San Juan Islands

The San Juan Islands are the premier cruising destination in Washington State. This archipelago of 172 named islands sits at the confluence of Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, creating dramatic tidal currents and an incredibly rich marine environment.

Key Marinas

Friday Harbor (San Juan Island)

The largest town in the islands and the county seat. Friday Harbor offers:

Full-service marina with transient moorage
Fuel dock (gas and diesel)
Grocery stores, restaurants, and chandleries within walking distance
Customs clearance for boats arriving from Canada
Ferry service to Anacortes and Sidney, BC

Roche Harbor (San Juan Island)

A historic resort marina on the northwest corner of San Juan Island:

Full-service marina with extensive transient moorage
Fuel, water, power, pump-out
Resort amenities including restaurant, pool, and store
Customs clearance (one of the most popular US entry points from Canada)
Famous sunset flag ceremony in summer

Deer Harbor (Orcas Island)

A quiet, well-protected harbor on the west side of Orcas Island:

Small marina with transient slips
Fuel dock
Restaurant and small store
Good jumping-off point for trips to Jones and Stuart Islands

Rosario Resort (Orcas Island)

Located in East Sound on Orcas Island:

Transient moorage
Resort amenities
Good base for exploring the eastern San Juans

Popular Anchorages

Blind Bay (Shaw Island) — large, open anchorage protected from northwesterlies
Echo Bay (Sucia Island) — one of the finest anchorages in the islands, part of Sucia Island State Marine Park
Prevost Harbor (Stuart Island) — scenic and relatively uncrowded
Reid Harbor (Stuart Island) — well-protected, state marine park with mooring buoys
Fossil Bay (Sucia Island) — named for the fossils in the sandstone cliffs
Shallow Bay (Sucia Island) — sandy bottom, good holding
Parks Bay (Shaw Island) — quiet anchorage near Canoe Island

Currents

The San Juan Islands sit in a complex tidal current system:

San Juan Channel — between San Juan and Shaw Islands, currents of 2-4 knots
Wasp Passage — between Shaw and Crane Islands, 2-3 knots
Cattle Pass — south end of San Juan Island, strong and confused currents
Rosario Strait — east side of the islands, 2-3 knots with tide rips possible

Passages

Thatcher Pass — between Decatur and Blakely Islands, the main ferry route from Anacortes
Peavine Pass — between Blakely and Obstruction Islands
Obstruction Pass — between Obstruction and Orcas Islands

Wildlife

The San Juans are famous for resident orca whale pods. When encountering orcas:

Maintain a minimum distance of 300 yards (Washington state law)
Reduce speed to 7 knots within 1/2 mile
Stay on the shore side when possible (do not position between whales and shore)

Seasonal Notes

Summer (June-August): Peak season. Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor fill up by early afternoon on weekends. Mooring buoys at state parks go quickly.
Shoulder season (May, September-October): Fewer boats, pleasant weather, and easier moorage. Some fuel docks and restaurants may have limited hours.
Winter (November-April): Many facilities close or reduce services. Stunning solitude for self-sufficient cruisers. Watch for strong southerly storms.

Explore the San Juan Islands on the map →