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.

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

I love that Lopez Island requires public beach access so there's never a monopoly on prime…read morewaterfront in the area. What results is a 25 feet wide strip of public access in between multi-million dollar properties. While I'm sure the folks who are paying local property taxes hate this level of access being granted to the general public, I'm ALL for it! Lopez Village offers a very narrow strip of beach at the bottom of two flights of stairs just off the main street. You'll find several parking spots right at the top of the stairs, but visitors are also able to walk to the beach from practically any location in the village. It's a very small, but charming town. There are lots of rocks and large pieces of driftwood to sit on, however you won't find much shelter in terms of tree cover or cast shadow. All in all, the beach makes nice addition to a stroll through the village.

We went on the Orcas Only tour in the 3 oclock time slot. The process to check in was smooth and…read moreeasy. A thing to note: parking right by their building is about $13. I believe there was street parking farther away, but we didn't look. TJ and Sophia were great hosts to us. Sophia was very knowledgeable and so willing to answer any questions we had. On the tour, we saw a grey whale from a ways a way. Orcas were being scarce today but we traveled near Seattle and pungent sound. They really went the extra mile to make sure we were able to see orcas as this was not close by. The pod had a NEW BABY! Such an exciting experience. Not only that, they were also having fun socializing and slapping their tails. Then we saw some glorious breaching. It was honestly such a great experience. We were in awe!

I've only experienced them through assistance through the booking process. Called and spoke with…read moreEthan twice cause I needed help. He was so hospitable! Can't thank him enough! If the rest of my experience is compared to how Ethan took care of us, I know we're going to have the best time!

Did a whale watching trip with Gabe and Elliot and it was incredible! The boat is just the right…read moresize (wouldn't want to be in one of those tiny Zodiac boats or one of the giant boats with 50 other people!!) and both Gabe and Elliot were so knowledgeable about the whales and other sea life that we saw. I was very impressed and will definitely book again!

I'm extremely disappointed with how my situation was handled recently. Due to a family illness, I…read morehad to cancel my whale watching trip and provided what I believed was plenty of notice. Despite that, they refused to issue a full refund. When I booked, I expected a reasonable level of customer service and flexibility, especially for something as unpredictable as getting sick. Instead, I was met with rigid policy. It felt like they cared more about keeping my money than doing right by a customer who couldn't safely attend. I understand that businesses have cancellation policies, but there should be some level of compassion and common sense--especially when someone gives advance notice and isn't canceling last minute. Unfortunately, this experience left a bad impression. I would hesitate to book with them again and recommend others read the fine print very carefully before committing... because even with advance notice, you will not get a full refund if you need to cancel.

I love all of the parks and beautiful beaches that can found in the San Juan Islands. Be sure to…read moreinspect your maps, and don't forget to look in residential neighborhoods because that is where you will find some of the best spots! Otis Perkins Day Park sits on a slender spit, in between several residential neighborhoods. There's plenty of space to pull off the road to park on the curb, but you'll also find several gravel areas along the spit to park as well. Be sure to allow plenty of time for beachcombing, I found a lot of treasures on this long stretch of beach. And there is so much beautiful driftwood lining the beach. It makes for a lovely spot to sit and listen to the waves. I've been to this location twice, and never encountered anyone else during either of those visits. Be sure to follow the rules about visitation hours, and park responsibly. Lopez Island is a small island, but there are many beautiful sights to see. Enjoy!

Nearly a mile long, Otis Perkins Day Park is a popular spot on Lopez Island to picnic and…read morebeachcomb. The park sits along the slender spit that borders the west side of Fisherman Bay and looks out on the San Juan Channel and the shoreline of nearby San Juan Island. Fantastic spot to relax, walk along the beach, birdwatch, look at the sunset. Lopez Island's annual Fourth of July fireworks is set off along the park's shoreline. This public park and the nearby Tombolo Preserve are an area of Lopez Island not to miss.

Enjoyed picnic tour to Turn Island with Eric. Pedal/paddle sit-on-top Hobie kayaks were fun and…read moreeasy to use. Would use them again. Recommend calling ahead for directions to their dock location in the large marina.

From the owner: *Open June 15th through September 15th*…read more Family Fun and perfect for all ages! We offer Hourly Kayak Rentals for all ages and abilities.