Kayaking to the Spencer Island Wildlife Refuge in Everett

Looking for more places to paddle near Spencer Island?
Try Kayak Point near Stanwood, where you can camp as well as paddle. Or head south to Tl’ awh-ah-dees (Kenmore Paddle Park) for a trip on the lazy Snohomish River.

WE WERE THERE

July, 2026, about three hours of active paddling

CURRENT INFO

Visit the Langus Riverfront Park website for additional information. Find out more about Spencer Island on the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife webpage and the Snohomish County website.

IMPORTANT ALERT

New Zealand mudsnails are an invasive species that have been found in the waters near Langus Riverfront Park. Please take the time to clean your boat and gear after kayaking. For our inflatable kayak, I follow the “clean, drain, dry” method. Clean off any debris, drain excess water, and make sure it is completely dry before storing it or taking it to another water source. In our case, I knew we would not be kayaking again for well over a month, giving me ample time to let the deflated kayak thoroughly dry in our garage.

For more information about New Zealand mudsnails and how to help stop the spread of invasive aquatic species, please visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

GOOD TO KNOW

• There is a $10 fee to launch your boat from Langus Riverfront Park. While I couldn’t find a definitive answer, I believe this applies to all boats, including kayaks. You can pay online with your credit card at the park.
• One of the docks at Langus Riverfront Park is available for non-motorized watercraft only. Find it at the south end of the parking lot next to the Everett Rowing Association building. If the rowing association is using it, use the main dock instead.
• There is also a boat launch for motor boats and non-motorized watercraft at the north end of the parking lot. This is where we launched.
• Check the tide tables ahead of time. Ideally, you should launch and head upstream on the Snohomish River toward Spencer Island as the tide is coming in, then return on the Snohomish River as the tide is going out. Of course, this isn’t always possible, and that’s fine. The tides here aren’t too strong, and this is a recommendation, not a requirement.
• Strong winds can make paddling on the Snohomish River challenging. Avoid launching a kayak or other paddlecraft here when winds are high. In our experience, the wind creates a bigger challenge than the tides.
• Paddling around Spencer Island via Union Slough is the easy part! The slough, which follows the west side of Spencer Island, is shallow and usually quite calm. On the east side of the island, the channel is wider and deeper, but still typically placid. In our experience, the only tough place to paddle was the Snohomish River once the winds picked up.
• Restrooms, drinking water, and garbage bins are available at Langua Riverfront Park.
• Langus Riverfront Park also offers picnic tables and a three-mile paved trail for walking and biking.
• Pets on leash are welcome. Always pick up after your pet.
• Bring water, hats for shade, and sunscreen.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ever look out across the vast maze of waterways and windswept islands while passing through Everett along I-5 and wonder what it would be like to get a closer view? You can! The estuaries and waterways near the mouth of the Snohomish River offer a vastly different experience from the open waters of Puget Sound. After the excitement (and noise) of passing under I-5, you’ll soon find yourself on a quiet, peaceful channel through a wildlife preserve. Keep an eye out for birds, including kingfishers and bald eagles, and if you’re lucky maybe you’ll spot a marine mammal (aka otter) poking its head up for a quick view.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

Kayaking around Spencer Island is good for older kids and teens who have the patience to paddle for several hours. As you may find yourself battling currents and wind on the Snohomish River section of this route, it’s helpful is the kids are strong enough to really put their paddles to use.

We did this trip without the kids, and frankly, that was a good choice. While the kids would have enjoyed checking out the abandoned boats and the novelty of gliding under I-5, I’ve no doubt it would have been a bit tedious at times, especially for my 10-year-old. Fortunately, you can easily tailor this outing to fit shorter attention spans. Try heading halfway up Union Slough before turning around, for example. Whatever you choose, watch for wildlife. We spotted an otter in the slough, as well as herons, a kingfisher, and a bald eagle.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Now that you’ve seen Spencer Island from the water, why not explore a little more on land? The island is home to a park and nature preserve, managed by both the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and Snohomish County. You can walk to the island from Langus Riverfront Park or drive further down the road past the Everett Environmental Lab to the Spencer Island parking lot. There are miles of trails here, but take note that many are unmaintained. Access may be closed at times due to flooding or repair work. For more information and recent trip reports, check out the Washington Trails Association website.

