Mount Grant Preserve was everything I could ask for and more. There is road access to the summit of…read morethe mountain with different hours the gate is open depending on the season. The San Juan County Land Bank's website provides more details about gate hours if you want to know when it is going to be open in advance of your visit. Driving west on West Valley Road the turn-off to parking for Mount Grant Preserve is on Richard Lee Lane. 'No Parking' signs along the road and parking area explicitly label where not to park. There are a few parking spaces to the right of the mailboxes (facing the mailboxes) and behind the mailboxes where you can park before you reach the main gate. The day I visited the gate was not open, this meant non-motorized (I chose foot) access to the summit. I did not know if I would make it to the top or not. I injured my knee about two months ago and this was the first trail I was attempting summit and back. The hike starts off along a paved road. There are a few different trails you can hike in the Preserve, I chose to take the Greywacke Trail and then the Lawsonite Trail to the summit of Mount Grant. My knee wasn't bothering me by the time I got to the non-motorized trail, so I decided to continue on. The Greywacke Trail was comparatively flat and the signage provided some information on the rock called greywacke and why the trail was named after the rock (I am a geologist so I loved this). The Lawsonite trail branches off from the Greywacke Trail and is steep in places. I stopped to take pictures, which also allowed me to catch my breath. Nearing the top of the hike to the summit you start to pass views out over the surrounding through the tree branches. This is a very beautiful place with gorgeous scenery. I reached the summit without my knee bothering me (the first time this has happened for a steep trail since my injury)! At the summit the foot trail reconnects with the motorized access road to the summit. There are some short walking trails around the summit so you can fully take in the scenery. These trails are flat, which is perfect if you want to bring a grandparent here who struggles with hills and uneven terrain. There are also a number of benches and picnic tables in addition to a very clean restroom (port-a-potti). I decided to go back down the Lawsonite and Greywacke Trails on my way down the mountain though you could have also walked down the road if you wanted to that day. A bicyclist had made it to the summit while I was walking around and exploring. I encountered one other group pulling in and parking as I got back to my car to depart for the day. My knee had been giving me pain/discomfort while going down steep inclines before this hike, but on this hike I didn't even have slight discomfort. Hooray for successful knee strengthening! If the hike had been longer, I am not sure if the results would have been the same. I hiked about 2-3 miles (there are almost 5 miles total) of the trail system with about 700 feet of elevation gain. I found this to be a satisfying hike in length and intensity. A quiet hike with great rocks, plants, and the potential to see some neat wildlife.

This is a historic lighthouse and caretakers home on Stuart island in the San Juan Island. It is…read moreonly accessible by boat and unless you own property or are government I don't think you can drive there. It is about a 2 mile hike from one of the coves next to the island. Make sure you get good directions. Very few people visit this site. The point of the island is real cool and the water is very dangerous. A must bucket list, especially if you like light houses. Note the light is gone though.

What can I say that I haven't said? Great question. This place is always and will always be our…read moreplace to go visit. Watching the sunset is amazing. It's just a great place to go unwind, relax and enjoy the view. This place is breathtaking all of the time. We went here tonight to enjoy an adult beverage and relax.

I made a short exploring stop at the Westside Preserve on Friday the 22nd of May 2020. The preserve…read moreis located along the water and Westside Road and provides some spectacular views of the Haro Strait. Signage along the road marks the edge of the preserve. Additional signs by the parking lots provide background information, rules, and trail maps. It is a bit of a windy place, so make sure to dress accordingly. There are also few trees, which is nice if you want to soak in the sunlight. A number of people were there when I stopped (around 12:30 p.m.) sitting in various places and watching the water. I ventured along part of the trail system taking in the different views, plants, and wildlife. Lots of space on the rocks overlooking the water to sit and rest and/or have a picnic.

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!

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 a very cool place that I recommend visiting if you like the outdoors and are on Orcas…read moreIsland. I saw two deer foraging in a neighboring field as I neared the Coho Preserve. My navigation sheet was the .pdf the San Juan County Land Bank website provided with a map of the Preserve, parking marked, and directions to the Preserve's entrance. One of the neat things I read on the Preserve's webpage was that the area had trout and salmon. So definitely something to watch for on your walk/hike. There are numerous benches where you can stop and rest, several of which look out over the stream/creek (Cascade Creek) running through the Preserve. I can see myself with binoculars sitting and waiting for hours if need be to spot me some trout and/or salmon. The parking lot is visible from the road and easy to spot. There are a number of spaces, though I imagine it could fill up pretty quick. There was one other car there when I arrived, and three others when I got back to my car. On the trail itself I saw no other people. The trail has two parts, an out-and-back and a loop that loops back round to the out-and-back part. The out-and-back segment is mostly flat with only a slight incline in places. You cross a small bridge before you get to a fork. You can take a left or a right to go around the loop portion of the trail. I took a left at the fork and am glad I did. I hurt my knee about a month ago and going downhill can be difficult and if the land I am walking on is too steep I can't walk. The trail to the left of the fork is steeper with a bunch of little switchbacks and a few benches where you can stop and watch the creek. The creek ran fast in some portions of the trail and I had fun looking for fish. Towards the top of the loop, the waterfalls get pretty big! By the time I reached the top of the trail my knee developed a pressure around the kneecap (not a good sign for going downhill). However, the trail evened out and was not as steep on the way down back to the out-and-back portion of the trail. By the time I got back to my car the discomfort in my knee had almost completely alleviated. The day after the hike (I went to the Preserve on 21 April 2020) my knee was fine, the fastest it has recovered since the injury. This is a healing trail to hike! Signage is very well done and looked after. As was the Preserve trails and land therein as a whole. Public/private land boundaries were made clear and so were the expectations for hiking on the trails. Coho Preserve is a gem of a place tucked away in the greenery of the Island.

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!

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.

A beautiful day exploring the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park, wandering along the grassy trails…read moreand discovering unexpected treasures around every corner. Then I stumbled upon this handsome turquoise fellow sitting in the grass with a big grin on his face and a sign that read, "I've Been Kissed." I had to laugh. With those big golden eyes and that confident smile, he looked like he'd been quite the ladies' man. I wondered how many people had stopped to kiss him, hoping to turn an ordinary walk through the park into their own fairy tale!

Fun stop to breakup the drive Free activity Enjoy A little…read morestretch and enjoy the fresh air

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.