South Sound Scenic Flight
PARTNERING WITH THE PUYALLUP TRIBE TO SERVE THE SOUTH SOUND
SOUTH SOUND SCENIC FLIGHT
In partnership with the Puyallup Tribe, we proudly showcase the rich cultural heritage and deep connection to the land that this Native American community has nurtured for centuries. Hop aboard our newest scenic flight tour! This 25-minute narrated flight adventure around the South Sound and Tacoma area will highlight a variety of landmarks set against the stunning backdrop of Mt. Rainier!
Flights for 2024 season concluded Sep 16th. Check back for 2025 available flights!
Departure Terminal: Tacoma / Ruston Way
Flight Duration: 25 min.
Cost: $109 per person
Celebrating a birthday, anniversary, special occasion or just looking for an extra fun adventure? Check out lunch, happy hour or dinner at Woven before or after your scenic flight, located right next to our Tacoma terminal.
TRIBAL PARTNERSHIP
The Puyallup Tribe and Kenmore Air are partnering to bring seaplane flights to South Puget Sound.
“No other Tribe in our country has an operation like this,” said the Puyallup Tribal Council, the Tribe’s governing body. “With Kenmore Air, we’re opening up Tacoma to the Northwest and the Northwest to Tacoma.”
“We are honored to work with the Puyallup Tribe and thrilled to bring seaplane service to the homelands of the Puyallup people and to South Puget Sound,” said David Gudgel, president of Kenmore Air.
Terminal Address:
3017 Ruston Way
Tacoma, WA 98402
View Map
ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
Scenic flights around the South Sound include many of the sights that are famous in the area – but from a different perspective! Highlights include:
- Point Ruston
- Tacoma Narrows Bridge
- Chambers Bay Golf Course
- Anderson Island
- McNeil Island
- Fox Island
- Tacoma Narrow Airport
- Pt. Defiance
- Brown’s Point
ENJOY A FLIGHT & FAVORITE PNW ACTIVITIES
Rely on Kenmore Air for transport to your favorite PNW activities – whale watching, fishing & crabbing, fly & paddle kayaking, and waterfront lodges.
HOTEL PACKAGES
Take advantage of special seasonal accommodation and flight package savings with our hotel package deals! From the San Juan Islands to Seattle, we’ve always got a fun and exciting new travel adventure!
WHALE WATCHING
Daily flights from Kenmore/Lake Washington will get you quickly to San Juan island where you’ll enjoy a three-hour cruise with a naturalist guide from San Juan Safaris.
SEA & SKY
Zip to Victoria, B.C. on a Kenmore Air flight and enjoy a scenic ferry ride back aboard the Victoria Clipper for fun mix of two great modes of Pacific Northwest travel!
FISHING & CRABBING
What’s better than having fresh fish and crab flown in? Flying in to catch that fresh fish and crab, of course, and Kenmore Air offers this truly Pacific Northwest experience in partnership with San Juan Adventures.
FLY & PADDLE
Kayak the calm waters off San Juan Island. Take a seaplane to Roche Harbor where you’ll meet a naturalist guide who will take you on your sea kayak tour – whether you’re an experienced kayaker or a first-time paddler you’ll remember this up-close island experience!
WATERFRONT LODGES
Climb in a seaplane, grab a window seat and your adventure begins as you glide along the water, gaining speed and seeing the city you’ll leave behind during your island escape. You’ll see snow-capped mountains and unforgettable views and less than an hour after leaving the Seattle area, you’ll be gliding atop the water again and up to the dock of the waterfront lodge you’ve picked out for your getaway.
PILATUS PC-12 CHARTERS
An absolutely beautiful aircraft that combines Swiss engineering and craftsmanship. This single-engine turbo-prop has a pressurized cabin, which allows for a higher cruising altitude. You’ll literally soar above the clouds.
- Seats up to eight passengers (6 passengers comfortably with luggage)
- Cruising speed of 300 mph
- Range of up to 1,800 miles
The PC-12’s unique design produces a remarkably smooth flying experience from takeoff to landing.
Check out our PC-12 charter flight empty legs for a special discount!
Where will you go next?
