fibers are great.

• • Hot Tip:  Go to Goodwill and pick up some old dress clothing (i.e. dress slacks, long sleeve button down dress shirts, etc.).  They make great trail clothes!

"Wet shoes" (Your feet and lower leg, at least up to your knees will get wet, guaranteed! Sandals, aqua socks and rubber boots are all okay.)
Non-cotton pants, which can get wet or can be rolled up, or shorts with long johns/tights. (those old dress slacks work great here!)

Non-cotton long sleeve shirt, good for sun and wind protection. (the old dress shirt fits well here!)
Layers - a T-shirt is good if it gets sunny, but bring a heavy wool or synthetic shirt or sweater and a rain jacket.

Stocking Cap - again, no cotton.  This will make the single biggest difference in your warmth on the water and in camp.

Brimmed Hat and sunscreen to protect from sun.
Gloves if you have poor circulation or are going to be out for a longer period of time.
Sunglasses with a strap.