Awesome ferry ride over to the islands. With Beautiful views. Entering was easy and quick.read more

I only got to visit the American Camp side of this park, but it was wonderful!…read more Driving along Cattle Point Road you'll see signs to enter multiple different sites at the park. I mainly stopped at three locations: Cattle Point Interpretive Area: You can either take the steps down to the pebbly beach to feel more connected to the water, or go up the mossy mound to get a high ground view of... well, everything. I saw water, cliffs, islands, ducks, eagles, seals... unfortunately, no whales, though, prob because this is not the time of year they are around much. Cattle Point Lighthouse: Walked on a cute trail to the lighthouse, where I saw a humongous red fox on a hill, looking like it was digging or pouncing on something! On the other side of the lighthouse are views of miles of open sky and water. South Beach: On the road leading to the beach, we actually saw a black fox just chilling, lying on the road. It moved to the fenced area as we approached, and my gosh it was beautiful. I didn't even know black foxes existed! The beach itself is wide and has views of endless water, with some driftwood hanging out near you. I know there's so much more to the park that we didn't see, but I was quite happy with the wildlife and incredible scenery. Especially the foxes... I've only seen like one other (that I can remember), so seeing the ones here were such a bonus. The trails and sites that we missed are even more reason to return to San Juan Island National Historical Park. I just hope I'm able to come out to this island again someday.

I hadn't planned to visit Lime Kiln Point State Park while staying on San Juan Island, but our BnB…read morehost INSISTED we include a visit to the park in our itinerary. Lesson learned; always trust the guidance of locals when visiting a new place. This park is a gem! Visitors will find this gorgeous park located on the west side of the Island, perfectly situated to offer stunning views of the Salish Sea. The park is named for its historic lime kiln used by settlers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An interpretive center has displays and activities about orcas and the area's lime kiln industry once important to the region. The coastline is incomparable! A five to ten minute downhill walk from the parking lot reveals remarkable views of the Olympic Mountains and an expansive view of sparkling water stretching far into the distance. It's said this site is one of the best whale watching locations in the islands, where visitors will most likely be able to see orcas! We weren't fortunate enough to find any during our visit, but the scenery was rewarding enough. The trail continues along the rocky shoreline, passing several pristine coves and thickets of madrones with twisted, curling red bark. The trail soon reveals a beautiful lighthouse on a rocky bluff, and the lime kilns in the distance. There is a well-curated gift shop back at the parking lot, as well as picnic tables, information kiosks, and public restrooms. There's a whole lot of beauty packed into this 42 acre park... something you won't want to miss!

Truly a picturesque park with beautiful coastal hikes. We certainly enjoyed walking along the…read morecoastline while taking in the scenery. Walking to the lighthouse was a perfect adventure and not strenuous if you are looking for a pretty easy hike. Stop and look out for whales (we didn't see any) and also check out the tide pools!

There are really no words to describe how amazing it is to live a mere half-hour boat ride from…read morethis tiny little island state park where you can drop an anchor in its secluded harbor, find a waterfront campsite, and spend the weekend patting yourself on the back for how damn lucky you are to live here. Patos is one of the smaller of the public islands in the San Juans, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in stunning sunsets and beautiful, easy-to-access beaches full of driftwood and tide pools. The level path around the island can be easily walked in well under an hour, and there's a quaint, historic lighthouse you can tour when it's open on weekends. There are even pit toilets in a couple of spots around the island, and each campsite features a picnic table and fire ring for the low-low price of $12/night. What the island doesn't have is running water of any kind, so be sure to come prepared.

