Island Beach Access

Whidbey Island Sea Kayakers (WISK) – Round the Island Paddle #1: Penn Cove

General area of island: North CENTRAL – Eastside

Nearest town or community: Coupeville

Point to Point launch sites: several... see below

Difficulty: Skill level II-III depending on conditions

Paddle distance/time (one way): variable

Access: Ref: Getting to the Water’s Edge

• Site 26 Captain Coupe Park: Lat/Long: N 48: 13.240 W: 122: 40.175
  From Coupeville, proceed E about 1.5 mi to a public launch site. Or proceed to Long Pt.
• Site 25 Coupeville Warf & Beach access Lat/Long: N 48: 13.240 W: 122: 40.175
• Site 19: Monroe Landing Lat/Long: N 48: 14.421 W: 122: 40. 836
  Going S on Hwy 20 N. of Penn Cove, take Monroe Landing Rd and follow it about 2 mi. to the end. Going N on Hwy 20, take Arnold Rd to Monroe Landing Rd. then turn R.
• Site #22: Grasser’s Lagoon Lat/Long: N 48: 14.042 W: 122: 43.925
  Lagoon is on the s side of Hwy 20 at the NW corner of Penn Cove. 100 ft. off Zylstra Rd. There is a U-shaped pullout.

Special features, attractions, points of interest, warnings: (e.g., best times to paddle, wildlife, scenery)
Many choices here for day trips. If starting or returning to Coupeville, an alternate launch site is Captain Coupe’s Park, closer toward Coupeville. Fewer worries about access at low tide. Kayak access at Coupeville isn’t great, especially at low tide. Access/egress around the pier or at the pier means considerable boat-hauling.

Alternatively, launch at Monroe Landing and plan to paddle round-trip, although a one-way paddle would work at a high tide. A strong westerly wind is often present on most afternoons. Consider launching from Monroe Landing before noon and letting the wind carry you back. Enter Lagoon only when the tide level is fairly high and perhaps still going in, so that you don’t find yourself trapped in there. Parking permit is needed at the Grasser’s Lagoon site. Limited parking is free at Monroe Landing.

Lots of ghost shrimp burrows can be observed along the sandy shores nearest Monroe Landing and as you ‘round a rocky point west of these sandy shores at a low tide, you’ll find lots of mussels clinging to the rocks. Grasser’s Lagoon is a popular clamming spot at low tide. Lots of birds to observe. In the spring an occasional whale might be sighted.

Be sure to check out the mussel barges a mile or 3 W of Coupeville

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.