2 hours from Olympia
1 hour and a half from Portland
40 minutes from Longview
an hour from Astoria via bridge and Hwy 4 or
less if you time the Westport ferry right
(ferry leaves from Puget Island on the hour and Westport on the 15 after)

Closeup Road Map

showing Skamokawa, Cathlamet, Puget Island
and islands of the Wildlife Refuges
Great detail of islands & sloughs for a road map,
though I am unaware of the museum on Hunting Island, west of Cathlamet

Nautical Chart Closeups

Skamokawa to Cathlamet
6 miles of mostly protected paddling in the
Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge
and fine open water paddling in the main channel
especially with the summer afternoon's NW wind at your back
so you can surf the steepening waves of an ebb tide!

 

Nautical Chart Closeup--Puget Island

Steep cliffs to the north sport wispy summer waterfalls and winter torrents.
Extensive estuary of NE Puget Island hides miles of watery mazes
great for wildlife viewing
and maneuvering practice.

Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup
Columbia River Kayaking homepage