Stuart Island Island

Stuart Island is the westernmost of the ferry-less outer San Juan Islands, lying just short of the Canadian maritime border in Washington State. A marine state park encircles Reid Harbor and Prevost Harbor with docks, mooring buoys, campsites, and hiking trails, making it a favorite anchorage for boaters and sea kayakers exploring the Salish Sea.

The island's signature landmark is the Turn Point Light Station, built in 1893 on the western tip to guide shipping through busy Boundary Pass; the grounds are now part of the San Juan Islands National Monument. A small one-room schoolhouse museum and sweeping views of Haro Strait, the Gulf Islands, and passing orcas round out the island's low-key, self-reliant character.

• Turn Point Lighthouse (1893) with sweeping views over Haro Strait
• Reid Harbor and Prevost Harbor anchorages within the marine state park
• Hiking trails linking the harbors to Turn Point across the island
• Historic one-room Stuart Island schoolhouse and teacherage museum
• Orca and marine-wildlife watching from the Turn Point bluffs
• Quiet campsites and shoreline beaches for boaters and kayakers

There is no Washington State Ferry to Stuart Island; it is reachable only by private boat, charter, or sea kayak. Most visitors arrive at Reid Harbor or Prevost Harbor, where the marine state park offers docks, mooring buoys, and a campground. From there, a hike of a little over a mile from the road junction leads to Turn Point Lighthouse. A daily permit is required to use the docks, buoys, or campsites.

Summer, roughly June through September, is the prime boating and camping season, with the warmest, driest Pacific Northwest weather and the lighthouse often staffed by volunteer docents. Harbors fill with boats on peak weekends, so weekdays are quieter. Winter access is difficult, with cold, wet, windy conditions and few facilities open.