Sea kayaking to Cutts Island
June 2003
We launched from the Wauna Purdy Spit, a small public beach and boat launch near the little town of Purdy, Washington. It provided great access for a casual paddle up along the western shore of Henderson Bay, and then we crossed over to land here on Cutts Island. The island is mostly beach at low tide, with a central madrone-filled bluff area (see below). It is officially a part of Kopachuck State Park, which is located across the water on the mainland, but is also separately called Cutts Island State Park. Boaters, swimmers, and people getting all types of seafood seem to really like hanging out here.
The center of the park can be accessed by a trail that meanders along the top of the bluffs. Watch out for the poison oak there. The island is slowly becoming smaller and smaller over the years, as the forces of erosion work on chipping away at the higher bluffs and replenishing the wide beaches below.
Josh, a.k.a. Crustacean Man, is out searching for critters, wigglers, and anything that moves but which can be captured. We found interesting groups of crabs, geoduck clams, anemones, oysters, hermit crabs, and lots of other things. It's a great area for marine life beachcombing.