Mud Bay, Art & Archeology

A lazy Fall day and an extreme high tide gave me the perfect opportunity to explore Mud Bay, see map, the lower reaches of Eld Inlet at the very end of the Puget Sound due west of Olympia. For years on the way to coastal paddling adventures I have caught quick 60 mph freeway glimpses of larger than life steel cows and bulls on display in Mud Bay and next to highway 101. Steel Art has always appealed to me and I wanted an up and close look at the Mud Bay Bull!

At max tide height of 14.5ft I slid into the inlet happy that this muddy domain was underwater. At low water levels the Inlet is a mere trickle of water surrounded by acres of mud, and home to many Geoducks, the largest burrowing clam in the world with a life expectancy of over 146 years! – no bull. This species is endemic to the Pacific Northwest and fetches high prices at Asian export markets. Within five minutes a paddler can leave the freeway bridge and noise behind and be surrounded by pasture land, cattle and Alpaca farming visible from your cockpit.

The rusty steel Bull is a work of art and sits behind fencing still used today for real cattle farming. It lies very close to the water so kayakers can really appreciate it up close and personal. Mysteriously in 2002 the steel art appeared one morning and generated a good deal of curiosity. Not sure where they came from but an unconfirmed web search tipster suggested they originated in Woodinville WA? If anyone can enlighten me on their history and origins, shoot me an email. Paddling back under the Mud Bay and highway 101 bridges opens up Eld Inlet to more exploration. The Evergreen State College owns a portion of undeveloped waterfront which is devoted to marine science and off limits to landings.

Nearby, an active Native American 500-year-old fish Camp dig site is marked by a Totem Pole. The Squaxin Island Tribe, South Sound Community College, and property Owners Ralph and Karen Munro have been actively processing this archeological dig for the last nine years. Unfortunately the camp has been subject to several thefts and vandalism is common, so please stay away and respect this site. Jewelry, a cedar bark gillnet found full of Coho salmon, arrows, spears, and bone weights are just some of the items recovered, and are on display at the Squaxin Island Museum. A natural spring on the site helped preserve these items.

The rest of Eld Inlet to the north has been ravaged by Urban Sprawl, and private homes line the shoreline all the way to Olympia. Farmland, Industrial Steel Art, Native American Archeological history – wow this paddle doesn’t cover a lot of miles but packs a lot in. This area is a treasure to explore, and only a 10 minute drive from home, another reason why we love living in the Pacific Northwest. Mud Bay Art & Archeology will be a new tour offered next season! See photos & GPS track log here & for a photo gallery here Essex Explorer Jason Goldstein.