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Turtleback Mountain Preserve

5.0 (11 reviews)

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Jesse G.

We did the hike up to Ship's Peak from the south parking lot and it is probably one of the highest reward for medium effort hikes I have ever done. Relatively okay grades, extremely well maintained trails and amazing, breathtaking vistas starting from twenty minutes in. Dog friendly and everyone on the trail was very respectful and good at social distancing (although there were not too many people there).

Justin T.

This is my favorite hike in the state. Not even Silver Star can surpass it (especially now that the road leading to it is completely gone). This trail has everything, dense conifer, fern-studded forests with mossy boulders on one side, Gerry-oak savannah, tall grass and madonnas on the other. Somehow, we saw a lot of people at the parking lot and on the way up, but barely anyone was there. The sun came out at the summit, warming the large, bare rock outcrops as we spun around gleefully and cried out that the hills were alive with the sound of music... ...Or just ate nuts out of a plastic bag, drank beer, and gazed out at breathtaking views of the rest of Orca's Island and the San Juans stretching out into Pungent Sound seemingly into infinity whist low-hanging cloud banks roamed over the hills like a ghostly hand. I mean, that's good enough, right? Down below we not only saw forest, but farms, a marina, canals--all looking very much like a maritime Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. All that was missing was the sight of orca pods leaping in the air, making gleeful sounds and sending up spouts that made a heart shape and hung in midair for a time before evaporating into mist along with the tooting of a fog horn or a train whistle. A train whistle? Why not, I says, why not! (Fun fact: there is a train on the island!) Above all--literally above all, but Mt. Constitution commanding the eastern heights--there was peace, serenity, and a feeling that infused the air from top to bottom, and in the middle too, a feeling quite unlike any other feeling I've felt. Magic really. You think I jest, but for realsies. Magic. Come find out what I mean. The Turtle Head is poking out, calling to you.

Still open in the spirit of staying healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak!
Tanis L.

Turtleback Mountain Preserve is well made and well maintained. The signage at the south trailhead and on the trails as well as the restroom were immaculate. The parking lot and trails were easy to identify and boundaries were clear. The trails are not too steep and varied from dirt to gravel on what I hiked. I hurt my knee about a month ago and have been struggling with downhill hiking/walking. The paths here were not so steep as to make it difficult for me to walk. It was very quiet when I went (21st of April 2020) and I enjoyed the peace and calm of the trail system and the wildlife, vegetation, and landscape it contained.

Trail map and park information
Madison H.

Turtleback Mountain Preserve is a great place for hiking/running on Orcas Island. I parked at the south trailhead and went for a run - it was about 1.5 miles from the base of the trail to the top of the mountain. Lots of steep climbing, but it offered some spectacular views on top. If you're looking for a quick hike/run with good views, I highly recommend either Turtleback Mountain or Moran State Park. I will definitely go back next time I'm on Orcas Island!

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Review Highlights - Turtleback Mountain Preserve

The signage at the south trailhead and on the trails as well as the restroom were immaculate.

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Moran State Park

Moran State Park

(63 reviews)

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!

San Juan Island National Historic Park - Friday Harbor entrance

San Juan Island National Historic Park

(19 reviews)

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.

Lime Kiln Point State Park - Lighthouse

Lime Kiln Point State Park

(40 reviews)

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!

Turtleback Mountain Preserve - hiking - Updated May 2026

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