At Lime Kiln Point on San Juan Island, you can watch whales from the viewpoint or near the lighthouse. Elsewhere, lagoons, pebble beaches, and forested landscapes shape the scenery. Together with museums and island routes, they offer many different ways to discover San Juan County.

Watch and learn about orcas

Lime Kiln Point State Park is located at the western end of San Juan Island. From spring through fall, visitors can watch orcas, gray whales, porpoises, and other marine life there. The viewpoint and lighthouse offer two spots from which to watch the wildlife.

The Lime Kiln Point Interpretive Center complements wildlife watching with exhibits about resident and transient orca groups. Opening arrangements may vary seasonally. The Whale Museum also focuses on the natural history of marine mammals, with a particular emphasis on the J, K, and L pods in the Salish Sea, the inland waters around the San Juan Islands. Real whale skeletons and a family tree of the resident orcas are also among the exhibits.

Here, different ways of exploring whales come together: the possibility of watching animals from the coast and learning about orcas and their groups through exhibits. The grounds of the San Juan Island Historical Society and Museum also feature a restored James King farmhouse.

Coastal features and landscapes

San Juan Island National Historical Park encompasses 2,141 acres of woodland, prairie, and saltwater shoreline. Rocky cliffs and pebble beaches define the coastline at San Juan County Park. From there, views stretch across Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Vancouver Island. The park has water, flush toilets, a small picnic shelter, picnic tables, a beach, and a boat launch.

On Orcas Island, Obstruction Pass State Park offers access to one of the island’s few public beaches. Madrona trees, pebble beaches, and views of the water define this place. Features of Moran State Park include lakes, scenic landscapes, cycling and hiking trails, historic structures, wooded camping areas, and a nature preserve.

Spencer Spit State Park is on Lopez Island, where a sand spit is enclosed by a saltwater lagoon. Two miles of flat trails run along the edge of the park, the lagoon, and the sand spit. At the beach, the Outdoor Adventure Center offers sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, bicycles, and safety gear for rent, as well as adventure tours. Rentals are available seasonally.

Plan island visits and routes

Blind Island offers distinctive visitor experiences, but camping is restricted: campsites are available only to people arriving by human- or wind-powered watercraft. Picnicking, non-motorized boating, and wildlife watching are also possible there. Visitors can make day and overnight visits to Turn Island and Matia Island in the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge; restrictions help protect sensitive habitats.

The San Juan Islands Scenic Byway consists of three sections: 30 miles along the Washington State Ferries routes, plus a driving loop around San Juan Island and another around Orcas Island. You can get around the San Juan Islands by bicycle, boat, car, trolley, bus, or moped. Which options work for your plans depends on the islands and experiences you want to include.

The WSDOT Anacortes/San Juan Islands ferry route serves Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, Shaw Island, and Lopez Island. Since schedules and reservations may change, it’s best to check them before your trip. Other experiences on the San Juan Islands include self-guided or guided farm tours and farmers’ markets offering farm-to-table experiences.

Discover more destinations: Friday Harbor, Eastsound, Lopez Island, Cowlitz, Jefferson County, Pierce, Clark, Whatcom.

Go to the main travel overview: Washington.