Duwamish White Water! (kind'a, sort'a)

Pancake Paddle Special Edition--The lowest tide of the year means it's time for our annual drift on Seattle's river, the Duwamish. Come see a surprising side of industrial south Seattle that you never knew existed--a fully functioning riparian environment smack-dab in the middle of a major metropolis. Watch the rural riverbanks transition to heavy industry with plenty of history along the way as we take advantage of this amazingly low -3.9 tide. We'll see river birds of the wading, paddling and soaring variety. Maybe even a seal.

The North Wind's Weir has played a central role in the Duwamish people's stories and culture. During the lowest tide of the year the North Winds Weir also happens to produce the one and only rapid on the Duwamish River. Pancake Paddlers will have the option to shoot the 1 foot high rapid (see photo) or take the short portage around. All first timers over the rapid are awarded a lifetime membership in the oh-so-exclusive Duwamish White Water Club.

We will pre-position one or two shuttle vehicles 5 miles down river at Duwamish Waterway Park in the South Park neighborhood to shuttle paddlers back to their cars at Codiga Park. Shuttle drivers wanted.

I will be on my SUP equipped with a whistle, a leash and wearing a PFD. PFDs are required on all King County rivers.

*Unfortunately there is no onsite rental availability for this paddle.

See you then!
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ABOUT THE LAKE UNION PANCAKE PADDLE

Eat Swedish pancakes. Then paddle. Beginners are most welcome. If you don't own a kayak, SUP or canoe, they can be rented by the hour at the dock we launch from. This group is open to all paddle craft (kayaks, SUPs, canoes, inflatables, dragon boats, etc.) and gathers regularly on the first Sunday of every month in the lobby of the Swedish Club which is open to the public for their monthly Swedish pancake breakfasts. We enjoy the ten million dollar view and have a Swedish pancake breakfast together to the accompaniment of live Scandinavian folk music. Then we take the short walk down to the dock and leisurely paddle for an hour or so on the placid urban waters of Lake Union, the most unique lake in the world--home to Academy award winning movies, famous art studios, amazing houseboats, float plane airports, historic vessels & sunken battleships, storied Olympic champions, Native American history, magnificent cityscapes, stupendous infrastructure, a surprising amount of wildlife and the birthplace of the Boeing Airplane Co.

We also do "Special Edition" paddles on the lakes and rivers of Western & Central Washington and on Puget's Sound, the Pacific Coast and the San Juans. Special Edition paddles often have no onsite rental availability.