It’s been years since we visited Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands, Salish Sea, WA. It takes a bit of work to get out there, a 2.5 hour drive through traffic to the Anacortes Ferry, waiting in line for the ferry, a 1-hour ferry ride with a glimpse of Mt. Baker, and then to our Airbnb on the far side of the island. A bonus was seeing a beautiful otter run across the beach while we were waiting for the ferry (and for those who don’t know me, I’m obsessed with otters!)
Mountain Lake / Moran State Park: We began by driving to Mountain Lake in Moran State Park and hiking the 4-mile loop around the lake. The color of the water is beautiful, it’s a mostly forest-y lake shore trail that is very peaceful.
Obstruction Pass State Park: The following morning we hiked about 2 miles at Obstruction Pass State Park, taking time to wander and explore the beaches and rocks at low tide. We saw starfish, sea slugs, and a hiding crab.
Cascade Lake: We also rented kayaks and spent a couple of hours floating around Cascade Lake at Moran State Park. I sure missed my kayaks, the rentals were less than comfortable, but it was still fun exploring and having a floating picnic lunch.
Mount Constitution: We topped the afternoon off by driving up to Mount Constitution and the tower there (built in 1935) to look out over Puget Sound, hoping for a glimpse of Mt. Baker. It was hazy, but we were able to see Sucia Island and several others. It’s the highest point in the San Juan Islands, offering 360-degree views if the weather permits.
Sucia Island Kayak: On our final day, we did a full-day guided sea kayak tour around Sucia Island, just north of Orcas Island. After power boating to Sucia, we got into tandem kayaks and began paddling. It’s beautiful, but unfortunately our kayak guide was more interested in racing as quickly as possible than keeping the group together and letting us enjoy the scenery. To say that it was an upper body workout at full throttle for hours is an understatement. Still, I’m glad we did it, though I was sore for days after.
(Interesting Fact: The first dinosaur fossil ever discovered in Washington State was found on Little Sucia Island: a theropod approximately 80 million years old. Little Sucia Island is pictured in the last photo.)