Jetty Island Guide

Located in Everett, Washington, Jetty Island is the premier summertime kiteboarding spot in Washington state. It offers the best combination of facilities, conditions and windy days. It’s perfect for anyone of any skill level from absolute beginner to seasoned rider.

At a Glance

• Skill Level:
  • Open Water: All levels
  • Pond: Advanced Only
• Season:
  • Peak: June – August
  • Shoulder: May, September
• Access: Public
• Parking: Paid but only a few dollars.
• Facilities:
  • Parking Lot:
    • 06/25/22: The restrooms and water fountain have been torn down to be rebuilt
      • Restrooms
      • Water fountain
    • Port-a-potties
  • Island:
    • Restrooms at docks
      • Nothing near the beach
    • NO POTABLE WATER!
• Winds
  • NW
    • Thermal driven
    • Usually late afternoon
    • Typically light: 12-18kts
• Tides
  • Ideal: 4ft – 8ft

The Wind

Jetty Island wind is usually from the Northwest and driven by thermals. The thermals is what gives Jetty the nickname of “Steady Jetty” and sometimes feels like someone turned on a fan.

Wind tends to be light and is often in the 12-18kt range but you can get the occasional nuker. The season is primarily summer but it will start to go in April, picking up in May and by June you’re started to get more windy days than not until August. It ramps down in August and is usually dead by September but you do get an occasional last gasp. Two of the best days I’ve had at Jetty were each in October.

Forecasting Jetty The Hard Way

First thing to keep in mind is that Jetty is thermal driven and very few models factor thermals or do it well. That said, a little extra juice from regular wind patterns augmenting the thermals usually makes for a good session so it’s still worthwhile to keep an eye on your app of choice.

If your time frame is several days in advance, cross reference all your favorite sources and then a few more and look for consensus between them. I have several apps on my phone and will look at Windy, WINDY (yes they are different) and Willy Weather among others. Also take a look at the Washington Marine Forecast. If you see NW wind above 10 kts for Admiralty Inlet and any North wind in Puget Sound, you have a pretty strong indicator of a good Jetty day coming up.

At around sundown (8:30-ish) the night before TJ’s will update. This is probably the most accurate forecast for the Pacific Northwest. It can be difficult to read but look for the wicked rabbit. The color you want is lavender or better.

For day of, if I’m not already heading out the door, you can look at the northwest wind report and especially take a look at the pressure difference between Everett and Whidbey of NW 0.04 or higher as well as the temperature difference between Port Angeles and Seattle of 6 degrees or higher. You want to see that gradients are increasing. You can also check TJ’s to see the latest since it updates throughout the day.

If you really want to go in depth with forecasting in the PNW, I would highly recommend that you take the two wind clinics offered by Jeffro from the Urban Surf Kiteboarding School. He will walk you through all of the available resources, tell you what to look out for and how it pertains to a good session at a local spot. The springtime clinic is more focused on Jetty and the Fall session tends to cover several of the other areas spots.

Forecasting Jetty The Easy Way

If you want to skip all the forecasting apps, sites, pressure differentials and temperature gradients, the easiest way to tell if you’re going to get wind at Jetty is to look outside. If it’s summer and a clear, sunny, warm to hot day, it’s probably going to go. Note that when I say clear, I mean no haze and few to no clouds in the sky.

Because very few models can account for thermals, you can get a great session at Jetty even if all the sites and apps are being party poopers.

If all else fails, hanging out at the beach on a nice sunny day that turned out to not be windy is not a bad way to spend the day. I often go early and will sometimes take a nap to the sounds of the water under a clear blue sky. There will often be other kiteboarders doing the same that you can get to know while you wait for the wind.

Sacrifices to the Jetty Wind Gods

Jetty wind gods have been known to respond well to dancing on the beach. But my ritual is to give my thanks to the Jetty wind gods after a great session by offering up a burger and a beer at Scuttlebutt. The gods especially appreciate it if the ritualistic consumption of burgers and beer is done with fellow kiteboarders. It’s a demanding sacrifice to make such offerings but I do it willingly!

Getting There

Use whatever navigation app you fancy to get you to the Jetty Island Ferry Docks or the 10th Street Boat Launch. Either way, once you get close, you should see docks to the right and parking to the left.

Park in the lot to the left of the launch or in the overflow lot. It should be apparent once you get there.

Parking information and rates have changed periodically so I’d advise you to take a look at this page from the Port of Everett for the latest. One pro-tip on parking is that you can pay by app and the first two hours are free. So if you want to min-max parking what you can do is park, paddle over, get your kite setup and then pay for parking before you launch. Just don’t over excited and forget to do it!

Crossing the Channel

By far the trickiest part of Jetty Island is crossing the channel to get there. Between the 5th of July and Labor Day the Port of Everett runs a pedestrian ferry the rest of the year you will need some sort of boat to get across.

The Jetty Island Ferry

Starting on July 6th and running to Labor Day, you can ride the ferry to Jetty Island. The ferry requires an online reservation. Please visit this page for information and reservations.

