The Seattle Arboretum’s shores along Union Bay and the Montlake Cut by Lake Washington were an unusual mix: natural vegetation and wildlife with a backdrop against the busy traffic of the 520 Bridge and concrete on-ramps. It was a fun urban mixture.
This oasis of nature within the city provided a great chance to see beaver, huge beaver dens, muskrats, non-native nutria, many tall herons, nesting ducks and geese, and birds of many other feathers. Passages of water went up into small bays and wind around soggy islands and into cattail-laden waterways. Small maneuverable craft were best for the tight spots, since it was easy to get in deep and need to spin around in place to get back out.
The best access point was from McCurdy Park by the Museum of History and Industry, where there was parking and a gentle lawn slopes into the water of a protected cove.
After exploring around the Arboretum, we paddled across the busy pleasure boat lanes of Union Bay and Montlake Cut to the northern side of the open water, where there was a good mix of interesting homes, followed by a somewhat more private naturescape and then the shores and marinas of the University of Washington. UW also had canoe and rowboat rentals available, for a convenient crossing to all these areas.
Kayaking under the concrete on-ramps leading to the 520 Bridge at Seattle Arboretum
Kayaking and canoeing around Seattle Arboretum
Kayaking through a strange maze of never completed on-ramps to the 520 Bridge
Kayaking through the waterways and islands of Seattle Arboretum
Kayaking further further into the tight back water areas, surrounded by cattails