Illustration Life jackets
The life jacket rule for every paddler
What the Coast Guard requires on kayaks and canoes, and kids' vests with head support.
Life jacket rulesWe know of one kayak launch in and around Olympia. A kayak launch gets you on the water without backing a trailer down a ramp. Expect a low floating dock, rollers or a soft shoreline. 11 more are within 50 miles.
Illustration Life jackets
What the Coast Guard requires on kayaks and canoes, and kids' vests with head support.
Life jacket rules
Illustration Ramp etiquette
Staging, courtesy docks and the Clean, Drain, Dry laws that can bring a fine.
Ramp etiquetteIn and around Olympia we know of Kayak Launch in Olympia.
Within 50 miles: Caddy Lake Boat Launch (Belfair, 25 miles), Don Lake Boat Launch (Belfair, 26 miles), Dick Gilmur Shoreline and Kayak Launch (Tacoma, 26 miles), Kayak Landing (Federal Way, 30 miles) and Panther Lake (Seabeck, 30 miles).
If you're new to this, read how to launch a kayak or canoe, or widen the search on the map around Olympia. Full list of launches in the city: Boat ramps in Olympia, WA.