Blake Island State Park Sea Kayaking

Blake Island State Park is located northwest of Vashon Island, and it offers spectacular views of Seattle and the Olympic Mountains. The park offers 44 standard campsites, two primitive sites, and three water trail sites that are designated specifically for kayakers. Tilicum Village, on the eastern side of the island, offers seasonal salmon dinners and traditional Northwest Indian dancing for those looking for a fancier alternative to camp food. To get to Blake Island, put in along Alki Beach and paddle west toward the Alki Lighthouse.  From here, it is a 5-mile paddle to the western point of the island where the water trail sites are located. Though Blake Island is only reachable by boat, warm summer weather can still attract crowds.  

Kayakers can extend the trip by starting at Golden Gardens Park or shorten the trip by launching from Manchester State Park or the north side of Vashon Island.

Note that the crossing from Alki Point to Blake Island is long and the conditions can change quickly with the weather. Kayakers crossing to Blake Island should be aware that they are crossing a major shipping channel. Monitoring channel 14 for shipping traffic with a VHF radio is highly recommended. Also, deer and racoons are a constant problem on Blake Island. Please store your food in kayak hatches or use the food lockers provided at most campsites.