Washington's Sail-In State Park Island Has Quiet Coastal Camping

Marooned in the Salish Sea between Vancouver and Seattle lie the San Juan Islands, which boast wildly pristine views and fun activities. One of the most far-flung of the San Juan Islands is Stuart Island, a nearly 3-square-mile islet tucked in the northwestern corner of the archipelago right near the Canadian border. Stuart Island Marine State Park encompasses about 85 acres along the central spit of the island, flanked by two scenic harbors: Reid Harbor and Prevost Harbor. Today, the state park can only be accessed by private motorboat, sailboat, or kayak, as there is no regular public ferry service to the island. The fastest way to get there is by flying from Seattle to the airport in Friday Harbor, a walkable coastal town nestled on San Juan Island, and then boating the 5 miles from northern San Juan Island to Stuart Island. From this secluded state park, intrepid travelers can enjoy camping, fishing, hiking, and swimming. 

The island was originally inhabited by the Coast Salish Indigenous people, and the island's fishermen subsisted on the bounty of the sea. After a U.S. government-sponsored expedition ship visited the island in 1841, the captain of the ship named the island after his clerk, Frederick Stuart. Beginning in the 1950s, the state of Washington started acquiring parcels of the island's land to create Stuart Island Marine State Park. There are 18 camping sites on the island, four of which are only accessible for non-motorized boaters, so campers can spend the night amidst the park's wild majesty (no reservations required). Idyllic days unfold by boating or kayaking around the rugged coastline, swimming in the cool harbors, hiking through the island's trails, and simply admiring the island's beauty. While the park is open year-round, the best time to visit is May through September for the warmest temperatures — typically between 63 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Camping on Stuart Island State Park is a truly unique experience, disconnected from the comforts of the modern world and fully immersed in the island's unspoiled, Douglas-fir-lined coast. There are 14 land-based campsites, which are dotted along the island's northern shore near Prevost and Reid Harbors, and 4 sail-in campsites along Reid Harbor that are part of the Cascadia Marine Trail. These campsites are rustic, but there is running water between May and September, composting toilets, and firepits and grills. 

During the day, travelers can visit the island's rocky beaches that are ideal for waterfront picnics, refreshing swims, and fishing and crabbing along the shore. A three-mile one-way trail through the forested heart of the island will bring you to the northwestern point where the circa 1893 Turn Point Light Station still stands. Now under the domain of the Bureau of Land Management, the historic lighthouse overlooks the scenic Salish Sea with Canada in view, and you may even spot orca whales from here. 

If you want to visit Stuart Island Marine State Park with a group, consider signing up for a 3-night kayaking trip with San Juan Outfitters. Setting off from Roche Harbor, a serene island town with Pacific Northwest charm, you'll kayak to Stuart Island, led by an experienced guide. At the island's state park, you'll camp overnight and spend days kayaking, hiking, and exploring the fascinating park. Come nightfall, one of the island's most unique phenomena is revealed when the glow of bioluminescent waters mesmerizes kayakers. "Camped here for two nights as part of a larger kayaking trip and had a great time!" raved a Google reviewer. "So much to explore. A highlight was our bioluminescent night paddle around Prevost Harbor." Afterwards, you'll return to your quiet and remote campsites to fall asleep only serenaded by the hums of nature.