Any standup paddleboard trip to Freshwater Bay starts with me double-checking the GoPro and camera battery before I ever leave the house. Located 13 miles west of Port Angeles on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, this is one of the most camera-friendly paddling locations between Seattle and the Washington coast. The bay also hosts a wonderful array of marine life making any paddle trip here a special experience and one I highly recommend for paddlers of any level.
The parking lot can be busy with boaters and their trailers on busy fishing days and there aren’t many soft places to put your board while getting ready but there is one small area of grass next to the roomy but smelly pit toilet bathroom. I’ve changed out of my wetsuit inside this luxury facility and can I tell you -- man, if you have to go in there, make it quick! Death is imminent.
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Once you are on your board you will find the bay is really well protected from the common summer west winds that travel down the Strait of Juan de Fuca so paddlers of any level can have a good experience on most days. This is Washington so yes, it may be cloudy and yes, it may sprinkle a few drops of rain but who cares, you should be in some warm paddle gear and besides, with rain comes rainbows so enjoy it!
Rain or shine, you’ll have a wide variety of wildlife to scope out. From harlequin ducks and surf scoters to river otters and some of the most amazing bull kelp forests you’ve ever seen; you’ll be getting an eye-full no matter where you look. Be on the lookout for whales in the distance and large schools of juvenile herring just below your board. If you aren’t amazed by the natural wonders around you, YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG!
For more advanced paddlers you can venture west past Bachelor Rock and into a number of pocket beaches surrounded by high bluffs that will enchant you on your way west. Look for sea stars at the water line and listen for the odd sounds that come from the water sloshing in and out of caverns and crevices that the water has been patiently carving there for thousands of years.
SAFETY NOTE: If you do decide to make this longer trek, bring a VHF radio. Once you go around that corner at Bachelor Rock you are mostly out of sight of all human eyes. If something goes wrong, you are on your own. The weather conditions here change in an instant so be sure you’re wearing proper gear and have water and some food. You will struggle with your cell phone here because it will try to connect to Canadian cell towers and you’ll be "roaming" or the phone may not connect at all. Just be smart people!
SAFETY NOTE: If you do decide to make this longer trek, bring a VHF radio. Once you go around that corner at Bachelor Rock you are mostly out of sight of all human eyes. If something goes wrong, you are on your own. The weather conditions here change in an instant so be sure you’re wearing proper gear and have water and some food. You will struggle with your cell phone here because it will try to connect to Canadian cell towers and you’ll be "roaming" or the phone may not connect at all. Just be smart people!
If you looking for a guided tour of the bay and expert SUP instruction email Salmon Bay Paddle or visit Adventures Through Kayaking in Port Angeles. Adventures through Kayaking features Harbinger Winery right next door which has a great space for sharing your post-paddle stoke over a couple of glasses of their award winning wines.
On the way back through Port Angeles visit The Blackbird Coffeehouse. They have wonderful sandwiches and serve Stumptown coffee. Next Door Gastropub is the hot spot for a post paddle beer and dinner but be ready to wait for a table, it’s THE place to be in Port Angeles and their food really is worth the wait. Just thinking about their Dungeness crab mac ‘n cheese is making my mouth water right now…oh my goodness, so good.
Other places to stop in Port Angeles: Feiro Marine Life Center - Learn about all marine life you’ll see on the water. Swain’s – Their slogan is “Swain’s Has Everything” and it does. I can’t explain it, just go there! Country Aire Natural Market – Natural foods grocery store with a great deli. If you have questions about this trip or any others, just email me! |
GEAR PICTURED IN THIS POST: Bic Tracer 12'6" paddleboard, Riviera Vantage Adjustable Paddle, Bic Wing 12'6" paddleboard, Seattle Sports deck bag, Tahoe Zephyr 14' paddleboard, NRS grommeted dry bag, Kialoa Methane II paddle