Seattle's Central Park - Kayaking Green Lake

   There are few things in the summer more Seattle than Green Lake. Sitting right in the middle of Seattle's northern neighborhoods, Green Lake is the place to be when, or if, the sun finally decides to come out. Walk your dog, walk yourself, grab a coffee, play soccer, football, basketball, wade in a pool with preschoolers, paddle, sail, SUP, row, jog, tan, tightrope walk (seriously). Activities here are endless.

  

  As a kayaker, Green Lake is a great place for a quick launch with parking close by. I put in at the Small Craft Center on the south side of the lake. Look for the bleachers with the big G written on them. From there I usually circumnavigate the lake from the inside, paddling around near the shore until I'm back where I started.

Throughout the summer the lake hosts a decent amount of lily pads, usually towards the south side (P.S. the flowers smell like Thai coconut). Watch out for the occasional nesting bird on top of them though, and don't swim too close -  a complex web of pads and milfoil (invasive water weed) are just below the surface.

There's also an island...

…and there's quite a few beaches.

Apparently Standup paddle boarding is the thing to do on the lake these days...

...and there are lots of restaurants close by.

   So, if you can't tell from the pics, Green Lake is the place to paddle, walk, play, tan, basically, the place to be, especially when it's sunny in Seattle. Check out the Friends of Green Lake site for updated info on the lake - like when they close it to certain activities due to poor water quality, or when you might be able to join a volunteer milfoil weevil hunt!
   ~Paul   ETC