Cruising the San Juan Islands in any kind of marine conveyance is fun. Gunkholing around on a nice sized, comfortable powerboat can be particularly fun. We chartered a boat from Anacortes, cruised through the islands to end up at Jones Island, then on to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island, cruised around some more before going to Stuart Island, and ended up at Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Plenty of beautiful sites, wildlife, on-island hiking, and off-island hanging out.

Jones Island consists entirely of a 188 acre state marine camping park, including floating dock, moorage buoys, and marine-accessible campsites with drinking water and pit toilets. A hiking trail goes across the lower middle “saddle” of the island and around its west side for great San Juan Island views.

San Juan Island is the most populated and developed of the San Juan Islands. Roche Harbor has a picturesque resort, gardens, historical lime kilns, restaurants, and a terrific 19 acre outdoor sculpture park run by the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. Friday Harbor is more developed and commercialized, but with good amenities and the state ferry dock.

Stuart Island also includes a state park accessible via docks on two bays, but most of the island is privately owned. Walking around the single main dirt road of Stuart Island reveals the school house that educated children for many decades but just recently closed (only two children in the entire final school across all grades). You can walk right into the open doors of the unattended small library. Venturing further will go to a historic cemetery that includes short biographies of all the people in the cemetery, including their connection to the island. A few farms and residences are sprinkled further along the roads, ending up at the bluff of Lover’s Leap and the open grounds of Turn Point Lighthouse.

Get on up to the San Juans!

Charter powerboat from Anacortes heading into San Juan Islands

Heading into the San Juan Islands from Anacortes

Jones Island State Park boat mooring dock San Juan Islands

At Jones Island State Park mooring dock

Jones Island State Park boat mooring dock beach San Juan Islands

Beach and forest of Jones Island

Sunset tree trail around Jones Island San Juan Islands

Sunset from waterfront trail around Jones Island

Jones Island trail around shoreline in San Juan Islands

Hanging out to watch the sunset from Jones Island

Jones Island State Park sunset view from shoreline trail in San Juan Islands

Sunset from Jones Island in San Juan Islands

San Juan Island Roche Harbor Resort marina McMillin's Dining Room garden

Roche Harbor Resort, McMillin’s Dining Room, and garden on San Juan Island

Roche Harbor Resort marina San Juan Island

Roche Harbor Resort marina on San Juan Island

Roche Harbor Sculpture Park San Juan Islands Museum of Art metal tree

Roche Harbor Sculpture Park metal tree

Roche Harbor Sculpture Park San Juan Islands mirror on easel

Roche Harbor Sculpture Park mirror on easel

Stuart Island Turn Point Lighthouse port-a-potty interior

Stuart Island port-a-potty with flowers, hat rack, drapes, and artwork

Turn Point Lightouse walkway Stuart Island San Juan Islands

Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island, view from lightkeeper’s house

Turn Point Lightouse keeper's house porch view Stuart Island San Juan Islands

Turn Point Lighthouse keeper’s porch view on Stuart Island

Turn Point Lightouse view from Lover's Leap Stuart Island San Juan Islands

View from Lover’s Leap to sunset and Turn Point Lighthouse on Stuart Island

Links:
Crown Yacht Charters
Jones Island State Park
Roche Harbor Resort
Stuart Island
San Juan Islands