San Juan Island Bicycling

Head to San Juan Island for some good intermediate cycling. There are some gentle roads but also some grueling hills that will have your calves tingling in the morning.

Start by renting bikes from Island Bicycles in Friday Harbor, a short walk from the ferry. We recommend reserving a bike in advance in the summer.

This island offers a great 20-mile loop road so you can explore without repeating your routes.

Head out of Friday Harbor and enjoy a ride up to the San Juan Vineyards, where you can take a break for your picnic and sample the winery’s wares or buy them by the glass.

But don’t tarry too long because you’ve still got the nice ride up to Roche Harbor. You can explore this historic village by bike or foot, as well as the nearby San Juan Islands Museum of Art Sculpture Park -- a 19-acre park with more than 100 works of art.

Keep heading west for English Camp and then to the south for American Camp, each famous for the Pig War “Crisis” of 1859-1872. Both offer information on the historic event, and each offers some beautiful views and picnic points, although there are a couple of tough hills to get to both.  

Lime Kiln Point State Park, a.k.a. Whale Watch Park, is another unmissable spot, so stop off and look for orcas in the open waters and visit the interpretative center which offers information on orca whales and a history of the lime kilns and the nearby lighthouse.

A ride around San Juan Island isn’t complete without a stop off at Pelindaba Lavender Farm. Here you’ll find some calming views (and wonderful scents) of rows of lavender, and over 250 lavender products in the aromatic store. Picnic tables are also available.