Hiking

The hiking trails are endless on the Island. American Camp one of two National Parks located on San Juan Island has miles upon miles of trails that pass through all sorts of habitats - beaches, sea cliffs, woods, prairie and saltwater lagoon wetlands. This is also the best place to see wildlife on the Island.

The British Camp offers several good trails along Garrison Bay as well. One trail goes along Bell Point to Westcott Bay, while another climbs up toward the British Cemetery and up 650-foot Mount Young. This hill offers a spectacular view of the Garrison Bay, Mitchell Bay, and Henry Island areas, and beyond to the Canadian Gulf Islands, the Olympics, and Vancouver Island to the west. At the top, the trail also connects to some continued good hiking on adjoining Dept. of Natural Resource Lands.

Spend the day at Lime Kiln Point State Park - the only whale watching park in the world. It is located 9 miles west of Friday Harbor on 36 acres. There is 2,550 feet of waterfront overlooking the Haro Straits. Orca Whales, porpoises, seals, dolphins, and eagles frequent these shorelines during the spring and summer months.

Enjoy the hiking trails to lookout points; see the displays describing the abundant sea life; walk the high bank trail to Lime Kiln Lighthouse, which was maintained by lighthouse keepers from 1919 to 1962 to guide ships through the Haro Straits - it is now fully automated. Look to the San Juan Island Trails Committee website as a great source of information and maps.

Westcott Bay Reserve Sculpture Park is a 19 acre nature reserve displaying over 120 rotating sculptures. There are lots of great trails wind with excellent bird-watching opportunities.