SEAPLANE CHARTER FLIGHTS
Available in four different seaplane charter flight options and are only flown by Kenmore Air pilots. We fly during daylight hours as per the Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which means our seaplane operations usually end just after 7 p.m. All seaplanes are positioned back to the Kenmore Air Harbor in the evening.
- de Havilland Beaver (piston) / 6 total seats, 5 window seats
- de Havilland Beaver (turbine) / 7 window seats
- de Havilland Otter (turbine) / 10 window seats
Where will you go next?
LAND PLANE CHARTER FLIGHTS
Looking for a surfing trip to the Olympic Peninsula? Pack your boards and let’s go! Or maybe it’s a trip for your wedding party to San Juan Island. We’ve got you covered with our Kenmore Air land place charter flights. If you’re looking for a way to avoid ferry lines, we’ve got your ticket aboard one of our Caravans.
- Volcano Tour
- San Juan Islands
- Bremerton
- Bellingham
Where will you go next?
SEEING THE PNW FROM THE AIR
With scenic flight options for Lake Union, Lake Washington, the San Juan Islands and Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens, Kenmore Air provides a scenic experience like no other! These uniquely Northwest views as well as up close and personal vantage points unavailable from the ground provide you experiences you will remember forever.
SEATTLE SCENIC
On our Seattle seaplane scenic tour, you’ll take off from our terminal in South Lake Union, one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city with tech companies like Amazon and Google providing the horsepower for that growth. The lake sits at the heart of Seattle, serving as a reference point for four distinct neighborhoods. Seattle Center is located just to the southwest while Gas Works Park sits on the north shore at the site of the old Seattle Gas Light Company.
The Space Needle is a landmark that was constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair, which was held in Seattle. At 605 feet from ground to tip, it was the country’s tallest structure west of the Mississippi when completed. The observation deck is located 520 feet off the ground, and offers a panorama view of the city skyline, the Olympic mountains to the west, the Cascades to the East as well as Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound. It takes the elevator 41 seconds to go from the base of the needle to the top.
Departure Terminal: Lake Union
Flight Duration: 25 min.
Cost: $119 per person
MT. RAINIER & MOUNT ST. HELENS
Standing at a staggering 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the Pacific Northwest’s reigning giant. It dwarfs its fellow Cascade Range peaks by more than 10,000 feet. Home to more than 36-square-miles of glaciers, Mount Rainier hasn’t had a major eruption in nearly 1,000 years. But don’t let the tranquil hillsides fool you. Scientists affirm this giant is still very much alive.
Mount St. Helens is smaller in stature. It tops out at 8,363 feet. But what it lacks in height, it has more than made up for inactivity. May 18, 1980 – its massive eruption became the biggest in modern history. Its plume rose 15 miles high and the mudflow created from its collapsed dome stretched to the Columbia River. Today, the ecosystem on the hauntingly beautiful slopes thrives as old-growth forests once again take root and wildflowers bloom.
Witnessing these two volcanoes is a quintessential Pacific Northwest moment. And, there’s no better view than from a Cessna Caravan on our Volcanoes scenic flight tour.
Departure Terminal: Boeing Field
Flight Duration: 2 hr.
Cost: $298 per person
SAN JUAN ISLANDS SCENIC
An archipelago is the fancy way to refer to a group of islands, and the San Juans are composed of 172 different named islands and reefs that sit between Anacortes, Wash., and Vancouver Island, which is part of British Columbia. All told, there are 408 miles of shoreline on the islands, the most of any single in the United States. Our San Juan Islands scenic flight tour will provide an incredible perspective, allowing you to see exactly why Orcas Island is known for hiking (it’s the hilliest) while Lopez is best for biking (it’s the flattest). You’ll find four lighthouses located on the San Juan Islands, but not a single stoplight.
Four of the islands in the archipelago are accessible by ferry, but our scenic tour will give you a glimpse of the entire region, which sits at the intersection of three different waterways. The Strait of Georgia is to the North, the Strait of Juan de Fuca is located to the West with the Puget Sound located to the south. The collective region is known as the Salish Sea. The islands were first charted in 1791 by a Spanish explorer, however, the fossil evidence shows that hunting was occurring on the islands more than 6,000 years ago. The islands are also home to three different orca pods who live in the Salish Sea region with more than 80 in the local population.
