San Juan Islands

The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in northwest Washington State between the US mainland and Vancouver Island, Canada. The group includes many islands of varying size and is a well-known destination for outdoor recreation and wildlife watching.

The islands offer whale watching, kayaking, cycling and hiking, with visitor services concentrated at ferry-linked towns such as Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. A small number of islands are inhabited year-round while many smaller islets are uninhabited and valued for wildlife habitat.

Indigenous Coast Salish peoples inhabited the islands for millennia before European exploration in the 18th and 19th centuries. The islands later figured in 19th-century territorial negotiations between the United States and Britain and developed as fishing, logging and later tourism centres.

The San Juan Islands lie in the northern part of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca off Washington State, accessible by Washington State Ferries from Anacortes and by private boats and small aircraft.

• Number of islands: The archipelago comprises around 170 named islands, reefs and rocks, with several dozen inhabited islands and smaller islets.
• Main activities and access: Popular activities include whale watching, kayaking and island-hopping by ferry; the main vehicle ferry link from the mainland departs from Anacortes, Washington.

What to See #

• San Juan Island: San Juan Island - site of the main ferry terminal at Friday Harbor and a range of tourist facilities and museums.
• Orcas Island: Orcas Island - known for Moran State Park and a more mountainous interior offering hiking and viewpoints.
• Lopez Island: Lopez Island - noted for low-relief landscape and a reputation for cycling and quieter, car-light roads.