San Juan Islands Subregion

Pacific Northwest archipelago famed for orcas and scenery

The San Juan Islands are a scattering of forested islands in the calm waters between Washington's Puget Sound and Canada's Vancouver Island. Ferries, kayaks and orcas ply the channels while bald eagles and float planes pass overhead. Only the four largest islands are reached by car ferry; the rest need a private boat or plane. Summer brings a rush of visitors for the scenery, whale-watching and unhurried island life.

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San Juan Island

In Washington’s archipelago, San Juan Island centers on Friday Harbor and attracts whale-watchers, kayakers and cyclists; visitors book boat charters, explore historic parks and sample island farms and seafood.

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Orcas Island

In the San Juan Islands, Orcas Island draws kayakers, whale-watchers and hikers to Mount Constitution, forest trails and small farms; ferries link the island to the mainland.

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Lopez Island

Lopez Island in Washington’s San Juan Islands draws cyclists, kayakers and whale‑watchers; quiet roads, small galleries and regular ferries make it a slow‑paced base for island exploration.

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Shaw Island

One of the San Juan Islands, Shaw Island receives ferry traffic, day-trippers and campers who come for quiet county parks, shoreline walks, kayaking and an absence of big-tourist infrastructure.

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Stuart Island

Stuart Island sits at the far northwestern edge of the San Juans, reached only by private boat or kayak. Its marine state park wraps around two protected harbors, Reid and Prevost, and trails lead to the 1893 Turn Point Lighthouse overlooking Haro Strait. It’s a quiet, off-the-grid escape prized by boaters and paddlers.

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Sucia Island

Sucia Island is a horseshoe-shaped marine state park north of Orcas Island, celebrated as one of the finest boating destinations in the San Juans. Its wind- and water-sculpted sandstone formations, fossil-bearing bays, and half-dozen sheltered coves draw hundreds of boats each summer. There is no ferry, so it’s accessible only by private boat or kayak.

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Waldron Island

Waldron Island is one of the most private of the San Juans, a deliberately off-grid island with no ferry, no stores, no public utilities, and no paved roads. Home to roughly a hundred fiercely independent residents, it offers little for visitors beyond its wild, undeveloped character. It is reached only by small private boat.

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Blakely Island, Washington

Blakely Island in Washington’s San Juan archipelago offers island trails, shoreline access and boating opportunities; visitors typically arrive by private boat for camping, kayaking and wildlife watching.

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Decatur Island

Part of Washington’s San Juan archipelago, popular with boaters, kayakers and campers for beaches, quiet roads and island cottages.

San Juan Islands at a Glance#

Local Time

5:18 PM

GMT-7

Population

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What to See#

Around 175 of the islands are large enough to be named. Only the four largest are served by car ferry from Anacortes on the mainland; the rest are reached by private boat, kayak or float plane.

The four ferry-served islands

Orcas Island - the largest and most mountainous island, wrapped around two deep bays; its village of Eastsound anchors hilltop views from Mount Constitution, farm dining and artist studios.
San Juan Island - the most-visited and most populous island, home to the ferry-and-yachting hub of Friday Harbor and historic Roche Harbor, and famed for shoreline whale-watching.
Lopez Island - the flat, easygoing ‘friendly isle’, beloved by cyclists for its gentle lanes and tight-knit farming community.
Shaw Island - the smallest and quietest ferry island, with almost no visitor services and a peaceful look at rural island life.

Smaller islands (private boat or plane only)

Blakely Island - a private, forested island with a small marina and airstrip, largely closed to casual visitors.
Decatur Island (including James Island) - a quiet, mostly residential island reached only by private boat; tiny James Island is a boat-in marine state park popular with kayakers.
Stuart Island (including Satellite Island) - a remote outer island with a one-room schoolhouse and the Turn Point lighthouse; sheltered Satellite Island guards its little harbor.
Sucia Island - a horseshoe of sandstone coves and campsites, one of the most popular boat-in marine parks in the archipelago.
Waldron Island - a tranquil, off-grid island with no ferry and no public services, home to a small community that guards its quiet.