Days
<1
Motors Allowed?
Yes
Difficulty
Easy / Class A
Distance
9.00 mi (14.48 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Kayaking the Duwamish Waterway is by no means a wilderness experience. Instead, it offers paddlers a unique opportunity to kayak among the giant ships, fishing boats, and varied coastline near the Port of Seattle as container ships come and go from Elliot Bay. A popular place to put-in is the Duwamish Waterway Park. From there, head north past the ever-changing urban landscape near Boeing and the Port of Seattle. Be on the lookout for oncoming shipping traffic in this narrow waterway. The Lower Duwamish Waterway is a Superfund cleanup site from years of industrial development that has left the waterway contaminated. Although wildlife along the route is not as prevalent as other areas of the Puget Sound and the surrounding waterways, there is still an opportunity to see salmon, seals, and even sea lions.

The route can be lengthened or shortened depending on the skill level of the group, but a popular trip is to paddle to Elliot Bay around Harbor Island and back. The Duwamish Waterway makes a great half-day adventure that is easy to reach from Seattle.

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Unique paddle close to Seattle. Interesting views.

Cons

Congestion. Shipping traffic.

Features

Fishing
Picnic tables
Bird watching
Wildlife

Site characteristics: Water

Sound/Strait

Portage required

No

Location

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