San Juan Islands
Discover San Juan Islands
The San Juan Islands are a scattering of forested islands in the serene waters to the north of Puget Sound in Washington state, adjacent to Canada's Vancouver Island. Ferries, private boats, kayaks, and orcas (killer whales) criss-cross the waters, while float planes and bald eagles soar overhead. The islands are rural, with a few small towns on the largest islands. The year-round population is small, but swarms of summer visitors come to for the scenery and outdoor life, and a lucky and wealthy few have vacation homes tucked into the islands. The four largest islands are served by ferry from the mainland and are the most heavily visited by tourists.
Taste of San Juan Islands...
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Climate
Like the rest of western Washington, San Juan Islands are best visited during the summer, when the sun shines up to 18 hours a day with barely any rain. Expect cooler weather compared to the mainland as the surrounding seas cools the warm air. Average summertime temperatures are around 60 °F (16 °C). In winter, the seas makes the islands a touch milder than the mainland. The islands sometimes get lucky and stay dry while the mainland is soaked, thanks to the Olympic Mountains in the south that block the precipitation. The bigger issue is the wind, which can howl and cause problems in areas exposed to the water. These typically come after a rainstorm or ahead of dry and chilly weather. About 75 rocks, reefs, parks and other sites across the region are protected in the San Juan Islands National Monument, established in 2013.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsWashington State Ferries (WSF) operates the Anacortes / San Juan Islands route, serving the mainland and the four largest islands: Ferries from the San Juan Islands or Anacortes do not go to other WSF terminals such as Port Townsend, Mukilteo, Seattle, Bremerton or anywhere south. Travelers will have to go to the other ferry ports to catch the ferry to the desired destination. All the other islands, including Stuart Island, Decatur Island, Henry Island, Blakely Island, Waldron Island and Johns Islands, are only accessible by private boat, water taxi or by private plane. The ferry schedule is complicated. There's a sailing about once an hour in the summer, a little less often in the winter. One vessel makes several interisland loops, while the other vessels run from Anacortes to one or more islands and back. Expect a transit time of about 45-90 minutes each way, depending on your destination and the number of stops in between. Fares are round-trip and collected at Anacortes....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Bringing a car on the ferry is the best option for exploring the remote areas of the largest islands. If you can't, car rentals are available from Friday Harbor, Orcas Village and Eastsound. The smaller islands generally have unimproved county roads. Cars are more of an impractical luxury item, as there is no easy way to get one there due to the lack of ferry service. The roads often serve as foot trails, and you are more likely to see someone traveling by horse than car. San Juan Island has bus services that stops at most points of interest. Orcas and Lopez have taxi and charter services that need to be arranged in advance. The following are the closest to public transit on the San Juan and Orcas Islands but are privately rather than county operated: The four largest islands are connected by Washington State Ferries. One vessel is dedicated to making several interisland loops throughout the day.
Money & Budget
The islands attract artists from around the Pacific Northwest, seeking the slow pace and natural beauty of island life. Successful commercial artists tend to retire here. Most towns, even the small ones, feature galleries with local visual art. Fresh seafood including fish (especially salmon), Dungeness crab, shrimp, mussels and clams are readily available and featured in local restaurants. If you're foraging for yourself, make sure there's no red tide. The islands have a small but notable fine dining scene focusing on locally-sourced ingredients, befitting of a weekend resort getaway near a large prosperous city. The Pacific Northwest loves coffee, and the San Juan Islands are no exception. If a small harbor only has one store, you can expect that store to serve espresso.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Keep wildlife wild. Though many of the animals in the Puget Sound area are used to seeing humans, they should not be fed or disturbed. U.S. regulations require that boaters stay 200 yd (180 m) away from whales and keep the path of the whales clear. Don't disturb resting seal pups. NOAA recommends at least a 100 yd (91 m) buffer around seals. Keep children and dogs away and report to the local stranding hotline. Report harassment or sightings of injured/stranded marine mammals by calling the NOAA Fisheries hotline at ☏ +1-800-853-1964. Seal pups 'haul out' to get much needed rest when they are young and are often alone for many hours. They are extremely vulnerable at this time and should be left alone. Only about 50% of Puget Sound seal pups make it through their first year so please help to protect their health. Many visitors are surprised by their phone bill after returning from the San Juan Islands.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of San Juan Islands
📍48.788124, -122.999918
a light house sitting on top of a cliff next to the ocean
snow-capped mountain
Aerial view of forested San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea with snowy Mount Baker on the horizon on a clear day.
white cruiser boat
A day on the bay 🌊🐳🐚 Explore the Salish Sea, Bellingham Bay, and the San Juan Islands with San Juan Cruises! After departing from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, spend the day soaking in the peak of the Pacific Northwest
Moran State Park, Orcas Island, Washington - 6/25/22
a black and white photo of a wave in the water
a picture of a pattern made up of many different colors
A lavender field on San Juan Island
📍48.788124, -122.999918
a light house sitting on top of a cliff next to the ocean
snow-capped mountain