Vaughn Bay Info

Vaughn Bay, Washington

Vaughn is a small community on the west side of Key Peninsula. It is reached by making a left turn at the blinking light (traveling south) at Key Center. For the most part, homes surround the bay.

Notice that a sand spit almost closes off the bay from the larger body of water which is Case Inlet. At a very low or minus tide, most boats can't get out into Case Inlet. The passage is about 15 feet deep at a higher tide. Speaking of tides, if you notice my photo of the bay you see the tide is partially out. At a minus tide there will be beach all the way out to where my boat is moored. My boat is still in water at a minus tide, but may touch the muddy bottom. If you look closely at the photo of the bay (not the map above) you can see a break in my bulkhead where stairs go down to the beach. During high tide, the water goes up to 3 or 4 stairs. In the deep part of the bay it is about 30 feet.

Vaughn Creek enters the bay at the eastern end. At one time there was a very active salmon run. According to neighbors, Native Americans netted the creek and destroyed the salmon run. It is gradually returning, (at the time of this writing I have been on the bay for 10 years) but many years from recovery.

Because of the sheltered nature of Vaughn Bay, it is a popular spot for water skiing during windy conditions when Case Inlet is very choppy. I suppose the birds have noticed this too and during winter we have quite a few water birds.

We often have seals visit the bay. I have even seen a small gray whale that visited for a few days. From the water in front of my house I can set out to Case Inlet and travel around Key Peninsula and up Puget Sound all the way to Alaska. I can leisurely kayak around the bay in about an hour.

Vaughn Bay, Washington Vaughn is a small community on the west side of Key Peninsula. It is reached by making a left turn at the blinking light (traveling south) at Key Center. For the most part, homes surround the bay. Notice that a sand spit almost closes off the bay from the larger body of water which is Case Inlet. At a very low or minus tide, most boats can't get out into Case Inlet. The passage is about 15 feet deep at a higher tide. Speaking of tides, if you notice my photo of the bay you see the tide is partially out. At a minus tide there will be beach all the way out to where my boat is moored. My boat is still in water at a minus tide, but may touch the muddy bottom. If you look closely at the photo of the bay (not the map above) you can see a break in my bulkhead where stairs go down to the beach. During high tide, the water goes up to 3 or 4 stairs. In the deep part of the bay it is about 30 feet. Vaughn Creek enters the bay at the eastern end. At one time there was a very active salmon run. According to neighbors, Native Americans netted the creek and destroyed the salmon run. It is gradually returning, (at the time of this writing I have been on the bay for 10 years) but many years from recovery. Because of the sheltered nature of Vaughn Bay, it is a popular spot for water skiing during windy conditions when Case Inlet is very choppy. I suppose the birds have noticed this too and during winter we have quite a few water birds. We often have seals visit the bay. I have even seen a small gray whale that visited for a few days. From the water in front of my house I can set out to Case Inlet and travel around Key Peninsula and up Puget Sound all the way to Alaska. I can leisurely kayak around the bay in about an hour.