Do you know of a place to paddle that others may not know about or may not know how to get to?
Whether it's salt or fresh water, here's the place to list it. Just drop us an email with all the details.
Here's our growing list of great places to paddle.
GREAT LAKES within an hour of Discovery Bay
Lake Aldwell (240 acres)* - Hwy 101 West thru Port Angeles; about 5 miles beyond town you will cross the Elwah River bridge, watch for the brown sign to Lake Aldwell/Indian Creek Campground (isn’t a campground any more, unfortunately) and turn Right on Lake Aldwell Road, follow it past Olympic Raft & Kayak store (stop in to see Dave for end of season deals!) and go to the end of the road. This lake is an incredible place to paddle, very peaceful and has a secret! When you get to what looks like the end of the lake, it turns left and then right and goes on all the way to the dam! There is a good place, the only place actually, to land on the right side of the lake before the left turn…great for a quick, primitive potty stop! Remember, pack it in, pack it out!
Lake Anderson (68 acres)* - Hwy 101 South to Hwy 20 toward Port Townsend; Right on Anderson Lake Rd; about 3 miles on the left (watch for the brown sign, it comes past fast!). There is usually a nesting pair of eagles on the lake. Fishing is great early in the season, later in the season the lake gets kind of green with algae because it is not naturally fed by any streams.
Be sure to take a few moments to look up...there is a nesting pair of eagles at this lake, been here for many years. You could also see an Osprey at the other end of the lake. LOTS of ducks and other birds! Bring your fishing pole and license, this lake was stocked the last week in April and is ready to go! Ask Mary at the lake what they're biting on, but, be prepared for a full dissertation! Access is from dawn to dusk. You will need to pay the $5.00 use fee to launch your boat, or purchase an annual pass (you can get one from Mary for $50. (no change available here) for all WA State Parks (or get one online from Washington State Parks website).
Crescent Lake - West on Hwy 101 about 20 miles west of Port Angeles, this HUGE lake is an amazing shade of green & blue. Easy launch from the log cabin launch, parking is limited, restroom available. Good launch spots along Hwy 101 in the rest stops.
Crocker Lake (65 acres) - Hwy 101 SOUTH, pass under Hwy 104, on you left just a bit past the underpass is a parking area with a pit toilet. You shouldn’t fish this lake…sad story…they poisoned the lake over 5 years ago to kill off something (plant or fish) and the lake has never recovered from this. There are some water plants and may even be some fish, but, DON’T eat anything from this lake. It IS safe to paddle, though! It’s that pretty little lake on the left that you see when coming back from Silverdale and the Hood Canal Bridge!
Gibbs Lake - This is a Jefferson County Park, an undiscovered gem! Hwy 101 to SR 20, turn Right on Anderson Lake Rd and follow it until it ends at SR 19, turn west onto West Valley Road (corner of Chimacum School and Tri-Area Community Center); proceed for 4 miles and watch for sign directing you to Jefferson County Park on Gibbs Lake Road. This is a primitive park and all the trails are used for bikes, hikers and for horseback riders, so be careful where you step!
Horseshoe Lake (13 acres) - Approximately 3 miles southwest of Port Ludlow. Fishing should be fair for rainbows in this small lake; Fish should average 9 to 11 inches.
Leland Lake (100 acres)* - Hwy 101 SOUTH, pass under Hwy 104 and stay on Hwy 101 until you see the green sign for mile marker 289 Lake Leland/Leland Valley Road WEST. It's a right hand turn about 2-3 miles from the underpass. The boat launch is at the end of the parking lot on the right. There is also a small campground across the street on the left. ONLY $8.00/night, no water or electric, cute little campground though! Pit toilet in the campground and near the boat launch. Fishing from the dock is pretty good! WATCH FOR MUGGLES in the summer, this is a popular lake! This is a Jefferson County Park lake. Bring your fishing pole and license-they stock this lake and it LOADED with beautiful rainbow trout, yellow perch, crappie and blue gil! Saw a HUGE Osprey, a falcon a bald eagle and even a phineated woodpecker last visit! GREAT BIRD WATCHING DAY!!
Lake Mills - Hwy 101 West thru Port Angeles; about 4.5 miles beyond town, at the bottom of the curve (before the Elwah River Bridge) turn Left onto Olympic Hot Springs Rd and follow it up into the hills, along the Elwah River, cross the river and a bit further up the road ends at Lake Mills. This lake is often VERY windy, so, it may not be easy to paddle out and back!
Lake Ozette - West on Hwy 101, take Hwy 12 and go about 20 miles. Watch for Olympic National Forest sign after passing thru Sekiu, turn Left and it’s a windy forest road about 13 miles up. 15 or so primitive campsites close to the lake. There is also an island you can camp on, might need a permit.
Pleasant Lake (500 acres) - Located along Highway 101 about 8 miles northeast of Forks.
Sandy Shore Lake (36 acres)* - Hwy 101 to Hwy 104 (toward Hood Canal Bridge), just past mile marker 6 there is a sign on the right that says Sandy Shore Lake Road, turn here. Stay to the left and watch out for potholes in the gravel road. NOTE: one weekend a month you can't access the lake as there are remote control boat races on this lake. This is a forest lake, 1.7 miles on a gravel road to the lake owned by Pope Resources. Bring your fishing pole and license-they stock this lake and it LOADED with beautiful rainbow trout! This is a beautiful forest lake. Saw a HUGE Osprey and an immature bald eagle last visit!
Sutherland Lake (370 acres) - Hwy 101 West thru Port Angeles, about 10 miles out, on the left. This is a beautiful big lake, but, it has houses and motorboats and lake lice (jet ski’s) all around. There is a state access with boat launch and two toilets available.
Tarboo Lake (24 acres)* - Hwy 101 to Hwy 104 (toward Hood Canal Bridge), exit Olympic Music Festival/Quilcene (before the Chimacum exit), go around under the freeway and turn right at the stop sign, go to just past mile marker 9 and turn right on the Tarboo Lake Rd., stay to the right at any turn decisions you come to, this is 3 miles of gravel/dirt road that dead ends at the lake. There is a kinda grubby outhouse, but, it usually has paper and works in desperation! Be sure to take a few moments to look up...there is a nesting pair of osprey at this lake, been here for many years. LOTS of ducks and other birds! Bring your fishing pole and license! This is a beautiful forest lake, darkened by the tannins from the fallen trees in the lake.
Teal Lake (15 acres) - Hwy 101 to Hwy 104 (toward Hood Canal Bridge), make a Left just before the Hood Canal Bridge and go up the hill to the lake. Latitude: 47.89361 Longitude: -122.6722. This is a great little lake, no motor boats allowed, catch and release ONLY.
Wentworth Lake (53 acres) - 7 miles northwest of Forks, on Dickey River Road.
* There are geocaches hidden on these lakes. Check it out at www.Geocaching.com.
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Check out this Web site for more information on many Washington State lakes: link out for info on most lakes in Washington: www.washingtonlakes.com
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We are researching and looking for information on the following lakes in the area. If you have any information about or directions to any of the lakes below, please send us an e-mail to help update this list.
Larson Lake
Lost Lake
Mud Lake
Moon Lake
Peterson Lake
Pheasant Lake
Silent Lake
Strangers Lake
Thorndyke Lake
Tule Lake
Twin Lakes
Wahl Lake