Departure Terminal: Kenmore / Lake Washington
Flight Duration: 1 hr. 45 min.
Cost: $279 per person
LAKE WASHINGTON SCENIC
On our Lake Washington scenic flight tour, you’ll start at Kenmore Air Harbor on the northern tip of what is the second-largest lake in the state. This is where Kenmore Air started in 1946 with three friends from high school working on a single floatplane in a garage on the site of an old shingle mill. From there you’ll head South to Seattle, taking in the iconic sites of the Space Needle, the floating houses along Lake Union, and Husky Stadium.
To your West, you’ll fly over Fisherman’s Terminal in Ballard, and over the famous locks, connecting Lake Washington and Lake Union to the Puget Sound. On a clear day, enjoy fantastic views of Mt Rainier to the South and Mt Baker to the North. The best way to experience the Pacific Northwest is from a Kenmore Air floatplane. Book your adventure today!
Departure Terminal: Kenmore / Lake Washington
Flight Duration: 25 min.
Cost: $109 per person
South Sound Scenic Flight
Hop aboard our South Sound scenic flight tour for a stunning aerial treat! In partnership with the Puyallup Tribe, we proudly showcase the rich cultural heritage and deep connection to the land that this Native American community has nurtured for centuries. This 30-minute narrated flight adventure around the South Sound and Tacoma area will highlight a variety of landmarks set against the stunning backdrop of Mt. Rainier!
The Puyallup Tribe and Kenmore Air are partnering to bring seaplane operations to South Puget Sound.
Learn more about this partnership.
Departure Terminal: Tacoma / Ruston Way
Flight Duration: 25 min.
Cost: $109 per person
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
FLIGHTS TO CANADA
Arrive at check-in prepared with the following documents:
- Passport Book
- Travel visa | eTA (foreign passports)
FLIGHTS TO THE U.S.
Arrive at check-in prepared with the following documents:
- Passport Book
- Travel visa | ETSA (foreign passports)
Lake Washington
Scenic Flight
FROM LAKE WASHINGTON TO ELLIOTT BAY
START YOUR SCENIC TOUR WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
A floatplane is the perfect way to see all the different ways in which Seattle is a city on the water. In fact, 41 percent of the city’s total area IS water.
This flightseeing tour starts at Kenmore Air Harbor on the north shore of Lake Washington. From there, you’ll head south to the University of Washington and its lakeside stadium and then on over to the Puget Sound to see Shilshole Bay and Discovery Point.
Your flight adventure includes music and narrated highlights about Seattle before returning to the Kenmore/Lake Washington Seaplane Terminal.
Departure Terminal: Kenmore / Lake Washington
Flight Duration: 25 min.
Cost: $109 per person
LAKE WASHINGTON
You’ll start at Kenmore Air Harbor on the northern tip of what is the second-largest lake in the state. This is where Kenmore Air started in 1946 with three friends from high school working on a single floatplane in a garage on the site of an old shingle mill. There are three floating bridges that cross Lake Washington, separating Seattle on the west from the Eastside communities like Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland.
SEATTLE’S SIGNATURE LANDMARK
The Space Needle is a landmark that was constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair, which was held in Seattle. At 605 feet from ground to tip, it was the country’s tallest structure west of the Mississippi when completed. The observation deck is located 520 feet off the ground, and offers a panorama view of the city skyline, the Olympic mountains to the west, the Cascades to the East as well as Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound. It takes the elevator 41 seconds to go from the base of the needle to the top.
San Juan Islands
Scenic Flight
SEE WHAT MAKES THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS SO SPECIAL
THE BEST WAY TO SEE THE SAN JUANS IS FROM ABOVE
We’ll provide the breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands, and you’ll get a tour that is unbelievably beautiful and unmistakably Northwest in one of our Kenmore Air seaplanes.
This tour is narrated, and you’ll see why a seaplane is the best way to see our corner of the country as you take-off from our Kenmore/Lake Washington terminal and head out to the San Juan Islands. Just like every trip with Kenmore Air, the view is always included…
Departure Terminal: Kenmore / Lake Washington
Flight Duration: 1 hr. 45 min.
