Marine State Parks

Clark Island is north of Orcas and a Marine State Park. Mooring and camping facilities are available for visiting boaters in designated sites. Clark Island has a great variety of beaches.

Doe Island is located off the eastern shore of Orcas Island and is a Marine State Park. It encompasses six acres with over 2,000 feet of shoreline. There are designated campsites, picnic areas and a dock with float, but no drinking water.

Freeman Island off of Orcas Island’s northwest shore is a Marine State Park less than an acre in size. Overnight camping is not permitted, but it’s fun to explore.

James Island, just east of Decatur Island, is a Marine State Park named after Reuben James, who died while saving the life of Stephen Decatur at a naval battle in Tripoli. It covers 114 acres and has coves and mooring buoys on both sides along with a dock and campsites.

Jones Island is one of the most visited of the San Juan Marine Parks. It encompasses 188 acres and is just east of the southwestern tip of Orcas. There’s good anchorage, mooring buoys, a dock, sandy beaches, campsites, wonderful walking trails and potable water! Efforts are underway to make the island wheel chair accessible, however estimated time of completion is still a couple of years out.

Matia Island, (Pronounced ma-TEE-uh, which means ‘no protection’ in Spanish) is north of Orcas Island. Most of the 145-acre Matia Island, is a San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge, but five acres on the western end form Matia Island Marine State Park. It has a dock, mooring buoys and designated camping facilities. There’s an interesting story about Elvin Smith, who lived here and used to row three miles to Orcas and then walk two more miles for groceries.

209 acre Patos Island is north of Orcas and mostly a Marine State Park. A lighthouse occupies two acres on the western tip. Mooring and camping facilities are also available for visiting boaters at designated sites. Patos is the setting for Helene Glidden’s book, The Light in the Island. She lived there as a child and has vivid accounts of smugglers, Indians, visits by Col. Teddy Roosevelt and general life on the island.

749 acre Sucia Island lies north of Orcas Island. One of the most popular boating parks in the islands is Sucia’s 564 acre Marine State Park. There are numerous campsites, picnic areas and shelters, mooring buoys, docks, fireplaces, walking trails, composting toilets and potable water.

35 acre Turn Island, just offshore from the eastern edge of San Juan Island, became part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge in 1960. Overnight camping in designated spots is allowed and there are several fun beaches to explore.

Photos courtesy Washington State Department of Ecology