Where are the best places to go in the San Juan Islands for boating, hiking, and exploring?This comprehensive post has links for almost everything for new boaters and cruisers.
Summary at a Glance
Summary at a Glance
The best places to go in the San Juan Islands include marine parks, small harbors, and scenic inland hikes. Popular stops range from Sucia Island and Jones Island to Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor, with additional highlights like lighthouse hikes, hidden trails, and dock-access towns that combine boating access with easy exploration.
What is there to do in the San Juan Islands?
Where to Find Essential Resources for Travelers and Boaters
All the places listed are accessible by boat, some by vehicle too. Almost every park has easy to lengthy hikes, so follow this link to all the parks All the parks. Below are San Juan area hikes that are not found in parks
Eagle Bluff on Cypress Island (my all-time favorite)
Start this 2-3 hr round trip hike at Pelican Beach. The trail to the bluff is beyond the Smugglers Cove, Duck Lake turn off and is closed until July 15th to protect baby chicks. Keep the pets and children on a leash and back from the cliff edge at the very top.
Afterglow Mausoleum at Roche Harbor
This is a short walk to the mausoleum known for a missing pillar. Begin by walking up the resort road past the chapel. Turn left on the county road and then in a block or so, left again on Afterglow Dr. Watch for signs and trail in woods on the right side.
Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island
Begin this roughly two and a half mile (one way) hike at the dock at either the Prevost or Reid Harbor docks since they share the same isthmus and trailhead. Proceed on trail past sign and lots of stairs up and then down to the cove at the head of Reid Harbor. Wind your way through the kayaker campground and follow the service road, up, up and past the one room school to the intersection with Lighthouse road. Turn left and keep going, you can't get lost now.
To save about two miles of walking, consider starting this hike at the head of Prevost Harbor from the county dock where Lighthouse rd begins. As a bonus, you can ride your bikes from the county dock but be careful walking or riding because the last quarter mile going down the hill to the lighthouse is steep and littered with round rocks. We leave our bikes at the top and walk the last downhill stretch.
