Washington / Commencement Bay /

Dick Gilmur Shoreline and Kayak Launch

Dick Gilmur Shoreline and Kayak Launch is a public kayak and canoe launch on Commencement Bay near Tacoma, Washington.

Aerial view of the roadside pull-out and gravel beach along the shore, August 2017
Aerial view of the roadside pull-out and gravel beach along the shore, August 2017 Photo: USDA Farm Service Agency, NAIP · Public domain · via USGS The National Map

Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.

At the launch

Type
Carry-in (canoe and kayak)
Ramp surface
unpaved
Hours
dawn-dusk
Tidal
Yes
Website
portoftacoma.com
Coordinates
47.29290, -122.41200

Directions (Google) Apple Maps

Boating rules

  • No-discharge zone: WAC 173-228 bans vessel sewage discharges, whether treated or not, in the No Discharge Zone. It became effective May 10, 2018. · all of Commencement Bay rule

From the boating rules map of Washington Department of Ecology, read October 20, 2026. A map of rules is a guide: the regulation's text and the posted signs govern.

Conditions

Marine advisories

Advisories in effect load here; without them, see the NWS zone forecast below.

National Weather Service marine zone PZZ135, Puget Sound and Hood Canal. Zone forecast: winds, seas, warnings.

Tides

Predicted highs and lows at NOAA's Tacoma, Commencement Bay, Sitcum Waterway station, 1.8 mi from this launch, in local time above MLLW. Predictions, not observations: wind and weather move the real tide. Full predictions at NOAA.

Tide predictions, Mon Nov 2 to Sun Nov 8
Mon Nov 2 Low 4:06 am 0.1 ft · High 11:59 am 11.8 ft · Low 6:21 pm 5.9 ft · High 10:52 pm 8.5 ft
Tue Nov 3 Low 5:16 am 1.2 ft · High 12:48 pm 11.9 ft · Low 7:19 pm 4.4 ft
Wed Nov 4 High 12:31 am 8.6 ft · Low 6:26 am 2.3 ft · High 1:29 pm 12.0 ft · Low 8:05 pm 2.8 ft
Thu Nov 5 High 1:54 am 9.2 ft · Low 7:31 am 3.3 ft · High 2:02 pm 12.1 ft · Low 8:44 pm 1.4 ft
Fri Nov 6 High 3:02 am 10.0 ft · Low 8:28 am 4.3 ft · High 2:30 pm 12.0 ft · Low 9:18 pm 0.2 ft
Sat Nov 7 High 4:00 am 10.8 ft · Low 9:20 am 5.3 ft · High 2:56 pm 11.9 ft · Low 9:50 pm -0.7 ft
Sun Nov 8 High 4:50 am 11.4 ft · Low 10:09 am 6.2 ft · High 3:22 pm 11.6 ft · Low 10:20 pm -1.3 ft

On Commencement Bay

Bay in Washington. All launches on Commencement Bay.

Community

Where people who use Commencement Bay talk about it.

Nearby launches

Sources

Why it is listed as public: www.portoftacoma.com: The concrete ramp allows easy access for the public to bring their kayaks to the shores of Inner Commencement Bay or to walk along the shoreline.. Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.