Cost: $279 per person
SAN JUAN ISLANDS
An archipelago is the fancy way to refer to a group of islands, and the San Juans are composed of 172 different named islands and reefs that sit between Anacortes, Wash., and Vancouver Island, which is part of British Columbia. All told, there are 408 miles of shoreline on the islands, the most of any single in the United States. Our scenic tour will provide an incredible perspective, allowing you to see exactly why Orcas Island is known for hiking (it’s the hilliest) while Lopez is best for biking (it’s the flattest). You’ll find four lighthouses located on the San Juan Islands, but not a single stoplight.
Mount Rainier & Mount St. Helens
Fly Face-to-Face with Two World Wonders
The Volcano Tour offers a peak experience
This incredible 90-minute scenic flight tour from Seattle flies you around Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens getting you up close and personal with Rainier’s 25 glaciers – the largest collection of permanent ice on a single US mountain south of Alaska. From your window seat aboard our 9-passenger Caravan wheel-plane, you’ll also have the perfect vantage of Mount St. Helens’ 2-mile wide crater. Make sure to look closely…. she’s often steaming.
Departure Terminal: Boeing Field
Flight Duration: 2 hr.
Cost: $298 per person
MOUNT RAINIER
Standing at a staggering 14,410 feet, Mount Rainier is the Pacific Northwest’s reigning giant. It dwarfs its fellow Cascade Range peaks by more than 10,000 feet. Home to more than 36-square-miles of glaciers, Mount Rainier hasn’t had a major eruption in nearly 1,000 years. But don’t let the tranquil hillsides fool you. Scientists affirm this giant is still very much alive.
Witnessing the towering peak of Mount Rainier is a quintessential Pacific Northwest moment. And, there’s no better view than from a Cessna Caravan.
MOUNT ST. HELENS
Mount St. Helens is smaller in stature. It tops out at 8,363 feet. But what it lacks in height, it has more than made up for inactivity. May 18, 1980 – its massive eruption became the biggest in modern history. Its plume rose 15 miles high and the mudflow created from its collapsed dome stretched to the Columbia River. Today, the ecosystem on the hauntingly beautiful slopes thrives as old-growth forests once again take root and wildflowers bloom.
Seattle Scenic
Seaplane Tour
THE BEST WAY TO SEE SEATTLE IS FROM ABOVE
SEE THE EMERALD CITY SHINE BELOW YOU
In Seattle, you can do more than live near the water, you can actually live on it in one of the houseboat communities on Lake Union. That’s where your Scenic Seaplane Tour starts, gliding across the surface of the lake and up into the air where you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the University of Washington, and its lakeside football stadium. It’s then on over to Elliott Bay where you’ll see the city’s dramatic skyline and Seattle’s professional sports stadiums. Everyone gets a window seat on this 25-minute sightseeing flight!
The Seattle Scenic Seaplane Tour is a uniquely Northwest way to see this world-class city. You get to enjoy the unique thrill of flying off the water and soaring over one of the most beautiful regions in the world. The flight ends just like it began, gliding across the water of Lake Union right in the heart of the city for an experience you’ll remember forever.
Departure Terminal: Lake Union
Flight Duration: 25 min.
Cost: $119 per person
START IN THE HEART OF SEATTLE
You’ll take off from our terminal in South Lake Union, one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city with tech companies like Amazon and Google providing the horsepower for that growth. The lake sits at the heart of Seattle, serving as a reference point for four distinct neighborhoods. Seattle Center is located just to the southwest while Gas Works Park sits on the north shore at the site of the old Seattle Gas Light Company.
OUR CITY’S SIGNATURE LANDMARK
The Space Needle is a landmark that was constructed for the 1962 World’s Fair, which was held in Seattle. At 605 feet from ground to tip, it was the country’s tallest structure west of the Mississippi when completed. The observation deck is located 520 feet off the ground, and offers a panorama view of the city skyline, the Olympic mountains to the west, the Cascades to the East as well as Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound. It takes the elevator 41 seconds to go from the base of the needle to the top.
