Uninhabited Islands

Smaller jewels in the crown of the San Juan Islands, uninhabited islands fall into two broad categories: those for people and wildlife and those just for wildlife. There is a wonderful system of Washington State Marine Parks on the smaller outlying islands. Most have floats, docks and mooring buoys. Tremendously popular in the summer, it is possible to have these coves and harbors nearly to oneself in the spring and fall.

Many of the more isolated rocks and islets are included in The San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. In the interests of protecting the environment for the continued appreciation by man as well as preserving habitat and resources for area wildlife, a number of islands have been designated as wilderness areas or wildlife refuges. These sanctuaries date back as early as 1914 and are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Today some 353 acres throughout 84 separate locations have been designated, protecting reefs to wooded inland areas for deer and small mammals as well as birds and seals. Gulls, cormorants, oystercatchers and pigeon guillemots all have nesting colonies. Since humans can drive the parents from the nests, exposing chicks to predation from other birds, it is important to leave these islands for the birds as it is crucial to their existence. The San Juans enjoy the largest concentration of nesting bald eagles in the United States. About ten percent of the eagle population are in fact golden eagles and they are often confused with immature bald eagles. The two are actually quite different with golden eagles being more of a “true eagle” while the bald eagle is considered a sea eagle, like ospreys.

Deadman & Goose Islands lie off the southwest shore of Lopez Island and southeast shore of San Juan Island. They are owned by the Nature Conservancy, and are part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Access is treacherous and they are generally not open to public use.

15 acre Sentinel Island is located just off the southwest shore of Spieden Island, north of San Juan Island. It was homesteaded by Farrar and June Burn in 1940, (the last island in the San Juans to be homesteaded), and is a primary subject in June Burn’s wonderful autobiography, Living High. Sentinel is now owned by the Nature Conservancy and public access is not generally allowed.

Skipjack and Bare Islands are north of Waldron Island and are part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. They are closed to public use.

Yellow Island, northwest of Shaw Island, is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Its precious 11 acres have more than 150 varieties of wildflowers–nearly every natural species to be found in the San Juans, including cactus. From March through June the island is particularly full of natural colors. You can visit Yellow Island so long as you go ashore where the caretaker’s cabin is, stay on designated trails and follow other restrictions.

Photos Courtesy Washington State Department of Ecology