Seattle Sports Co

What's on the other side of a 2.5-mile open-water crossing? The best boat-in campsite in Washington.

Sucia Island sits just north of Orcas in the San Juans: a horseshoe of sandstone coves, fossil beaches, and 60 campsites you can only reach by water. Launch from North Beach, time the slack current, and you're pulling your kayak onto Shallow Bay's sand about an hour later. The rock here is so storied that Washington's first dinosaur fossil came out of it.

Late August is the window. The Salish Sea is as settled as it gets all year, the crowds thin mid-week, and the island's potable water runs through September. One honest caution: that channel is real open water with real current, roughly 50 to 55°F. Dress for immersion and cross on the morning slack.

We pack the Explorer Dry Bag for trips like this because hatches are not dry places, and a sleeping bag that crossed a channel should come out exactly as dry as it went in.

Full crossing beta, coordinates, campsite details, and the gear list are on the blog.

Who's claiming a cove before the season closes out? 🛶

Ever paddled water so clear it messes with your depth perception?

That's Waldo Lake. Tucked at 5,400 feet in the Oregon Cascades east of Eugene, it's one of the four clearest lakes on the planet. On a calm morning you can see past 100 feet straight down to the granite bottom. No inlet streams means no algae, which means water that looks more like tinted glass than a lake.

Best part: no motors allowed beyond electric trollers, so it's just you, your kayak, and about six miles of quiet. Launch from North Waldo, aim for the northern islands, and be on the water by 8 a.m., while the mornings are glassy before the afternoon wind kicks up.

Two honest tips from us: the road opens mid-summer once the snow clears, and July mosquitoes are no joke. Bring a head net, and bring our Glacier Clear Dry Bag. A see-through dry bag on the clearest lake in Oregon just feels right, and you'll actually be able to find your snacks without dumping the whole thing on your deck.

Full coordinates, launch details, and the complete gear list are on the blog.

Who's adding Waldo to their summer paddle list? 🛶

SeaRover Deck Compass - Back in Stock!

"This compass was designed for use with a kayak, but I've found its the best option available for an easy to read and affordable compass for Dive Propulsion vehicle.

Since it's liquid filled it has no problem with depth, and the design allows it to attach very easily and very securely to the DiveXtras Piranha series scooters. It's easy to read underwater with a lubber line that is easy to see and large numbers on the compass itself. It tolerates angles well and doesn't lock up during turns, ascents or descents where the DPV is at a reasonable angle. It has been very durable!

- Larry

Kayaking Lake Tahoe is all about timing, terrain, and respect for big water.

At sunrise, Tahoe can feel impossibly calm... granite cliffs reflected on glass-clear water, submerged boulders visible far below your kayak. By late morning, winds and boat traffic can turn that same stretch into a serious paddle. Start early, stay close to shore, and choose your launch wisely.

Our favorite Tahoe paddles:
• Emerald Bay for dramatic granite walls and protected early-morning calm
• Sand Harbor for unreal water clarity and submerged boulder fields
• Tahoe City & the West Shore for longer, more forgiving shoreline routes

Local knowledge matters here. Our close partner Tahoe City Kayak & Paddleboard is the go-to for rentals, route advice, and real-time conditions.

When conditions shift, having the right gear makes the difference. Seattle Sports Co dry bags, Dry Doc phone cases, and the Sea Rover Deck Compass are built for cold water, high sun, and changing conditions... exactly what Tahoe demands.

Paddle early. Plan conservatively. Look down into the water; it’s part of the magic.

Kayaking the Broken Group Islands is about reading the coast, timing the tides, and trusting your navigation when fog rolls in. This is Pacific Rim National Park at its wildest... tight island passages, exposed outer coast, and camps that feel truly earned.

Out here, small details matter. A reliable deck compass like the Sea Rover Deck Compass keeps you oriented when landmarks disappear and decisions count. It’s the kind of gear you don’t think about until you really need it... and then you’re glad it’s right in front of you.

Built for coastal paddling. Trusted when conditions shift.

Seattle Sports Co Black Friday is live with 25% off sitewide.

Gear built for real weather, real adventures, and real Pacific Northwest conditions is now at the best price you’ll see all year.

Sale runs for a limited time.
Shop the gear made for the weather you actually live in.

Small gear. Big impact.
Our Stocking Stuffers Gift Guide is full of rugged little tools Northwest adventurers actually use year-round from waterproof essentials to utility straps that always come in handy.

Check out the Seattle Sports Co Holiday Gift Guide.

Dark mornings and wet pavement don’t stop real riders.
The Bike & Commute Gift Guide highlights high-visibility gear and weatherproof essentials built for Northwest miles in the rain, sleet, and everything in between.
Perfect for the daily rider who keeps moving no matter the forecast.

Check out the Seattle Sports Co Holiday Gift Guide.

In the Northwest, the rain doesn’t ask permission. It just shows up.
Our Wet-Weather Essentials Gift Guide is built for the ones who head outside anyway with storm-ready dry bags and waterproof protection that actually holds up.
Gear they’ll rely on all winter long.

Check out the Seattle Sports Co Holiday Gift Guide.