Bats, Cormorants and Herons
Woodard Bay is one of the premiere places for paddling in the South Sound. The water is typically calm making it a good choice for novice kayakers and stand up paddleboarding. Make sure to check tide tables before heading out though as the put in point can be mucky at low tide.
The launch is just steps from the parking lot (bring your Discover Pass) making for a pretty easy entry into the water. Head away from the bridge and immediately to your right you will start to hear the breeding cormorants (in summer months). These birds line the trees and will be seen in and out of the water. It is likely you will see eagles as well looking for an easy meal.
As you move towards Henderson Inlet, take a left to go around Woodard Point Park. Jump out and find placards providing both historical prospective of the logging industry that was happening in this area and current information on the wildlife that resides here. Remnants of a rail track remain on a pier in the water and is now considered a nursery for bats so you are requested to keep a distance of 50 feet from the pier. If you are paddling at dawn or dusk you will likely see the bats feeding around the pier.
Next to the pier is an old dock which typically hosts many sunbathing seals. Look around and you will see their heads popping in and out of the water.
One of the best features of the paddle is continuing into Chapman Bay. A very peaceful finger of the sound where it is common to find herons resting on the felled trees.
