Twin Rivers to Neah Bay Kayak Tour Guide
The Strait of Juan De Fuca and Lake Ozette offer kayaking for persons of all skill and ability levels. This guide is intended to provide information to encourage safe and responsible use of this very beautiful wilderness area.
Lake Ozette is a very good training location. Warm water, easy kayak launch, and shallow sandy bottom allow beginners an opportunity to practice safety maneuvers. Kayak campers can paddle to water access only camping locations in the Olympic National Park.
On the Straits of Juan de Fuca west of Sekiu you are likely to see Gray Whales, California Sea Lions, and Sea Otters which are resident to this area. Oyster catchers, Black Turnstones, lots of Eagles and many migrating bird species will be seen at various times of the year.
The water conditions range from calm protected bays, great for first timers,
to violent tidal rips with currents which often exceed kayak capability.
Fortunately most of these conditions are predictable and allow the responsible
kayaker to avoid unpleasant situations. 
The most reliable factor to consider in your tour is tide. Well actually we don't care so much about tide (except for launching and retrieval) as we do the associated current and the effect it has on the waves. The current is predominately outward. During maximum tide exchanges current velocity can be as high as 10 miles per hour around the points. On a minus tide series the current may continuously ebb for several days. During normal tide exchanges the actual change in direction may come several hours after the tide change. Use current tables to plan your tour. Remember the velocity on your current tables usually is for the center of the Straits.
The wind and current going in opposite directions steepens and magnifies
the wave height turning an otherwise good kayaking day into an ordeal. The
normal wind pattern for the western Straits in the summer is relatively
calm in the morning with a building westerly accelerating eastward till
just before sundown when in calms again. These thermal winds are called
onshore flow and the effect is greater the hotter it is in the Puget Sound
basin. Another predictable, though less common wind, is the easterly coming
down the Fraser River Canyon and accelerating out into the ocean up to 50
mph. Both these conditions are predicted with fair reliability on Seattle
weather reports. Plan the location and direction of your paddle on the current
and wind prediction. 
Low pressure systems usually produce winds from the South. The high ridges adjacent to the beach cause these winds to blow over the nearshore and hit the water somewhere outside the kelp line. The result often is a relatively calm kelpline with offshore winds that would blow you to Canada. Experienced kayakers may find tolerable conditions even during storms by finding the zone just outside the surf line.
Always wear protective outerwear, neoprene, or dry shell suit. I have seen people in wet clothing get hypothermic on warm sunny days. Don't let a rollover spoil your day. The water temperature dropped from 52 in June to 46 in late August during the summer of "99".
Be aware that many of the offshore rocks may have bird nests with eggs
or chicks. If you frighten the parent off the nest the babies are vulnerable
to predators. Sea otters use the kelp as a haven, don't pursue them. Be
informed as to the laws protecting marine mammals, animal harassment, and
sensitive habitat areas. 
WARNING!!!
I have intentionally excluded the Neah Bay to Cape flattery leg as I do
not believe it should be attempted without local knowledge or power boat
support. These waters are open seas and conditions can become extreme with
the tide change. Paddlers should be prepared to paddle over 20 miles in
rough sea conditions and have a bomb proof self rescue system.
Please take time to make prior contact with resort owners and ask about
day use fees for the use of facilities. Many of us are on private water
systems and other utilities that are very expensive to maintain. 
This guide will rate the sensitivity of each leg of the tour to wind and current with the following scale.
LOW = O.K. for sit on top kayaks, close to land support
MEDIUM = experienced set on top, lots of paddling if the wind changes
HIGH = fast seaworthy touring kayaks, long way to land support
EXTREME = seaworthy power boat support recommended
The milepost markers on HWY 112 begin (mm0.0) at the boundary of the Makah Reservation. The Neah Bay Harbor is 3 miles further west. I have included the longitude of the beach access points and landmarks which approximates the land mileage. One minute of longitude on the water + approx. 1mile on HWY 112.
| LAUNCH/RETRIEVE | 112 MILEPOST | LONGITUDE | RATING |
| West of Neah Bay | (SEE WARNING) | - | Extreme |
| Neah Bay Marina | -3.0 | 124'35.7" | LOW-protected, full land support |
| Snow Creek Resort | 1.2 | 124'32.8" | LOW-offshore rocks moderate current full land support, sandy beach |
| Rassmussen Creek | 4.0 | 124'29.4" | LOW-protected with potential surf Sandy beach at high tide | Shipwreck Point | 6.8 | 124'25.6" | LOW-Potential surf. sandy beach at all tides |
| Sekiu River Bridge | 9.8 | 124'23.7" | LOW-Potential surf, all private land at mouth of River, good landmark |
| Kydaka Point | 124'21.7" | - | Medium-no landing, fast current and tide rip, no Land access |
| Sekiu Point | 15.0 | 124'17.8" | Medium-exposed to wind and current full Sekiu Marina land support. Docks and sandy beaches |
| Clallam Co. Park | 16.0 | 124'15.4" | Low-Clallam River estuary, very Protected sandy beaches, Public restrooms |
| Slip Point | 16.8 | 124'15.4" | High- Huge breaking waves, can build, at point high surf potential on beaches |
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| Pillar Point Rock (landmark only) (75 foot high pillar rock) |
- | 124'06.1" | High-breaking waves, current and tide rip potential |
| Pillar Point Public Recreation Area |
29.5 | 124'05.9" | LOW-Beautiful shallow protected sand bay, 1000' tide flat at low water, Boat launch. Public restrooms |
| Silver King R.V. Campground |
31.6 | 124'o3.7" | LOW-Very protected, land support, marina breakwater all mud at low water |
| Unnamed Beach Access |
35.3 | 124'01" | LOW-Highway access only, gravel beach |
| Twin Rivers Public | 38.5 | 123'.57" | LOW-MEDIUM-Protected but high surf Potential, no facilities |
article by Steve Boothe