This was a nice beach park. There were about 20 parking spots give or take with a couple of those…read morebeing ADA. There is also a porta potty The area is small due to private land on either side, which includes the beach. What there is was nice with easy beach access, fishing, swimming, and a good show from the Naval Air Station. If you want to watch jets roar overhead, this is about as close as the public can get. We love planes, so this was a doubly good spot. There is a bench for sitting and loads of driftwood that allows different areas to park your behind and watch the surroundings. A very nice place to visit that is a little off the beaten pass.

It was yet another glorious sunny weekend in the PNW, so we grabbed our buckets and headed to…read moreWhidbey Island for some beachcombing - discovering this beautiful beach along the way. It's a small, but mighty, little strip of land that's bordered on three sides by private property, so while it might not be a great place to hang out with 1000 of your closest friends, you can't beat the vibe here for a small romantic picnic or playtime with the kid. The beach is pretty typical PNW: driftwood, rocks, mud, and lots of stinky seaweed to give the place atmosphere. We were there at low tide, so it definitely had wading potential (if you're into cold, Puget Sound water). The thing I liked most, besides the stunning views out to the Olympics, was that there were only two other people on the beach. This would also be a great place for some sea kayaking on a calm day. There is a port-a-potty in the small parking lot, but other than that there are few amenities here, so bring along your own water, shade, and seating. But if you're looking to cross yet another gorgeous PNW beach off your list, this one is definitely worth a visit.

This is a seriously underrated off season state park, the walk out the split in November is epic…read more Take in the marsh and the Salish Sea. We saw two herons and the shells are beautiful in the small slapping waves. The walk down from the car parking area was swift.

So beautiful at sunset! It was a little muddy to walk down to the beach from the parking lot but…read moreworth it. There is a little shelter and spot for a fire pit too.

This was my third visit to Lummi Island, but my first visit to Sunset Beach on 10/22/20…read more Sunset Beach is located diagonal from The Willows Inn, well marked from the main road, with decent trail access to the beach, but not ADA for wheelchairs/walkers. I purposefully took a much earlier ferry to Lummi Island to guarantee time on the beach. No amenties like picnic benches, bathrooms, or BBQ/fire pits at this pocket beach. Well kept, no litter. Just you communing with nature. It was a sunny autumn day with a brisk wind. Beautiful views. Walked along the beach. Collected tiny rocks of interest. Chatted briefly with a guy mooring his small boat. Perched on a log soaking up the sun. Glorious.

Sunset Beach is very nice beach to enjoy the sunset on Lummi. You can clearly see both Orcas and…read moreSucia islands. It is a small beach and there are lots of signs on different entrances showing "private" so please make sure to use the access available to public. While at it you can also check out one of the finest restaurants in PNW called "Willow Inn" but you do need to make a reservation for dinner.

Being a few weeks removed from my day here helps me appreciate this lil' park for what it is. You…read moresee, I did not have the most five-star experience here, but that's unique to my visit. I'll spare the details as they're not relevant to the park, but it involved my very active dog and a very expensive camera lens. So what can I say about Obstruction Pass that is relevant? Well, it's a tiny little park. But almost everyone I spoke to about my time on Orcas said they actually like it more than its big neighbor Moran, to the north. Situated on the southern tip of the eastern point of Orcas Island, it only occupies 80 acres. But among that 80 acres is a bit of precious beachfront; some of the only public beach space on the island of private developments and no trespassing signs. These are San Juan island beaches, so you'll find millions of rounded pebbles, not sand, lest you imagine frolicking barefoot down the beach. To reach the beach, you have to hike. There's a shorter trail than sort of hugs the seashore, and a longer one that goes over land and abuts private property. I took the wooded longer one to the north on the way in, then the beach-hugger on the way out. It's a short hike, not too strenuous, but it's certainly not ADA approved and it will take you a little time to reach the waters. The park features the trail, beach, a small campground, and restrooms. You access the beach down a couple of staircases, and the thick woods above provide lots of shade. I was here in the dead of winter, but even then I shared the beach with a very loud family, and a couple of other parties. Dogs must be leashed at all times. Be careful on those rocks. If you're, say, carrying a full camera and tripod rig and slip, you'll bounce all the way down the rocks into the water. Probably. And then, after your dog damaged your lens before, and you ended up falling into the water, you'll just pack up and get back to your car and call it a day.

