Depending on the weather, boating the Strait of Juan de Fuca can be flat-calm or extremely rough. Crossing the 12-mile-wide strait is something every Northwest boater will invariably encounter, and the secret to an easy crossing lies in picking your times and not being foolhardy. Don’t look at the strait purely as an obstacle to be overcome. Sequim Bay, Port Angeles, Clallum Bay and the Makah Tribe’s Neah Bay offer worthy stops on the south side. The crown jewel shining on the Canadian side is Victoria. Beyond is your doorway to the San Juan Islands and Gulf Islands, or you could take the road less traveled and head up the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
Top Destinations
Strait of Juan de Fuca
Sequim Bay • Port Angeles • Clallam Bay • Neah Bay
Plan Out Your Trip
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is fully covered in the latest Waggoner Cruising Guide. It provides all you need about marinas, anchorages, passages, and attractions. Plan your day’s route with the guide’s detailed planning maps. Get your copy of the Waggoner Cruising Guide book!
Plus, there’s more to help you plan a great cruise through the area. Read on…
The Filthy Four Now the Thorny Three
Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, has announced that the State now has one less derelict structure polluting Washington waters. Thanks to the partnership between DNR (Dept. of Natural Resources), local governments, tribes, and non-profit organizations, the...
Unclaimed Gold from the 1875 Sinking of S.S. Pacific
When the wooden-hulled sidewheel steamer S.S. Pacific sank off Washington State near Cape Flattery in 1875, she took with her to the bottom of the sea a strongbox containing $79,220 in addition to gold in the hands of miners estimated to be at least $100,000, worth...
Restricted Waters Extended in BC – Boaters Beware!
Transport Canada has confirmed that the two Interim Sanctuary Zones – one off Pender Island and the other off Saturna Island, are in effect from June 1 to November 30 again for this year’s cruising season, 2023. These no-go sanctuary zones are set aside to protect...
106 Containers Lost Overboard Near the Entrance to Strait of Juan de Fuca
Waggoner received a report from the United States Coast Guard that 40 shipping containers were lost overboard, which was later revised to 106 containers lost, at approximately 48.28.18 North and 125.39.25 West. This position is about 25 miles off the entrance buoy to...
Olympic Discovery Trail – Juan de Fuca
A major attraction for cruisers along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, hidden in the forests of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, is the 130-mile-long Olympic Discovery Trail. This extensive trail system runs between Port Townsend to La Push and includes original railroad...