Lopez Island Event - MacKaye Harbor to Watmough Bay Shuttle – L2

When
August 22, 2025
8:30 AM
Location
Mackaye Harbor Boat Launch
Spaces left
6

Registration

Members with wet exit certification
Active club members with wet exit certification, including kayaking professional and lifetime.
TO and Safety
Password Reserved for TO use

Full Name: Tom Waldron
Narrative: This is a shuttle trip between MacKaye Harbor and Watmough Bay. Arrive at the intersection of the Odlin County Park entrance and Odlin Park Road in time to leave at 8:00 am. We’ll drop our boats at the Mackaye Harbor Boat Launch, then shuttle cars over to Watmough Bay. Plan to be on the water by 10 AM. If you have two racks for your car please bring them to minimize the parking spaces we use at Watmough Bay. From the Watmough Bay parking area there is a .25 mile path to the beach so wheels are needed. If you have wheels that fit in your kayak, bring them. That will speed up your loading time from the take-out at Watmough Bay.

Leaving MacKaye Harbor we’ll paddle south, rounding Iceberg Point and then follow the coast line east. Along the way we’ll explore Aleck, Hughes and McArdle Bays. Time permitting we may check out Blind, Castle and Boulder Islands. At Point Colville our group will turn north to our take-out at Watmough Bay. With breaks and lunch our trip should take between 5 – 6 hours. Total mileage estimated to be between 12 to 15 miles.

Meeting Time: 8:30:00 AM
Launch Time: 10:00:00 AM
Type of activity: Paddle Trip
Put in: Mackaye Harbor Boat Launch
Take out: Watmough Bay
Route Alternative for bad weather: TBD
Required equipment: Towline
Minimum Immersion protection: Drysuit
Primary Organizer: Tom Waldron
Co-Organizer(s): Joe Howell
Has organizer paddled here before? No
Has organizer led an OOPS paddle here before? No
Organizer's first aid and CPR current? Yes
First Aid /CPR Person:
Maximum number of paddlers: 8
I certify that I understand and will conduct this activity in accordance with the OOPS Activity Policy: Yes
Estimated Air Temperature: 65
Estimated Water Temperature: 55
Estimated Water Time (including breaks/lunch): 5 - 6 hours
Tide times & heights: 8/22/25: 09:51 AM -1.02’ Low, 17:36 PM 7.56’ High
8/23/25: 03:45 AM 6.56’ High, 10:32 AM -0.55’ Low, 18:01 PM 7.48’ High
8/24/25: 04:41 AM 6.40’ High, 11:09 AM 0.10’ Low, 18:23 PM 7.37’ High

Current information: Current: Point Colville, 1.4 nm East. Mean Flood Direction: 39 deg. / Mean Ebb Direction: 207 deg.
8/22/25: 8:37 AM max ebb -3.25 kts, 12:23 PM slack before flood, 15:36 PM flood 3.49 kts
8/23/25: 9:31 AM ebb -3.33 kts, 13:20 PM slack before flood, 16:22 PM flood 3.21 kts
8/24/25: 6:09 AM slack before ebb, 10:23 AM ebb -3.18 kts, 14:11 PM slack before flood, 17:03 PM flood 2.8 kts

Hazards:
Wind strength: Level 2: 7-12 knots (14 mph) – wind noticeably effects movement of paddle
Swell/Surf size: Level 2: Waves up to 2', no breaking waves
Sea state: Level 2: Waves up to armpit; light to moderate chop, scattered whitecaps
Landing types: Level 2: Frequent landing opportunities including docks or moderate sloping banks, brush or overhanging trees
Currents: Level 2: Mild currents (up to 2 knots): current increases / decreases group speed by half
Total distance: Level 3: 11 to 15 miles
Open crossing: Level 1: Less than 0.5 miles
Paddling Environment:
Overall rating: Level 2
Rating Comments:
Location: MacKaye Harbor Boat Launch
Photos (Optional): yes
COVID-19 Status of Trip: Participants of this trip may, or may not, be vaccinated for Covid-19
Tide Station: 9449994: Aleck Bay, Lopez Island
Link to map of route (Optional)

Oregon Ocean Paddling Society
Portland, Oregon