Suggestions for San Juan Island trip

[soohma]

I'm in Oregon, but have never visited the San Juan Islands despite having lived close by many years ago.

I want to go to Orca for sure, but are there other islands I should visit? I like boon docking and wilderness, not so much towns.

Suggestions?

[N147JK]

There are many islands, but ferry service is to only 4 of them. So if you have the time, visit all 4. They each a slightly different flavor and are all spectacular.

By far the best way to experience the San Juans is by boat - that is a private boat, cruise the islands, and stay out anchored in the more remote areas.

BTW the island name is "Orcas" not "Orca".

[soohma]

Boat sounds lovely, but I'll have my dog with me so I'll stick to solid ground. But I will try to visit all 4 islands.

Thank you.

[mkguitar]

cost out the ferries.



an alternative could be lighthouse point park at Point Roberts WA for Orca watching.


this requires driving through Canada

[soohma]

I'll see how my routing pencils out. Thanks for the suggestions both of you.

[SteveJ]

Eat anything they smoke at Seabolt's, near Deception Pass north of Oak Harbor.

[soohma]

Oh yum. I'll definitely make a note of that!

[pacificstar]

We love the San Juan Islands. Last year it was difficult to get to each island because of staffing with Covid. We were only able to get to San Juan Island and we camped at 2 different spots. A few nights at the Fair Grounds right in town and a few nights out of town at Lakeside. Very different from one another and both great. I don't know about boon docking on the islands. We had reservations on Orcas Island but had to cancel because the ferry workers didn't show up for work. We looked into Shaw Island as well. Have a fabulous time. Please post and let us all know what you'd. Were going to Canada next week. Taking the Port Angeles ferry to Victoria.

[Bertiboo]

You cross a bridge onto Fidalgo Island when you go the Anacortes Ferry, and another bridge (Deception Pass) to south crosses to Whidbey Island. These are also worth spending time on as well as the town of La Conner just barely on the mainland side of Fidalgo. Per the other poster, San Juan Island has as much to see as Orcas, with both Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor as interesting towns. The island has an interesting history too, it would have been in Canada except for the “Pig War”

[mkguitar]

oil spill from a sunk boat last week- check before you go
https://sanjuanislander.com/news-art...pill-situation