This grouping of destinations includes important places it would take you years to discover. I strongly suggest you take advantage and include them in your knowledge base so that when the opportunity presents itself you will maximize your San Juan experience enjoying many cruises.
The San Juan Islands are considered the Islands of San Juan County, but much of the area you want to cruise is in Skagit County and Whatcum County. You can have a very successful outing and never enter San Juan County. Deception Pass is half in Island County and Skagit County so it's definitely not in the San Juans and yet must be included in your itinerary for the area or you have missed the boat.
More San Juan locations:
These places are not included with the previous groupings for one reason or another, but are every bit as important to you.
- James Island State Park
- Jones Island State Park
- Clark Island State Park
- Blakelys Marina / Store
- Stuart Island State Park
- Prevost Harbor
- Reid Harbor
Nearby San Juan area:
Lets face facts, you must drive through or near all these places on your way to Friday Harbor or Canada. Then on your way home you go the other way. The point I'm hammering is, don't miss em!
Lets face facts, you must drive through or near all these places on your way to Friday Harbor or Canada. Then on your way home you go the other way. The point I'm hammering is, don't miss em!
- Cypress Island
- Pelican Beach
- Eagle Harbor
- Cypress Head
- Washington Park (Anacortes city park)
- Saddlebag Island State Park
- Inati Bay
- Deception Pass State Park
- Cornet Bay
- Bowman Bay
- La Conner
- Squalicum Harbor
- Cap Sante
James Island State Park
If you wanted to make the claim of Sentinel to the San Juans, you could arguably give little James the title and then herald nearby Thatcher Pass as "Entrance to the San Juans" The satellite picture below shows how close James is to Thatcher Pass the main thoroughfare for those heading to the San Juans from Anacortes.
- James to Cap Sante in Anacortes is 9 nautical miles
- James to Friday Harbor is 12 nm
- James to Rosario is 10 nm
- James to Cornet Bay at Deception Pass is 10 nm.
Just like many Islands, James is all park with no inhabitants, its distinctive dog bone shape creates two bays. The west bay is well protected although sometimes currents will swing you at anchor. The east side is open to the wrath of Rosario. James has a smallish four boat float and wharf in the western bay and five or so anchor buoys on the east side. The beaches are dinghy friendly at all tide levels. On shore are three separate campgrounds, one designated just for kayaks. The sign says human powered vessels, but canoes and rowboats are simply not seen so kayaks is what they really mean. Fire pits, picnic tables, compost toilets, great shoreline and over the top hiking trails complete this wonderful park. James gives you a front row seat from the campground to view passing Orca pods if your lucky enough to be watching out towards Rosario Strait when they go by.
James is a good place to wait for conditions to improve on Rosario Strait, its also a great place to make your first landfall on day one.
Tip Slow down your schedule, don't go cruising with a plan to cover miles and miles of water. Experience shows that stress levels and resulting good times are inversely proportional to distance traveled. No that doesn't mean stay home.
Jones Island State Park
Jones Island is a wonderful place to take your family and enjoy boat camping. The islands unique proximity to the three major Marinas and harbors in the San Juans is a big plus, but even without these great nearby neighbors, Jones would still be your destination of choice.
A favorite starting point for kayaking is Deer Harbor, only 2 1/2 miles over usually calm water. Roche Harbor, a favorite resort and jump off point for those going to Canada is only 5 1/2 miles. Of course the San Juan's largest city and port is Friday Harbor, at only 5 3/4 miles distant.
A favorite starting point for kayaking is Deer Harbor, only 2 1/2 miles over usually calm water. Roche Harbor, a favorite resort and jump off point for those going to Canada is only 5 1/2 miles. Of course the San Juan's largest city and port is Friday Harbor, at only 5 3/4 miles distant.
All of Jones is a state park, the north cove is preferred by power boaters and sailors alike, inside you will find a protected bay with docks and anchor buoys, plus room to anchor if the buoys are in use.
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| North cove at Jones with new floats |
The North Cove is absolutely wonderful, There is a brand new dock, anchor buoys, a steep gravel beach (good for dinghy's), and room to anchor. The cove is protected from all but the worst north winds (very infrequent) On shore are lots of tent sites, each with picnic table and fire rings. There is a nice mowed lawn area for games and grazing deer. Bathrooms and running water are clean, cool, clear and convenient.
The island has several hiking trails, rated, easy and moderate. From the trails are magnificent views of the surrounding islands, and waters. Bring your camera to Jones, you will want to preserve the memories to show your friends that aren't as fortunate as you.
The friendly little deer are legendary on Jones, I say little because they are noticeably smaller than the deer on other islands. Some (not all) are quite tame, begging for handouts, allowing petting and ear rubs.
The other side of the island has more anchor buoys and campsites and is a favorite of nearby Deer Harbor kayaker's. Hiking trails circle the island and afford great views in all directions.
It's real easy to make Jones your destination and wile away the days, its close proximity to Deer Harbor make running for groceries easy.
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| Don't do this |
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| This deer was climbing table a minute later, much too forward and not afraid of fire either. |
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| Taxi service to shore at Jones, (dream on) Tip if you were thinking about not bringing a dinghy and counting on space at the float, you will be stuck on the boat at many locations. At the very least bring a $69 inflatable boat, you will be glad you did |
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| Someone donated a swing on south side |
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| Canada in far background, easy loop trail takes under an hour. |
Clark Island State Park
Clark is another of the drive by Islands on the way to somewhere else. My recommendation for Clark is to stop by for a quick lunch, then walk around the island for fifteen minutes, then move on. Clark is small and has a restroom and campsites but really not much going for it unless you need a place to camp or anchor and its getting dark. Clark's closer to Orcas than Lummi Island but being in Rosario Strait means wind and waves when the weather kicks up. I wouldn't want to be stuck on Clark in a storm.
Blakely's Marina and Store
Now here is a place you will really appreciate. A savvy cruiser will pick up on that last sentence.
Blakely Island is private and you wont be going anywhere outside the marina grounds. Our first experience purchasing fuel at the dock was interesting because there was no one around to tell us what to do. I asked an Indian fisherman before he pulled away from the float what the procedure was and he said, "Just put the gas in your boat and remember how much you get, then walk up to the store and tell them how much you got." That first purchase at Blakely's was fifteen gallons of gas, five huge ice cream cones and a bunch of Hershey bars. I think our last purchase left off the fuel.
Blakely's is located just inside Peavine Pass around the corner enough that when Rosario is throwing hissy fits, the float is calm and welcoming.
When you are heading from Anacortes to Friday Harbor or other places it is very convenient to swing in, and when the south end of Rosario is fogged in forcing you north around Cypress Island, again you will appreciate Blakely's central location.
Stuart Island State Park
Way over on the other side of Orcas and just a little north of Roche Harbor is where you will find Stuart Island, with turn point jutting out into Haro Strait marking the NW corner of Washington State. The island is mostly private property but the state maintains a park on an narrow isthmus between Prevost and Reid Harbors. The two anchorages although separate are joined at the hip.
