Discover the natural beauty of the San Juan Islands by exploring the many state parks. Beautiful beaches, forests and mountains, Washington’s San Juan Island state parks offer many opportunities for enjoyment and learning.  

Spencer Spit State Park on Lopez Island, is a 138-acre marine and camping park.  The park is named for the lagoon-enclosing sand spit on which it rests.  There are many sheltered and unsheltered picnic tables, and two miles of hiking trails.  The park has a reputation for excellent crabbing, clamming and "car-top boating."  This is one of the few state parks in the San Juan Islands that is accessible by automobile.  See website for more detailed information.

Washington State Marine Parks
These island parks include Blind, Clark, Doe, James, Jones, Matia, Patos, Posey, Stuart, Sucia and Turn.  They are accessible by private or chartered boat only.  All have campsites and mooring buoys, some have docks.  (No docks at Blind, Clark, Patos, Posey or Turn Islands.)  No moorage or camping reservations are available.  Fees are charged at some parks from May through Labor Day.  Fresh water, where available, is limited, so plan to bring a supply.  Visit their website for more information.

Moran State Park on Orcas Island is a 5,252-acre camping park with five freshwater lakes and over 30 miles of hiking trails.  Atop the 2,409-foot-high Mt. Constitution, the highest point on the San Juan Islands, there stands a stone observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936.  The tower offers panoramic views of the surrounding islands, the Cascade Mountains and a variety of Canadian and American cities.  The park is open year-round for camping and day use.  Some campsites are closed in winter.  Reservations necessary Memorial Day through Labor Day.  See website for detailed information.

Lime Kiln Point State Park, also known as Whale Watch Park, is the only park dedicated to whale watching in the world!  It's located 9 miles west of Friday Harbor on the west side of San Juan Island on 36 acres, with 2,550 feet of waterfront overlooking Haro Strait to Victoria, B.C.  Orca whales frequent the shoreline during spring, summer and early fall.  Other Marine mammals, raptors and sea birds can be seen year-round. Explore the hiking trails to lookout points, bring a picnic to enjoy at one of many picnic tables, and learn from the interpretive displays describing marine life. Walk the high bank trail to Lime Kiln Lighthouse which was maintained by lighthouse keepers from 1919 to 1962 to guide ships through Haro Strait.  There are now lighthouse tours during summer and The Whale Museum utilizes it for whale research. A new Interpretive Center was dedicated in 2006 and is open from 10-4 daily June through mid September (reduced schedule at other times).

The San Juan Island National Historical Park, including American Camp and English Camp, was created in 1966 based upon an idea: that individuals and nations can solve their problems peacefully without resorting to violence.  For it was here in 1859 that the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over a pig shot by an American farmer.  Actually, it was a bit more complicated than that.  Pressures had been building between the two nations over possession of the San Juan Island group since 1846 when the Treaty of Oregon left ownership unclear.  Thus came the "Pig War" crisis, at the height of which more than 500 U.S. Army soldiers and three British warships were nose to nose on the island's southern shore, not 10 miles from Victoria, B.C.  Fortunately, officials on both sides quickly restored calm and the nations agreed to a joint military occupation of the island until the boundary could be decided.  The American soldiers and British Royal Marines remained for 12 years until Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany, as arbitrator, awarded the islands to the U.S.  Today, both parks are excellent places to hike, picnic, play on the beach, experience wildlife and enjoy a wealth of programming, including the summer living history events.