Ferry crews are pretty used to kiteboarders coming across so nobody is going to frown at your gear. There will also be families bringing strollers and wagons full of toys and picnic supplies on the ferry. That said, please be considerate when you’re swinging your foil around. The ferry is full of little kids on summer break.

Paddling to Jetty

The windy season at Jetty is at least double the season that the ferry runs so if you want to get the most out of one of the best spots in Washington you are going to need to invest in some sort of small water craft.

My personal experience with the ferry is that it’s not worth waiting for. Taking my own boat allows me to cross whenever I want without needing to worry if I’ll get a sailing time that I want. The last ferry back is usually around 7 p.m. but on those long summer days, you can easily kite until 9 p.m. and still have some daylight to paddle back. There was also that one time when they cancelled my return ferry and it was only by luck that I found out in time to get on an earlier ferry.

The most common way across is some sort of inflatable kayak or SUP. If you can’t get a spot close to the launch, you can pull up your car to the docks or the lawn next to the restrooms, drop your stuff off and then go park. You will almost certainly see folks pumping up their small craft in those areas.

If you’re looking for something cheap to get you across in the short term while you decide if this is for you, the Intex Explorer K2 Kayak, sometimes referred to as the “Jetty Island Classic” is an ok starter kayak that won’t break the bank. You will see more of these than any other boat on the island. I had one that lasted a season and a half before I replaced it with the Intex Excursion Pro Kayak. While the Pro is more expensive, it’s better built, handles better and is still less expensive than many other options. Check out the Gear Guide for additional info on kayaks, gear bags and more.

If you have a hard shell kayak or SUP, there are racks that you can rent for the season for a small fee to keep it nearby. Urban Surf will have a sign up in the spring.

Usually the small craft launch in the first lane or two closest to the park. Sometimes folks will back in their big boats into those lanes so keep an eye out. One person backed his big fishing boat into my little inflatable kayak without so much as an “oops”. Since then, I’ll usually go up the docks a couple of boat lengths to avoid situations like that. For the most part, it’s not too bad.

At times, especially on very busy weekend days, the Port Police will be at the launch checking out boaters of all sorts including those kayaking across to Jetty. You are required to have a USCG approved life vest and an emergency whistle on you while you are paddling. If you get stopped by the police they may or may not check if your impact vest is certified but they will ask to see your whistle. If you don’t have one, you can usually find them at Harbor Marine which is very close by for a couple of dollars. The Port Police are usually pretty cool and they’re just doing their jobs to keep you safe so please be friendly to them.

There are two ways out of the launch. The main entrance where the boats go is usually the best way out. You can cut under the bridge and you will probably see some folks going that way. But, be careful on that side with sharp rocks, and especially with folks fishing off the pier. This can be a good back up entry on the way back if you get caught in a strong current so take a moment to at least familiarize yourself with it.

The channel can have some really strong currents that can go in either direction so take a good look at which way the water is flowing and plan appropriately. You want to paddle in a direction where the current is helping you get to your destination. It is not uncommon to see folks get pushed far down the channel and then have double the paddling to do to work their way back to the kayak parking area once they get in the shelter of the island. It’s also not uncommon to see folks paddling furiously against the current and not going anywhere.

If you look across the channel before you go, you’ll see the docks on the opposite side. That’s not where you’re going. To the right of the docks are some big floats attached to piles that form a break. Where these floats hit the beach is your target. Pull your kayak up on the beach and carry it up to the grassy area past the rocks. I’ve found that the path to the south of the chain anchoring the floats is easier to get up especially when you’re carrying a boat. If the tide is high, the water goes right up to the rocks (and sometimes floods the grassy kayak parking) so you definitely do not want to leave your boat on the beach.

From the kayak parking, there is a path that leads across the island to the beach.

The Beach

Kiteboarding happens on the west side of the island. So no matter how you get there, you’re going to take a short walk across the island to get to the beach. It helps to not have a lot of loose gear or to invest in a nice big gear bag.

On low tides, there is a large mud flat that is exposed. If you don’t mind getting a little muck on your kite, this can offer a huge place to launch and land that is clear from obstructions. During a high tide, however, this is all under water and the beach becomes a narrow strip for most of it’s length. Around the mid-point of the island is a large beach area that stays dry even with high tides.

If the tide is low enough, you’ll have to do the muck walk to get to the water. Ghost shrimp burrow in the mud flats. When you walk over their burrows, they collapse and the effect is like quick sand. I’ve been buried up to my hips in muck trying to get to the water and have needed to use my kite to pop me out so I can walk three more steps, sink in and do it again. I’ve often burned so much energy just getting to the water on low tides that I’ve needed to sit in the water once I got there to catch my breath.

When the ferry is running, kiteboarders are restricted to the north end of the island. There is usually a yellow kiteboarding zone sign to show where. There also tends to be many more kiteboarders than usual because of all the folks who don’t want to paddle across and only come on the ferry. This can cause some major congestion on the beach. This the time when a little beach etiquette goes a long way.

