Seattle - Alki Beach

Trip Overview

With spectacular views of the Seattle skyline, the snow-capped Olympic Mountains, Alki Beach and the Alki Point Lighthouse, as well as Mt Rainier, this is one of the best kayaking adventures in the Seattle area. This was my first winter paddle of 2022, and a beautiful crisp blue sky day in Seattle. Check out our full video for all these highlights, as well as some great tips on kayaking in winter.

On a Friday afternoon in mid-January I set out from Don Armeni Boat Ramp around noon, paddled around Luna Park, and all the way along Alki Beach to the Alki Point Lighthouse, for a total round trip distance of 6 miles, and 3 hours duration with pull-out around 3pm. Winds were light, about 2-3 knots, currents were not noticeable, waves were small along Alki Beach at around 6 inches, but increased to 1-2 feet high around the north end of Alki Point Lighthouse. This is a great kayak trip for all levels of paddlers, from beginner to advanced. There are lots of places to put in, pull out, and take a rest stop along this route, and rentals are available in-season on Alki Beach. This route is also suitable for paddle boarding and canoeing. With video in 4K UHD and some cool drone aerials, be sure to check out the following highlights:

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
0:33 - Alki Beach Location
0:40 - Route and Distance
0:49 - Don Armeni Boat Ramp
1:02 - Aerials of Boat Ramp, Seattle, Alki Point
1:32 - Seattle Skyline from Alki Beach
1:35 - Olympic Mountains from Alki Beach
1:55 - Tips on Launching, Winds, Currents, Waves
3:09 - Arriving Alki Beach
5:37 - Alki Point
5:42 - Alki Point Lighthouse
6:32 - How to Mount GoPro to Kayak
7:42 - Rest Stop on Alki Beach
7:55 - Aerials of Alki Beach
8:47 - Tips on Paddling at Alki Beach
9:37 - Tips on Winter Kayaking
10:10 - Seattle-Bainbridge Ferry
10:15 - Seattle Fast Ferry
10:22 - More Tips on Kayaking in Winter
10:52 - Paddle Boarding in Front of Olympic Mountains
11:20 - Mt Rainier
11:32 - Salty's on Alki Beach

What a great first paddle of 2022! Check out our playlist Kayaking in the Pacific Northwest for 30+ other great kayaking trips including kayak trips of the Seattle Waterfront, Lake Union, and Seattle-North / Discovery Park. Looking forward to many more amazing kayaking trips throughout the year. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified as we release new trips.

Happy kayaking!

Resources

• Check winds, currents, and tides: https://deepzoom.com