Lakebay

Lakebay is a small town on the Key Peninsula on the south end of the Kitsap Peninsula.

Understand
Lakebay is located at the head of Mayo Cove on the east side of the Key Peninsula, and at the gateway to Penrose Point State Park. The Lakebay Marina began as a farmer’s co-op and a way for farmers to transport their crops to other towns long before it was a marina. In 1875, a logger named Carl Lorenz built boats in Lakebay to carry his finished lumber to town. He later used these boats to ferry farmers and their produce to other areas. His boats were part of what later became known as the Mosquito Fleet.

By car
Lakebay is one of the southern most communities on the Key Peninsula which is on the south east side of the Kitsap Peninsula 16 miles south of Purdy via Highway 302 west and the Key Peninsula Highway south.

Get around
Lakebay is located Penrose Point State Park at the shores of Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet and just north of Bay Lake making it an excellent place to explore by boat. Many of the nearby homes either have their own docks or some of them are even built on piers directly over the water. Directly south of Lakebay is a lake aptly named Bay Lake which also has a public water access near Sanford Ave KP S.



Beachcombing
Penrose Point State Park is an excellent place to start a beach combing adventure offering 3 miles of beaches from the rugged to the sandy smooth. Small crabs, moon snails, sea stars and sand dollars are common sites and tide pools can offer hours of exploration.

Be warned that sea shells and driftwood are considered part of the natural environment and should not be removed, however the often rocky and wild shores are havens for creating and revealing beach glass and anything artificial found is fair game for removal. Be respectful of private property and gentle with sea creatures. Keep a wide distance away from nesting birds, seals and other shore animals and always put back anything removed from the shoreline.

Birdwatching
The Kitsap Audubon Society has been actively meeting since 1972 and has a broad coalition of birders actively tracking and sharing sightings since then. They also maintain an active website with updates of the latest sightings, suggestions on areas for birders and even a regular newsletter. They also developed a checklist of birds likely to be seen birds in the area.

The state Audubon society developed 'The Great Audubon Birding Trail' which includes key migration flyways. Flyways are major north-south routes of travel for migratory birds and likely areas to see birds along the route extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Penrose Point State Park is only one of only seven locations in the area named to be on the list.

Sea kayaking
Sea kayaking can be a rewarding way to explore nearby Mayo Cove and Carr Inlet allowing the paddler a closer and slower look at their surroundings and making Kitsap one of the most popular areas to kayak in Puget Sound. Thick forests of majestic pine and deciduous trees and hundreds of creeks and estuaries dot the coastline. Or just explore Kitsaps many harbor towns that cater to kayakers like Lakebay with shops and restaurants accessible from the water. Harbor Seals, Otters, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and Blue Herons are common sites while the occasional viewing of an Orca or Grey Whale is not out of the question. Kayak rentals are available at the Lakebay Marina.

Kayak trails
Organized trails offer overnight camping options and maps of appropriate lengths and scenic travel destinations.



Shellfishing
Shellfish are prized resources of the Puget Sound, the cool, clean waters provide some of the finest shellfish habitat in the world. Washington State is the nation’s leading producer of farmed bivalve shellfish (clams, geoduck, mussels and oysters). Maps of public shellfishing areas and health warnings and updates can be found online at the States Fish and Wildlife website, as with all fishing in Puget Sound permits are required and can be purchased online or in some sporting goods stores.

Public shellfishing areas

 * Penrose Point State Park is open to shellfishing clams from March 1st through May 15 and Oysters open March 1st through May 15.  The best area for clam and oyster harvest on this beach is in the bay between Penrose Point and the small spit to the northwest of Penrose Point. This area has been enhanced with Manila clams and oysters. Native littleneck clams, butter clams, horse clams, cockles and eastern shoft-shell clams are also found on this beach.

Sleep
Cabins are available to rent from the Lakebay Marina as well as RV hookups and 82 campsites are available at the state park that are reservable online from May 15 thru Sept 15. There are also some limited camping spaces available at Volunteer Park.



By car
Assuming that you have already been to the state park, Lakebay is about 20 miles south west of Gig Harbor and Longbranch is a few miles to the south.

By boat
Cedrona Cove on Fox Island is about 7.9 miles east of Lakebay and would make a nice round-trip journey when exploring the area by boat. This also a good launching spot to explore Anderson Island and Eagle Island State Park. Camp Seymore YMCA is 5.5 miles north along the coast in Glen Cove. Longbranch is 6.9 miles south towards the south end of Key Peninsula while Gig Harbor is 13.8 miles by traveling under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, look for the lighthouse marking the small opening to the harbor.