If you launch your kite, head out to the water as soon as you can to clear up space on the beach. When you come back in, you may find the place you put your stuff now has a half a dozen kites on it. Just move up the beach to a clear spot to land. If you see someone is close to launching, don’t set up your stuff in a way that disrupts them. Just wait a few minutes, or help them launch and then take your turn. If you’re on the beach, keep an eye out for folks who might need help landing. Getting them cleared out of the launching areas will help keep things running smoothly when the beach is busy.

When the ferry is running there will also be a lot of families with small children and other folks who don’t know anything about kiteboarding. While we try to stay out of the main beach area, they will wander into the kiteboarding zone and will take extreme interest in what you are doing. They may walk through your lines, try to talk to you while you are setting up, or sit dangerously close to your kite while you are trying to launch. Taking a moment to answer a couple of questions goes far in establishing good will for our sport. I’ve never had a problem explaining to an interested beach goer what I’m doing and where they should move so what I’m doing doesn’t put them in danger. Be patient with them and no matter how nice the wind is blowing do not do anything that puts them in danger. There is no scenario in which local families lose beach access but it only takes one incident for the entire kiteboarding community to be denied access to this amazing spot.

The Water

The water at Jetty tends to be much warmer than other areas of the sound. When the tide goes out, it expose a huge mud flat that heats up from the sun. When the tide comes back in, all that energy goes into the water and makes it nice and warm. The wetsuit you bring depends on your comfort level. I wear a 4/3 spring suit but some folks won’t even wear a wetsuit during the high summer. No need for gloves or booties. Neither for temperature or concern of cuts or abrasions. The bottom is nice soft muck.

The floor has a gradual slope which means that with almost any tide you have fifty to a hundred meters out of knee to chest deep water. Jetty tends to be fairly flat water with light chop. It can get some small swells once in a while. You never really get any waves.

Hazards

On very low tides, the eel grass will be close to the surface. It can catch your board and if you drop your kite, it can cover your lines adding a lot of weight and making it really hard to relaunch. It does have a couple of nice properties though. If you lose your board, the eel grass will hold it in place making it easier to recover. I’ve also found I can anchor myself by holding it with my legs if I want to take a break and not drift downwind.

Because conditions at Jetty are so good, it is the prime spot for local kiteboarding schools to teach beginners. The schools tend to stay to the far north end of the island and don’t go too far out. Get up wind and stay out of their way. Beginners don’t have much kite control and just about anything can happen in their vicinity.

When the ferry is running the area around the main beach will be flooded with swimmers most of whom are young kids. DO NOT KITE THROUGH THE SWIMMERS! I’ve seen kiteboarders zip right through the main beach swim area with kids screaming and scurrying to get out of their way. It only takes one incident to end this for all of us!

The ferry will also easily double the number of kiters on the water which can make it hard to navigate. Brush up on your right of way rules but most importantly communicate with folks on the water. Shouting out your intentions can help avoid a tangle. Most folks stay fairly close to the beach so if you can get upwind you can often find some nice clear space to ride even on the busiest days.

The Pond

On very high tides, the pond will fill up. There is a berm that casts a wind shadow across the water resulting in glassy flat water. This is a great place to dial in your tricks. While the wind shadow is low enough to not affect your kite much, if your kite does get too low or you crash, it can be really difficult to get it back in the air. Because of this and because of the limited space, The Pond is not recommended for beginners.

To get to the pond, you can kite through the inlet on the north end of the beach or you can launch your kite on the main beach and walk over the berm. I’ve seen folks launch from within the pond but it entailed a hot launch and a really tall friend throwing the kite up. Don’t try this at home!

Events

The Port of Everett put on all kinds of nature events, ferry cruises, and more during the summer. For kiteboarders there are two that you should definitely put on your calendar.

Jetty Island Cleanup

The best way to get good wind karma and avoid being skunked all summer is to participate in the Jetty Island Cleanup. The Port of Everett arranges transportation from volunteers to ferry everyone over. Tools are provided and there are usually snacks to help boost your energy levels. You spend a couple of hours on the island cleaning up and getting our summertime happy place ready for the season. The event usually ends with a free raffle (everyone gets one entry) for all the volunteers with some pretty nice prizes donated from local businesses.

Many of the Jetty Island regulars from the local kiteboarding community make a strong showing at this event so it’s a great place to meet some of the folks you’re likely going to see all summer on the beach. Help us give back to the place we love so much and make some friends along the way!

The Jetty Island Light Wind Olympics

Every year, PSKite puts on a kiteboarding competition at Jetty Island. Events have included, foil races, big air, freestyle and strapless freestyle. Reps from kiteboarding brands run demos of gear throughout the event so you can try all the newest toys. Folks from all over the region come out for this event so it’s a great time to really get to know the area crew. The event often ends with an awards ceremony and party rounding out a pretty incredible time.