Park & Shorelines in the San Juan Islands
In the San Juan Islands, you’ll find it’s less a question of where’s a park than of where isn’t a park. From the 5,252 acres of Moran State Park on Orcas to the national historical parks of American and English Camps on San Juan to Shaw’s secluded campsites by the beach to the variety of shoreside parks on Lopez, the islands’ parks offer you unspoiled natural beauty and diversity. Camp . . . watch whales . . . walk the beaches . . . step back into history . . . hike . . . enjoy.
Moran State Park on Orcas Island is a 5,252-acre camping park with five freshwater lakes and over 30 miles of hiking trails. Atop the 2,409-foot-high Mt. Constitution, the highest point on the San Juan Islands, there stands a stone observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936. The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding islands, the Cascade Mountains and a variety of Canadian and American cities. The park is open year-round for camping and day use. Some campsites are closed in winter. Reservations necessary Memorial Day through Labor Day. [more...]
These island parks include Blind, Clark, Doe, James, Jones, Matia, Patos, Posey, Stuart, Sucia and Turn. They are accessible by private or chartered boat only. All have campsites and mooring buoys, some have docks. (No docks at Blind, Clark, Patos, Posey or Turn Islands.) No moorage or camping reservations are available. Fees are charged at some parks from May through Labor Day. Fresh water, where available, is limited, so plan to bring a supply. Visit their website for more information. [more...]
San Juan County Parks provides beautiful shoreline parks on the ferry-served San Juan Islands. Campgrounds offer waterfront campsites, beach access & scenic views and accommodate tents and smaller RV's (no hook-ups; check for restrictions) for a unique "island” experience. Restrooms, picnic tables, fire-rings, picnic shelters, boat ramps. Day parks, too! [more...]
Lime Kiln Point State Park is a 36-acre day-use park set on the west side of San Juan Island. The park is considered one of the best places in the world to view whales from a land-based facility. Orca whales are common in the waters off Lime Kiln. The park, which features a richly diverse environment, includes the remnants and landscapes of a history filled with change, along the rocky shoreline and through the wooded uplands. Minke whales, orcas, porpoises, seals, sea lions, otters and bald eagles cruise the shoreline. [more...]
Spencer Spit State Park, on Lopez Island, is a 138-acre marine and camping park. The park is named for the lagoon-enclosing sand spit on which it rests. There are many sheltered and unsheltered picnic tables, and two miles of hiking trails. The park has a reputation for excellent crabbing, clamming and "car-top boating." This is one of the few state parks in the San Juan Islands that is accessible by automobile. See website for more detailed information. [more...]
