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The dog days of summer are finally here!!
More often than not, our friends around the Olympic Peninsula have amazing stories to share with The Outdoor Society. They inspire us, encourage us to try new things and help remind us that there are millions of possible recreation activities and destinations to enjoy around the region. Recently, we reached out to our good friends at Blue Horizons Paddlesports and asked for an update on the stunning scenes along the waters of Hood Canal and Lake Cushman. Below is a quick, and hopefully weekly, report on the highlights of paddling in the area, as well as some pictures that will hopefully have you heading out and paddling with these awesome folks.
Great News! Summer is in full swing at Lake Cushman! The floaties are out, the smell of sunscreen is in the air and the water is finally warm enough to swim in without screaming! Here are a few highlights from the past week along Lake Cushman.
What’s new:
-Bear Gulch got a face lift! The USFS spent some time and money over the winter improving your favorite Lake Cushman hangout spot. Additions include another bathroom, extra parking, trash cans, ADA accessibility, more picnic tables and a turnaround loop for trailers and RVs. Come check it out! It’s still a fee-free parking area.
-We now have SUPs! If you’ve been looking for something new to try on the water, this is your chance
-We are just about to add a new tour offering on the Hood Canal from Triton Cove State Park. This is an awesome spot to see bald eagles and harbor seals. Orcas were even hanging out here in the spring! We recommend following up this paddle with an oyster lunch at Hama Hama Oyster Bar 
Blue Horizons has also had a parade of canine customers lately! Here are a few of our new pals:
Chloe left trembling and skeptical, but returned triumphant (and refusing to leave the kayak)
Olive and Sunni had their first paddle, something tells us it won’t be their last
We were all anticipating disaster with two big dogs in one kayak but they proved us wrong! We are noticing many dogs who are nervous on shore relax as soon as the kayak hits the water. The same can be said for many of our human paddlers 
Stay tuned, we have some cool stuff in the works! We are working on yoga/kayaking combo sessions at the lake and nighttime bioluminescence tours on the canal…
This article was written by Sarah Elizabeth of Blue Horizon Paddlesports and all images are used with permission. Inquire about tours here.
