Top Destinations
San Juan Island
Friday Harbor • Roche Harbor • Westcott Bay • Garrison Bay
Lopez Island
Fisherman Bay • Spencer Spit • Watmough Bay
Orcas Island
Eastsound • Deer Harbor • Rosario Resort
Plus…
Blakely Island • Sucia Island • Jones Island • Shaw Island • Stuart Island • James Island
Plan Out Your Trip
The San Juans are 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 San Juan Islands. Read on…
Roche Harbor No Longer a Customs Point of Entry
Roche Harbor is no longer a U.S. Point of Entry with CBP customs agents on site. An unstaffed CBP booth located on G Dock is available to Report Arrival via the ROAM App. Boaters can use the iPads in the unstaffed booth for reporting arrival via the ROAM App. A...
Remote Patos Island – A Place of Solitude
Patos Island is the northernmost of the San Juan Islands and is seldom visited except by small vessels due to limited anchorage. It’s rugged beauty and historic lighthouse intrigue the visitor, instilling a sense of peace as well as solitude and even loneliness. The...
1,000 Yards from Southern Resident Killer Whales – Washington State Passes Bill
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recommended a 1,000-yard buffer in November 2022 as part of a legislative report. In January of 2023, a Bill requiring recreational boaters to remain 1,000 yards from Southern Resident Killer Whales was introduced to the...
Harney Channel Renamed Cayou Channel
The State Board of Natural Resources of Washington has approved the renaming of the waterway that runs between Shaw Island and Orcas Island, changing the name from Harney Channel to Cayou Channel. The name change is the result of a substantial community effort from...
No-Go Zones in Gulf Islands and San Juans
Boaters should be aware of two seasonal No-Go Zones in the Gulf Islands, and the one year-round voluntary No-Go Zone in the San Juan Islands. Gulf Islands. There are two designated Sanctuary Zones in the Gulf Islands where boats are not allowed. Both No-Go zones are...
Keel Preserve – Announcement by San Juan Preservation Trust
The San Juan Preservation Trust recently acquired a 42-acre property located on the east side of Orcas Island, named Keel Preserve. Volunteers have begun building a trail spur that will connect Moran State Park’s trail system to a seasonal waterfall located on the...
Deer Harbor – Relaxed Atmosphere with Great Food
One of my top 5 cruising locations in the San Juan Islands is Deer Harbor on Orcas Island. Ever since my first visit over 30 years ago, I have always felt relaxed when moored either at the marina dock or on the hook in the bay. It is a beautiful location with a...
Vessel Traffic Lanes – Pleasure Boaters Beware
Vessel Traffic Lanes are used to regulate busy traffic in confined waterways for deep-draft commercial vessels such as cargo ships and tugs with barges. VTS is primarily for commercial vessels, although all power-driven vessels 40 meters (131 feet) or longer,...
Top of the World – Eagle Cliff on Cypress Island
Where in Washington State waters can you hike 600 feet up to the top of an island and be rewarded with a 360-degree view?
SV Hadley 2020 Post Labor Day Cruise
2020 POST LABOR DAY CRUISE. Planning immediately began for a longer cruise in September.
A Hike through History on Cypress Island
Backyard CruisingEagle Harbor on Cypress Island is a great choice for a day’s cruise. Located only 8 nautical miles from Anacortes, Eagle Harbor offers anchorage and several DNR mooring buoys for boats up to 50 feet at no charge. You can spend the day...
The Spell of Spieden Island
Mention the name Spieden Island, and visions of the sea meeting steep grassy hillsides, dotted with large boulders left by glacier activity, come to mind. While the north side of this two-mile long island is forested, the south side has beautiful open...
San Juan Preservation Trust Properties
Did you know that the San Juan Preservation Trust protects and preserves 300 properties on 20 different islands in the San Juan’s? These properties offer miles of trails and shoreline, with public access. Many of these sites are accessed only by dinghy or...
Vita’s Wildly Delicious on Lopez Island
Vita’s Wildly Delicious in Lopez Village is one of the most unique and charming communities in the San Juan Islands, withspecialty shops, art studios, cafes, and a bakery. The farmer’s market, B & Bs, and community parks add to the friendly village...
Boaters, Stock Your Fridge at these Pacific Northwest Farmers Markets – Washington State
The Pacific Northwest is known for its local produce and cheese, naturally raised meats and fresh fish. There is no better way to sample its bounty than at a farmers market. Thankfully, for boaters, many are within walking distance or a short taxi ride...