Kayaking Burrows Island

When: July, 2012
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We launched from Skyline Beach Club in Anacortes. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   48.4925, -122.6875  The black blob on the left side of the photo is an excited little dog that insisted on yipping at us as we packed our boats.

Burrows Island - Launching - Anacortes - Little Dog - Geoff - Laura - Kayak - Geoff - Laura

Tidepooling

Burrows Island provided many opportunities for low-tide exploration. We saw plenty of chitons, starfish, limpets, anemones, crabs, shellfish, tubeworms, and other mysterious creatures. Some of the best creatures were only visible from the water (kayak).

Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Crab Burrows Island - Tidepooling Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Starfish Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Starfish Burrows Island - Tidepooling Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Limpet Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Chiton Burrows Island - Tidepooling Burrows Island - Tidepooling Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Tiny Red Crab Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Tiny Red Crabs Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Anenome Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Starfish Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Starfish Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Limpet Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Chiton Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Gumboot Chiton Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Starfish Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Shell Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Chiton Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Chiton Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Chiton Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Chiton Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Shellfish Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Tubeworm Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Laura Burrows Island - Tidepooling Burrows Island - Tidepooling Burrows Island - Tidepooling

Campsite

We camped at the CMT campsite on Alice Bight on the eastern shore of Burrows Island. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   48.4807, -122.6897 

Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite - Camping Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite - Camping Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite Burrows Island - Anacortes Burrows Island - CMT Campsite Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite

There are two campsites and a very nice toilet.

Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite - Toilet Burrows Island - CMT - Campsite - Toilet - Geoff

We found lots of ripe salmon berries to snack on.

Burrows Island - Berries - Laura Burrows Island - Berries Burrows Island - Berries

Our first day on the island was windy so we stayed out of our kayaks — and explored the forests and tidepools near our campsite instead. Oh, and napped.

Burrows Island Burrows Island - Geoff Burrows Island Burrows Island - Geoff Burrows Island - East Island Hike Burrows Island - East Island Hike - Mushroom Burrows Island - East Island Hike - Flowers - Lily Burrows Island - Slug Burrows Island - Camping - Tent - Nap - Laura

Fun on our beach. In the evening, everything left on the sand would be immediately covered in tiny gnat-sized bugs.

Burrows Island - Beach - Kayak Burrows Island - Tiny Bugs

Kayaking

We had hoped to circumnavigate Burrows Island, but the tides and weather were not in our favor. We did explore the east coast as far south as Young Island, and went around the north coast to the abandoned lighthouse and coast guard station on the west side.

Burrows Island - Kayak - Geoff Burrows Island - Kayak - Laura Burrows Island - Kayak - Geoff Burrows Island - Kayak Burrows Island - Water - Kelp Burrows Island - Tidepooling Burrows Island - Tidepooling - Laura

Abandoned Lighthouse

Burrows Island Light is on the west end of Burrows Island. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   48.4781, -122.7136  It is no longer manned, having been automated in 1972. The remaining structures are decomposing, but a restoration is planned . We landed our kayaks at a small beach on northwest end of the island. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   48.4787, -122.7129 

Burrows Island - West End of Island - Lighthouse Burrows Island - West End of Island - Lighthouse - Intense Fog Signal Burrows Island - West End of Island - Lighthouse Burrows Island - West End of Island - Lighthouse Burrows Island - West End of Island - Lighthouse - Geoff Burrows Island - West End of Island - Laura

There is a trail up to hilltop views on the sparsely-treed south side of the island. Allan Island is the next island to the south.

Burrows Island - West End of Island Burrows Island - West End of Island - Allan Island - Kayak - Geoff - Laura

Burrows Island - Map