San Juan Islands

The well-known San Juan Islands are the dream destination for thousands of boaters each year. The scenery is stunning, the fishing is good, the anchorages are plentiful, and the amenities — marina resorts, settlements, villages, and towns — are many and varied. The San Juans have a feel about them that is different from most other coastal cruising areas. We are cruising among the peaks of a majestic sunken mountain range, and each island peak is different from the others. We’ve truly left the bustle of civilization and found a corner of paradise found at marine parks that are only accessible by private boat.

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…

A Hike through History on Cypress Island

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

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

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 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...

Gunkholing Shaw Island

Gunkholing Shaw Island

Shaw Island is the geographic center of the San Juan Islands and is 7.7 square miles with a permanent population of about 150, which better than doubles in the summer. Gunkholing on Shaw Island. Shaw Island doesn’t have the busyness of Friday Harbor or the energy of...

Another Side of the San Juan Islands – West Sound Marina

Another Side of the San Juan Islands – West Sound Marina

Suffering from a bad case of cabin fever, Arlene and I were in serious need of a spring boat trip, but the weather was predicted for more of the same – overcast sky, 20 to 25 kt. wind. So, with a few hours of break in the wind, we jumped aboard Easy Goin’ and set a...

Matia Island – A Pristine Island with an Intriguing Past

Matia Island – A Pristine Island with an Intriguing Past

As one of the San Juan Islands’ “Boundary Islands,” Matia Island (pronounced Ma-TEE-ah) is visited by thousands of recreational boaters each year. The island is incredibly beautiful and has a sense of adventure. It seems to floats on the waters of the Strait of...

Garrison Bay on San Juan Island: A Step Back In Time

Garrison Bay on San Juan Island: A Step Back In Time

When Arlene and I lived south of Seattle, we made at least one visit to Garrison Bay each year. It would be our first stop in the San Juan Islands after crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca at the beginning our annual migration north to the San Juan and Gulf Islands...

Deception Pass: Bowman Bay Hikes with Views

Deception Pass: Bowman Bay Hikes with Views

Bowman Bay on Fidalgo Island We all need to stretch out our sea legs and Bowman Bay at Deception Pass State Park on Fidalgo Island is a perfect spot. The waters are often calm, which means it is great for year-round beach walking and kayaking, and it has easy hikes...

Stuart Island: A Country Scene

Stuart Island: A Country Scene

Enjoying the country scene at Stuart IslandAfter our internal clock adjusted to the time change from Venice to Anacortes, we repacked and loaded the boat to head out again in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. In our opinion, these home waters are among the...