One of my favorite camping islands in the San Juans…read more The main camping area is located at the west end of the island near the cove between Patos island and Little Patos island. At the east end of the island there are a couple of small coves that you can anchor in, but there are no campsites on the east end of the island. I have been coming to Patos Island for over 20 years, and it has changed very little in that time. Sure they have installed new vault toilets that are much nicer than the old ones, and the old dock that was quite unstable has been torn down. The old military barracks that were out by the lighthouse have been removed, and the lighthouse has been opened up for tours now. Besides that the camp sites and general feel of the island is the same. The only way to get to this island is by boat, there are no houses (besides the lighthouse) on the island, no roads, no cars, and no running water. This island has quite a history, much of that is covered in a book called The Light On The Island which is an great read if you are visiting the island. The book was written in the 1950's by the daughter of the lighthouse keeper who lived there from 1905 to 1930. The harbor between Patos island and Little Patos can be a challenge to anchor in (I haven't had a problem but I have seen others have trouble). There are 2 buoys that you can pay a fee to tie up to, or you can drop your own anchor. As the tide comes and goes, the current can get quite strong closer to beach area by the campsites. On more than one occasion I have seen someone anchor close to the beach with a rope running to shore tied to a tree or log. Not such a good idea because people who do that usually end up with their boat on the beach when the tide goes out. The harbor is very shallow at low tide, 4 to 5 feet deep in many areas, but as you get out towards the anchoring buoys it gets deeper. From the campground you can see a variety of wildlife, some amazing eagles, or annoying wasps and yellow jackets. One night while camping we awoke to Orcas splashing in the water right next to the campsite. You may occasionally spot a river otter in the bay, or porpoise off shore. Be sure to take the short walk to the lighthouse, it can be amazing at sunset. As you approach the lighthouse in the large grassy field, you may notice some cement footings from old buildings, the ones right near the cement Patos Island sign are the footings from the original lighthouse keepers house which burnt down years ago. Any cement footings at the edge of the grassy field by the trees are of the old military barracks that where on the island. Scuba diving is amazing along the south side of the island, with amazing sea life to be seen. Beware of the currents, it can get a bit strong, but if you are up for a drift dive with a live boat, it can be an amazing ride. Keep in mind that there is no running water on the island so you need to bring fresh water with you. The closest place to refill if you need more water is on Sucia island.

When on island time I love to seek out a high viewpoint. Our hike on Turtleback Mountain had some…read moreof the most breathtaking views we had. There are two parking lots, one at the South trailhead and the other at the North. We took the South Trail to the West Overlook to the Ridge trail and stayed on it to the Ravens Ridge trail and the outside of Center Loop trail to return. The South Trail starts in the woods as it goes up and up to the ridge and mountaintop. The first mile and the early part of the hike were tough, it felt like walking on my elliptical with the ramp all the way up. You'll be quickly rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding islands. Did you pack a lunch or a beer? This was a perfect break spot. Carry on through the woods, fields and cliffs and complete your loop. Wildflowers were blooming anywhere the sunlight found it's way through the canopy. Simply stunning. Take a photo of the map at the trailhead Pack a lunch and beer You're going through the woods and exposed at the top, you need bug spray and sunblock Pack it in, pack it

Second Stop: "A Perfect Day on Orcas island" Collection…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/collection/Bgd9G40BjYMmHuJoM5MpHw Well this is an awesome hiking trail system with spectacular views. We did the short 1.5 mile to Ship Peak. 931" straight up and 931' straight down. That ham and egg omelet was sitting pretty heavy on the way up. LOL We have done other trails and they are all awesome. Check it out.

Beacon Hill Park is such a beautiful and vast park! Our party of four had to break our exploring of…read moreit into two different rounds and each time it was great! There are beautiful ponds and fountains here in amongst lush trees. There are paths that lead you into all sorts of park adventures! On the first excursion we saw a juvenile owl in a tree and got some pictures of it as well as well as the Moss Lady statue as extra bonuses. On the second excursion we went to a wonderful rose garden, the Children's Farm which consists of various animals which are primarily barnyard types. We then went to the south end of the park and went to Mile Zero for the Trans Canadian Highway and a gorgeous view of the water from the Straight of Juan De Fuca. And we saw more juvenile owls out and about in the trees. Definitely a park to go to and it's the kind of place that will bring in tourist sightseers but will have locals or residents as well because it's clear it's a park that is loved by all.

