San Juan Islands, the San Juans. Whatever you call them, the San Juan Islands are the maritime heart of the Pacific Northwest. A visit to the San Juan Islands should be on the top of everyone's list of things to do while exploring Washington State. Tucked into the protected waters of an inland sea, over 400 rocks and islands that comprise the San Juans beckon visitors to head out on a journey of discovery.

The San Juan Islands reveal themselves in subtle ways. Intimate marine passages open into long reaches between forest covered island slopes, exposing startling vistas of several mountain ranges which encircle and protect residents of the San Juan Islands from the vagaries of weather systems coming in from the Pacific Ocean. The Olympic Mountains to the south are a major influence on weather patterns in western Washington, and the San Juan Islands in particular. Most oceanic weather fronts approach the state from the southwest. The Olympic mountains pose a formidible barrier which forces the warm moist air to rise, cool, and form precipitation. In doing so the mountains literally wring the clouds dry, by the time the weather systems reach the San Juan Islands they have little moisture left in them. Consequently, in the San Juan Islands we enjoy a climate more akin to a desert than to the temperate rainforest that surrounds the San Juans. Only 18-20 inches of rain falls in the average year in the San Juan Islands. Compare that to the 35 inches of rain in Seattle and Bellingham, or nearly 200 inches on the west side of the Olympic Peninsula.  While Washington State may have a reputation for being wet, the San Juan Islands don't really fit the stereotype. In fact, the San Juans enjoy nearly 250 days of sunshine per year. To give you perspective on that statistic consider that Tucson Arizona averages just under 200 days of sunshine!

San Juan Islands summer weather patterns typically include sunny skies, calm winds, and moderate temperatures. The inland sea, with its cool water temperature, acts as a fantastic heat sink which prevents the air from getting too hot or too cold.  Near the Puget Sound iit is about 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime, and around 55 F at night. It rarely climbs above 80 degrees. It is hard to imagine a better summer climate than that found here in the San Juan Islands. The winters in the San Juans are also relatively mild. The water surrounding the San Juan Islands acts as a moderator and keeps temperatures well above freezing most of the time.

Much of western Washington State is defined by thick forests of giant evergreen trees ensconced in shaggy moss and dripping with moisture, the product of many days of rainfall. The San Juan Islands, in contrast, are seen to have a plant community that in some ways resembles the high desert country further inland. Lodgepole pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper, Garry Oak, and Douglas Fir trees are a few of the larger forest species. Although the San Juans have a significant forest cover, the south facing shoulders, and the inner valleys of many islands, are characterized by wide grassy meadows. These "balds" are remnants of the grasslands that predominated in the San Juan Islands at the end of the last ice-age (follow this link for more about the geology of the San Juan Islands). The dry climate of the San Juans has held off the larger trees from taking a foothold on these southern slopes. In spring these open "balds", and meadows put forth fantastic wildflower displays. Although a century of fire-suppression in the San Juan Islands has taken it's toll on many areas, there are still some outstanding displays to be seen.

San Juan Island visitors are often startled to see small colonies of cactus growing here in the islands. The San Juans are actually the northernmost outpost of cactus in North America. There are ethnobotanists who think that these plants were actually brought to the San Juan Islands long ago by early inhabitants of the islands. If that is so then we are looking at a living artifact, and a direct link to ancient times in the San Juan Islands. The theory is that the juice of these diminuitive plants may have been used as a fixing agent for the natural dyes that were manufactured.

In the San Juan Islands are also the northernmost specimens of Manzanita that grow in the Pacific Northwest. Related closely to the beautiful Madrone (Madrona, Arbutus) trees that the San Juan Islands shorelines are famous for, these red barked shrubs are more commonly seen in the American Southwest.

Cactus, Manzanita, ancient trees, abundant wildlife, and great scenery, the San Juan Islands have much to offer the casual visitors and full time residents alike.

 

Getting to the San Juan Islands

(trouble in paradise)

As it has been since the beginning, the main obstacle to exploration of the San Juan Islands is access. Only four of the main San Juan islands are serviced by the Washington State Ferries. As the popularity of the San Juans increases it puts strain on an aging ferry system already bursting at its seams.

Now here's the part that the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is afraid that you will realize....

In July and August a visitor to the San Juan Islands can expect to wait in line for three or four hours before boarding a vessel for a two hour trip to tourist destinations like Friday Harbor. On busier days it is not uncommon to have wait times in excess of 6 hours! You should budget a full day's worth of time for waiting in lines and ferry travel if you really need to go to Friday Harbor during the peak season. Usually this means sacrificing another part of the vacation plans.

Remember that in an age of heightened security there may also be longer delays due to vehicle searches by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs.

Anacortes offers a variety of alternatives which enable visitors to access the best that the San Juan Islands have to offer while still leaving ample time for experiencing other parts of Washington State. Affordable lodging, great restaurants, gorgeous viewpoints, and a long list of outdoor activities give the educated traveler extra time to spend enjoying themselves instead of waiting on the hot asphalt of the San Juan Island Ferry parking lot. An easy 90 minute drive from Seattle, less than an hour from Bellingham, and no ferry hassles makes Anacortes the preferred destination for more and more people coming to the San Juans.