Situated at one tip of Orcas Island, Obstruction Pass State Park is home to campers and…read moreshort-duration hikers. This is a great (less than) a mile hike to the beach and back with a pretty PNW view. Its not as big and majestic as Moren State Park, but its a great feeler for Orcas Island, and because of the size, you will notice more people around, when there are people around. We did this as a group of 6, quick in and out on our first day here. We saw a boat parked out on the water and a little house situated by the water. We didn't see many hikers here when we went on a late Saturday afternoon, but we saw a number of campers. *Porta potty's were available

We stumbled upon this absolute gem of a county park on a recent camping trip to Whidbey Island, and…read moreI just had to make a Yelp page for them! This spot is so pretty, located way off of busy Hwy 20 at the end of a dead end road. It's pretty basic - there are no amenities (not even a port-a-potty, eek) but don't let that stop you from visiting. The beach is absolutely breathtaking, with views across to Hope Island State Park and the mainland, and literally hundreds (if not thousands) of huge pieces of driftwood. My guess is the trees that float down the Skagit during flood season eventually end up at this park, and I'm here for it because there were some GIANT ones! There's also a tiny, no-frills boat-in campsite at the north end of the park, but the real experience here is to walk south along the spit where you can almost see Deception Pass, which is right around the corner. There's no lack of boats, sea life, and birds to enjoy. No to mention this was one of the best rockhounding areas I've been to in quite awhile! I had to resist re-starting my infamous fourth grade beach rock collection. This is definitely worth the visit, and the beach walk to the end of the spit is worth it (if not a bit more tiring than it looks). There was only one other person here during our visit, too, so it was super quiet!

When I think of a "stairway to heaven", this is probably something that comes to mind…read more We parked at Little Squalicum Park and walked down a short path to get here (there's a little steep section). Originally, we saw that there was a pier and thought to try crabbing here. I don't think this is a pier for fishing nor crabbing. The water depth is only a few feet even at the end - it's quite shallow, not deep enough for crabs or any serious fishing. We tried a few casts anyway and didn't come up with anything, unfortunately. But, it's an awesome long pier walk that really gets you some scenic views at the end of the surrounding areas. Great nature view. You really take the full force of the sun out there, so wear some sunscreen.

I was not expecting to be as impressed as I was by this brand new pier at Little Squalicum Beach…read more For decades, I've visited this rustic little beach park with family or friends, always gazing out at the long-dilapidated former shipping pier. Fast forward to just a few weeks ago, and they've transformed this creosote-scented landmark into a place of beauty. We were lucky to be there on a warm, sunny day. We walked out to the end and took it all in. From views of Lummi and Orcas Islands to the west, Mt. Baker to the east, and even some humongous-looking crabs wandering the shallow depths beneath the bridge, it was a delightful (and free!) way to spend some time in nature.

Hunter Bay County Dock is one of the best kept secrets on Lopez Island. If you are looking for a…read morerelatively private beach, or a place to launch your boat, this place is a must visit! The graded concrete ramp is in good shape, and easily accessible. Hunter Bay is well-sheltered by tall cliffs to the south, so the water is relatively calm. The beach and surrounding environs make for a truly gorgeous setting. The beach is next to the ramp and dock, and there's plenty of soft, pebbled sand. It's a great place to sit on a driftwood log and listen to the birds sing. I spent an hour at this beach and never encountered a single person. That says a lot for Lopez Island in July, the busiest month of the year. Visitors will find parking on a hill just above the dock, with designated spots for cars and boat trailers. Boat trailer parking is limited to 72 hours, which is pretty impressive given there's no charge for parking in this space. Please be respectful and quiet when parking in the vicinity of the dock, it's a residential setting with neighboring vacation rentals and primary residences. Dogs are allowed on leash, but warnings indicate pets running free are subject to confiscation due to local livestock. I brought my dog and didn't feel she was in any danger - but I kept tabs on her the entire time I was there. I highly suggest checking out this lovely and serene beach when you visit Lopez Island next.

An absolute favorite for good ole woods on the lake camping! Campgrounds have so much variety in…read moreshade, waterfront options, RV hookups, walk-in, and group sites. Their bathrooms and showers are well maintained, and the public use areas are always kept up as well. They staff a little snack shack where you can find limited swim gear and accessories, plus impressive snacks, coffee, ice cream, candy, etc. The lake is a non-motorized boat lake, but they rent out water toys or bring your own float islands and paddleboards. Mt. Constitution is also found within the park and is a must visit! Views into Canada and over the WA coast are to die for on a clear day. Whether you're visiting just for the day or longer, Moran State Park is an oasis worth experiencing!

This is probably the biggest highlight on Orcas Island if you're outdoorsy!…read more Lakes, scenic views, trails a plenty even leading to an ice cream finish, water activities, and on and on and on. I had only wished we had one more day. My group did the Cascade Lake Loop, Cascade Fall's, plus give or take hopping on to another trail to widen the "loop." Day passes are $10 bucks and go off an honor system with completing a short form with vehicle and govt issue ID details and dropping them into a collection box. Plenty of places to park near multiple different trail entrances. The trails are well maintained & the trees are massive. Sugar shack offered up some delicious ice cream during our widening of said loop. There were clean bathrooms and a large playground located near this pit stop. Plenty of entrances/parking to different trailheads can be found along the outskirts. Definitely recommend for anyone taking a vacation on Orcas Island. And as always practice leave no trace!