A beautiful park in Victoria that reminded me a lot of of a small version of Central Park in New…read moreYork City. Tons of towering trees, lots of untouched, wild Lasic, beautiful, well tended to gardens, areas for kids to play as well as Pickleball and other courts for people to use to play. There's a dog park in There so you can take the dogs out for a walk as well. So many beautiful places and sites in this park. Which I'm sure would make for a great afternoon for any family that wanted to get away from home. A lot of it is taken care of by just a few People, and a number of volunteers to take care of gardens.

It's not a fun park unless you're a kid. Then it's a blast with a playground that has those weird…read morecircular htings that swing you around with your weight and other fancy playground items. But this park is more about the sunset. I was in town as a day trip and the weather was so nice that I wanted to check out the sunset. We sat there people watching on the bench as the sun started sinking over the water. People walked out down the pier and it made for really nice pictures. Once the sun went down, people left because there was a chill in the air, but until that moment, the sunset was magical. Definitely glad we hung around for twilight.

Washington Park is beautiful. The scenic loop is a great drive (go slow 10 mph there are…read morepedestrians on the paved road too). There are spots for cars to park on the loop to enjoy the view (and a disability parking spot). Take advantage of the easy and beautiful access to epic views of Burrows Island and the pass at this park before getting on the ferry to the San Juan islands or staying in Anacortes.

Came here while on vacation and we had so much fun! The walk was so nice and cool for July. A bit…read moreof a hike but totally worth it. The place is well maintained as people seem to care for the area while visiting and keeps it clean. People stay on the trail too. Does seem like people wander the area for walking and very light hiking, but they don't stick around long. Seems like a fun area.

Talk about an unexpected, slightly creepy, yet cool find!…read more On the list of things to do on San Juan Island was this spot, and it seemed intriguing, so the bff and I decided to make the drive on over to check it out. Parking was easy at the adjacent gravel lot on the perimeter of Roche Harbor airport. The ~1 mile dirt path takes you through a few family grave sites, and there are ample signs leading to the mausoleum itself. When you get to the mausoleum, expect to be wowed by how well-kept the structure is despite being so isolated. It was a bone-chilling experience to see how John S. McMillin decided to preserve his family's memory. Note that there is only a portal potty on site. It's not exactly wheelchair friendly, either. Definitely take a visit!

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!

So this park is awesome and we found it on accident we actually stayed up in the group camping…read morewhich I actually prefer more because it was a lot of trees a lot of space five minute walk down to the water. The spots on the water are a little closer together it's dryer and not many trees down there so it's give-and-take whatever you prefer. The sites are $25 and we had a boat that we put in the extra parking for $12 a night. I think the staff that works there would prefer you never talk to them and do everything on your own.

We camped here for 1 night this past weekend, Oct 1-2, 2016. I made reservations online a month…read moreprior. Looking at the map, we booked campsite #24 which was on the water. It was a few $$ more expensive than the ones not on the water, the view was worth the few extra dollars. I paid $34/night (tax included). Campsites: the lowered numbered sites, 1-5 I think, have shore access. 24 does not have shore access but is on the water. There are biker/hiker sites, if you don't have a car these would be preferable. The pit toilet was clean and on the lower end of smelly. The campsites are pretty close together so be aware of that. I think sites 28 and 29 are actually conjoined. My aunt and uncle live nearby and said the campgrounds get booked full during the summer season. Also it's hard to get off the island during the summer months because of so many tourists and cars going on the ferry. Beautiful spot though! Pet friendly, and I think they are open year round. Starting November till April/May it's a walk up only campsite. During summer you can reserve online.

This is a really pretty park right along the water. They have play areas for kids, walking paths,…read moreflowers, a dog park, and really nice houses in the surrounding neighborhood. If I lived here, I'd be in this park often.

This is a medium-sized park with gardens, a gazebo, a trail down to the ocean, playground, picnic…read moretables, BBQ's, firepit and a kitchen shelter. Big lawn for relaxing or get togethers. My friend and I walked around to enjoy the flowers and take a walk to the beach. I was not fit for the trek down to the beach though, so my friend went and reported it's really beautiful. There were swallows flying at a crazy fast speed and zooming around us. Felt like Snow White. There are bathrooms here that are the standard expected for a park, but the one I was in didn't have a light at all so I'd avoid it after dark.