 

Getting to Anacortes- Home Port of the San Juan Islands

Here's the good part. From Seattle it is just a 90 minute drive on the highway and you are here! No muss, no fuss, no ferry. Fidalgo Island is the easternmost of the San Juan Islands and over the eons the Skagit River has been depositing silt into the Puget Sound from the North Cascade Mountains. Now just a narrow gap called Swinomish Slough exists between the Washington Mainland and Fidalgo Island. We have three bridges connecting us, the Twin Bridges on Highway 20, the Rainbow bridge in the historic town of La Conner, and the famous Deception Pass bridge from Whidbey Island. From Anacortes you have the best of both worlds, the San Juan Islands and easy access to the rest of Washington.

 

Anacortes and San Juan Islands Visitor Activities

 

San Juan Islands Water Taxi

If you wish to hike or camp on some of the secret San Juan Islands not serviced by the San Juan Island Ferries you can call the local water-taxi service. Island Express Charters has two high speed, beach landing craft that have been custom built to land on almost any pocket beach in the San Juans. Call them toll free at 877.473.9777, or locally at 360.299.2875.

 

Whale Watching in the San Juan Islands

For San Juan Islands Whale Watching there really is no better choice anywhere than Island Adventures.

Even if they weren't great friends of ours I would be able to tell you that this is the most popular whale watch company in Washington State. And for good reason, in 2005 they set an industry record for whale sighting success after logging 237 consecutive trips that saw whales! In 2006 they again led the whale watching industry in whale sightings. When it comes to commitment they have no peer, and they guarantee whale sightings!

Call Island Adventures Whale Watching toll free at 800.465.4604, or locally at 360.293.2428.

 

San Juan Islands Sport Fishing

Again there is an easy choice here. Jim Aggergaard of Catchmore Charters is a local legend among San Juan Islands fishermen. He has spent most of his life out on the waters of the San Juan Islands, and spent 20 years with the Department of Fish and Wildlife before "retiring" and starting a charter fishing company. If anyone is going to help you catch a fish, this is the guy. It's kind of fun to watch the other guys try to follow him around when they can't hook anything. A well maintained boat and quality gear will ensure that you have a great fishing experience. Call 360.293.7093.

 

San Juan Islands Sea Kayaking

Well heck, come out with us!

Anacortes Kayak Tours 800.992.1801, locally 360.588.1117

 

Walking, Hiking, and Mountain Biking

Fidalgo Island has an incredible amount of open space preserved for the public as the Anacortes Community Forest Lands. This progressive thinking has set aside most of the island's interior and protects it from development. Add that to the extensive trail system in Deception Pass State Park and you'll see that we enjoy more public trails than the other San Juan Islands. Take a walk, or bring your bicycle, and explore over 50 miles of linked trails. Some trails are around beaver formed lakes and ponds, others will lead you to some of the most stunning viewpoints in the region. All of them give you an intimate experience with a well preserved lowland forest.

Visit the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Office to get maps of these trails.

 

Anacortes Lodging

Anacortes has a wide selection of excellent accomodations that are affordably priced, clean, and friendly. More and more people are opting to stay in Anacortes rather than bother with the San Juan Islands ferry, so advanced reservations are definitely recommended in the high season, June-August. Whether you are interested in a romantic Bed and Breakfast, a fancy hotel/spa, or just a clean and inexpensive bed to rest your head on, you will be pleasantly surprised with what Anacortes has to offer. Follow this link for more information on Anacortes Lodging.

 

San Juan Islands Lodging

Visitors often remark about the widening gap between affordable lodging here in Anacortes and the pricier accomodations in Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island.

Orcas Island, on the other hand, has a much wider selection of great lodgings and a friendly community so we prefer to promote lodgings out on Orcas Island. If you must travel out to one of the ferry served San Juan Islands then we would recommend Orcas Island over San Juan Island any day of the week. Follow this link for San Juan Islands Lodging on Orcas Island.

 

Camping

If you would rather wake to the sounds of birds then there are two great choices for camping.

Washington Park on the west side of Fidalgo Island has 73 sites ranging from $16- $20 per night depending on whether you want electric hook-ups. Trails crisscross through the park and provide great opportunities for bird-watching, botanizing, or just ambling along. This Anacortes city park is also one of the few places in the world where you can watch Orca whales swim by on a regular basis. The views to the rest of the San Juan Islands is absolutely stunning from here.

Deception Pass State Park is the most popular state park in Washington. Because of this distinction it has more amenities and infrastructure than many National Parks. The 167 tent sites, and 143 utility sites can fill during the peak season so advanced reservations are recommended.

 

Diving

Get below the surface of the San Juans to experience a whole new world. The San Juan Islands are known as a world class dive destination due to the extraordinary concentration of sea life that occurs here. Anacortes has two great dive companies to choose from.

Deep Sea Charters departs from Cap Sante marina in downtown Anacortes. They run regularly scheduled trips into the San Juans all year. Winter can have the best visibility due to the lack of algal bloom

LuJac's Quest departs from Skyline marina on the west side of Fidalgo Island. They also offer group charters for various activities in the San Juan Islands.

There are so many things to do right here in Anacortes, you'll keep coming back for more!

 

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Anacortes Sea Kayak Tours

San Juan Islands Sea Kayaking, Burrows Island

Sea Kayaking the San Juan Islands- Outer Islands

Sea Kayaking Deception Pass

Multiday Sea Kayak Expeditions