If you’re hungry after your paddle trip, there are plenty of options for food and drink in Everett. With a little extra time, consider stopping by Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens, located off Marine View Drive. This small public garden is free to visit, and filled with a gorgeous variety of plants and sculptures. The adjacent park is a great spot for a picnic.

North of Everett, the area around Stanwood and Camano Island offers paddling, beaches, camping, and some beautiful short hikes. If this intrigues you, check out my reviews on paddling and camping at Kayak Point, hiking at Barnum Point or English Boom, of visiting tranquil Cama Beach. Sadly, the cabins at Cama Beach have been permanently closed, but you can still visit the park during the day and enjoy time on the beach and trails.

With Sunday afternoon all to ourselves, my husband, Michael, and I decided to take advantage of the sunny summer weather and head out on the water. Living as we do in Seattle, deciding where to go can be the most difficult part. After some deliberation, we settled on the Snohomish River in Everett, where Google Maps indicated there was a boat launch at Langus Riverfront Park.

We easily found the launch, which was surprisingly quiet considering the lovely weather. Perhaps the warning posted about invasive New Zealand mudsnails had something to do with it? We read the signage thoroughly, not wanting to pack any unwanted guests home with us in the crevices of our inflatable kayak. It recommended freezing or soaking gear in hot water, neither of which are possible with a kayak. But after doing some additional online research, I concluded that rinsing and cleaning off debris, followed by a lengthy stay in the garage to dry out would do the trick.

Satisfied that we could manage any mudsnails, we carried the kayak down to the launch, then turned left to head upstream on the Snohomish River. Although the tide was going out in the opposite direction, we barely felt its pull. The noise of the freeway swelled as we passed by the massive concrete pillars below, then gradually subsided as we continued on toward Spencer Island.

We soon came to the tip of the island, which was marked by a small channel to our left. This is Union Slough, and as long as you stick close to shore it’s hard to miss. Heading into Union Slough, we left the Snohomish River behind and found ourselves in a different world. The water here is languid and shallow with a distinctive mud brown color. In a few places, it was barely deep enough to accommodate our kayak, and we were continually on the lookout for fallen tree branches lodged in the mud.

Since Spencer Island is a wildlife refuge, be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife as well. Near the start of our trek, we spotted an otter popping its head up for a view. It soon ducked down again, skillfully hiding under the murky water. I then caught sight of a kingfisher flitting from branch to branch among bushes. Suddenly, he disappeared, only to appear ahead of us again a minute later. The colorful bird repeated this pattern over and over as we glided peacefully through the slough. We also saw a lone bald eagle, proudly perched atop a tall tree at the edge of the island.

I checked the map on my phone a few times to mark our progress, not wanting to miss the turnoff at the north end of Spencer Island. There are occasional inlets along Union Slough, which peter out quickly, leading nowhere. I didn’t want to mistake our turnoff for one of these inlets. Fortunately, the turnoff wasn’t too difficult to spot. We reached a point where we had two options: continue meandering to the left, or take a sharper turn to the right. We turned right, rounding the northern tip of Spencer Island before entering a much wider channel.

The water was still calm here as we made our way south. Thus far, we had seen no other boats on our trip, but now a few small motor boats passed by, sending out a gentle wake. Other than that, it was quiet. Across from Spencer Island, the shore showed occasional signs of human life, or at least signs that human life had once been present. Derelict sailboats along with massive, multi-story vessels of dubious seaworthiness and even a halfway submerged barge all made an appearance. This, apparently, was the place old boats go to die a long, achingly slow death.

We returned to the southern tip of Spencer Island and prepared for the final push to paddle back to our starting point. What we weren’t prepared for was the wind. Coming from the northwest, it rippled the water, pushing steadily against our small kayak. Fortunately, since the paddle trip around Spencer Island had been so easy, we had energy to spare. Pulling hard and keeping close to shore, we slowly made progress. As we approached I-5, we knew there wasn’t far to go.

The wind subsided once we passed under the bridge. Mere minutes later, we pulled the kayak alongside the dock. What a trip! If you, too, are in search of a secluded place to paddle not far from Seattle (hey, that almost rhymes!), put Spencer Island on your list. May the winds be at your back as you paddle the Snohomish, and may an otter grace you with its presence as you pass through Union Slough.